By: Ryan Hartwig (@RyanHartwig)
GreenBayPhoenix.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Green Bay volleyball seniors Brittany Groth (Oak Creek, Wis.) and Carmen Leitermann (Schofield, Wis.) were both selected as members of the 2012 All-Horizon League Team, the conference office announced on Monday after a voting by the league's coaches. It marks the second straight year that Groth has earned all-league honors, while Leitermann was named to the all-conference squad for the first time in her career.

"Brittany and Carmen continue to leave their mark on this program, on the school record book and the Horizon League," Green Bay head coach Debbie Kirch said. "I'm really proud of how far they have come as players throughout their careers. Brittany has established herself as one of the best defensive players not only in the Horizon League, but in the country. Carmen has proven to be one of the top middles, both offensively and defensively. They have had great careers so far, but they still have a lot of volleyball left and one more goal they have yet to achieve - a Horizon League championship."

Groth recently became Green Bay's all-time digs leader, registering 49 in two matches over the weekend to push her career total to 1,836. The number moved her past Megan Elfering, who had 1,789 digs for the Phoenix from 2005-08. In addition, Groth increased her season digs total to 665, besting her own single-season record of 659 in 2011. For her record-breaking weekend, Groth was awarded Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week honors for the third time this season and sixth time in her career.

Groth leads the Horizon League in digs per set with 6.27, a figure that ranks third among all NCAA Division I players. She is one of just five players averaging more than six per set. In addition, her current average would shatter her own single-season school record of 5.78, which she set in 2011. Groth also etched her name in the Phoenix record books on Aug. 25 when she posted 29 digs against Auburn, breaking the school standard for a three-set match.

Leitermann is second on the Phoenix in both kills (292) and blocks (98), and ranks fifth in the Horizon League in hitting percentage (.284) and is eighth in blocks per set (0.92). Her all-league caliber season has helped the senior move into the top-10 on several of Green Bay's career lists, as she is currently first in solo blocks (102), second in hitting percentage (.258), fourth in kills (995), sixth in total blocks (371), seventh in sets played (430) and eighth in block assists (269).

The solo blocks record, previously held by Marie Kaland Nicol (97, 1992-95), was the longest-standing career mark in the Phoenix record books. On the offensive end, the senior needs five more kills to reach 1,000 for her career and become just the fourth player in school history to reach that plateau.

Groth and Leitermann have helped their team to the top of the Horizon League in a pair of defensive statistical categories, as the Phoenix leads the conference in digs per set (18.58) and blocks per set (2.35). Green Bay's digs per set average is also good for sixth in the NCAA.

The two all-conference selections represent the second time in as many years that the Phoenix has landed two on the All-Horizon League Team, as Groth and Abbey Gitter were recognized in 2011.

Green Bay (15-13, 6-8 HL) begins Horizon League tournament play this Friday when the fifth-seeded Phoenix takes on fourth-seeded Loyola at 4 p.m. CT in Cleveland, Ohio. Green Bay split its matches with the Ramblers this season, falling 3-2 in Chicago on Oct. 6 and winning 3-0 at the Kress Center on Nov. 2.

Cleveland State senior Kara Koch was picked as the 2012 Horizon League Player of the Year, while Valparaiso's Taylor Root earned Defensive Player of the Year accolades for the third straight season. Loyola's Anna Eytchison picked up Newcomer of the Year recognition, while Cleveland State's Chuck Voss was named Coach of the Year.

2012 Horizon League Awards
All-Horizon League
Kara Koch, Cleveland State (Sr., OH)
Janise Dismuke, UIC (Sr., MH)
Anna Eytchison, Loyola (Sr., OH)
Taylor Root, Valparaiso (Sr., LIB)
Marie Frease, Cleveland State (Sr., MH)
Missy Hundelt, Youngstown State (Jr., OH)
Ellen Vanden Berg, Valparaiso (Jr., MH)
MaryKate Imrie, UIC (Jr., S)
Brittany Groth, Green Bay (Sr., LIB)
Rachel Neuberger, Milwaukee (Jr., MB)
Carmen Leitermann, Green Bay (Sr., MB)
Aubrey Sniegowski, UIC (Sr., OH)
Morgan Beil, Valparaiso (So., MH/RS)
Amanda Medvetz, Cleveland State (Sr., DS)

All-Newcomer Team
Anna Eytchison, Loyola (OH)
Dayna Roberts, Cleveland State (S)
Brittany Brown, Loyola (S/RS)
Kelsey Berrington, Valparaiso (S)
Stephanie Kinane, Loyola (DS/LIB)
Marisa Aiello, Wright State (MB)
Kathleen Vogel, Loyola (OH)

Player of the Year: Kara Koch, Cleveland State
Defensive Player of the Year: Taylor Root, Valparaiso
Newcomer of the Year: Anna Eytchison, Loyola
Coach of the Year: Chuck Voss, Cleveland State

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