Haley Libs of the Northern Kentucky University volleyball team was named Horizon League Freshman of the Year while also being tabbed for the All-League team and All-Freshman team while Keyaira Lankheit also earned All-Freshman team honors, the League office announced Monday.
Libs, a Floyds Knobs, Indiana, native, has consistently ranked among the League’s best in kills as she totaled a team-high 379 across the regular season for an average of 3.58 per set. Libs has been vital to NKU’s League success as her average improved to 4.00 kills per set in League matches, the third-best in the Horizon League.
The freshman averages a team-best 3.82 points per set and has seen action in all 28 of NKU’s matches, getting the starting nod on 19 occasions. Her .253 clip ranks second on the team behind junior Keely Creamer.
Lankheit, a Newport, Kentucky, native, earned All-Freshman team honors after being key to the Norse defense throughout the season. Lankheit ended the regular season ranked third in the Horizon League in blocks, averaging 1.08 per set after 90 total blocks including nine solo blocks. Additionally, Lankheit averages a second-best 1.21 blocks per set against League opponents.
En route to a team-best blocks per set average, Lankheit issued a dominating performance against League foe Valparaiso when she set NKU’s Division I program record as well as a season high in all of Division I with 16 blocks in the match.
The freshman has seen action in 22 matches, making 21 starts for the Norse and is third on the team with a .241 clip.
The freshman duo and the rest of the Norse volleyball team are back in action on Friday for the Horizon League Championship semifinals against fifth-seeded Green Bay at 7 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Norse earned the No. 4 seed for the tournament after posting an 8-8 record in League play and 13-15 mark in regular season action.
Live stats and broadcast information for the Horizon League Volleyball Championship is available at NKUNorse.com.
2015 HORIZON LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS
Player of the Year: Stephenee Yancy, UIC (Sr., MB)
Defensive Player of the Year: Jillian Bauer, Green Bay (Sr., L)
Setter of the Year: Ciara Schultz, Oakland (Sr., S)
Freshman of the Year: Haley Libs, Northern Kentucky (OH)
Coach of the Year: Chuck Voss, Cleveland State
From NKU Athletics