Jan. 24, 2008

Contact: Greg Murphy

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland State freshman middle hitter Amy Benz has been selected as one of 14 Rising Stars by The Collegiate Volleyball Update (CVU) as announced on Thursday afternoon.

She was the lone representative from the Horizon League.

Benz's (Tiffin, Ohio) selection to the team caps an impressive rookie campaign in which she earned first team All-Horizon League honors and league newcomer of the year accolades.

Benz, who was also the Most Valuable Player of the Horizon League Tournament, led the conference in hitting percentage (.334) and blocks (1.50), ranking third in the country in blocking among all freshmen. She finished the season with 184 total blocks and 159 block assists, the second most in a single season at CSU in both categories.

CSU completed one of its best seasons in program history, finishing with a 23-9 overall record, while claiming its first-ever Horizon League Championship title and earning a berth in the NCAA Championship for the first time in school history. The Vikings fell to Albany, 3-0, in the opening round.

Collegiate Volleyball Update Rising Stars

Freshman of the Year
Juliann Faucette, OH, Texas

Rising Stars
Jovana Blazeski, OH, Florida A&M
Amy Benz, MH, Cleveland State
Laura DeBruler, OH, Illinois
Elizabeth Fleming, S, Marshall
Lindsay Fletemier, MB, Dayton (RS)
Jenna Hagglund, S, Washington
Alix Klineman, OH, Stanford
Allison Nieters, L, Iona
Becky Perry, OH, Washington (RS)
Nicki Scripko, RS/OH, Liberty
Kacie Wikierak, L, Denver
Felicia Willoughby, MB, Virginia Tech
Arielle Wilson, MH, Penn State
Megan York, OH, Saint Mary's

The Rising Stars are not listed in a specific order.