Dec. 11, 2002

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern junior middle blocker Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) has been named an All-Mideast Region selection by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. With the honor, she is now eligible for All-America consideration.

She is Northwestern University's first all-region selection since the AVCA began sponsoring the teams in 1986. Lange is one of 11 Big Ten selections on the 12-member all-region team.

"We are very excited about Erika's selection to the all-region team," Northwestern head coach Keylor Chan said. "She has made great strides in three years to earn this honor. I believe this honor is a testament to her abilities."

Last week, Lange became the first Northwestern player to be named All-Big Ten since Madelyn Maneghetti and Jackie Nuñez earned the honor in 1984. She was one of five unanimous selections to the squad.

Lange ranked first in the Big Ten during the regular season with a 1.46 blocks-per-game average, second with a .347 hitting percentage and third with a 4.30 kills-per-game average. She led the Wildcats in all three categories. Her overall .343 hitting percentage broke the previous single-season school record of .306 set by Janine Makar in 1987.

Lange currently ranks second in school history with 418 career block assists and third with 490 total blocks. Her 140 block assists this season is the second-highest NU single-season total, trailing only her own school record 146 set in 2000. Her 171 total blocks this year ranks second to Liz Douglass, who posted 179 in 1980.

At 17-16 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten, she helped Northwestern post the school's most Big Ten and overall victories since 1990. Lange and the Wildcats earned their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1984.

ALL-MIDEAST REGION
NAME SCHOOL POS. YR.
Melissa Brewer Indiana University MB Jr.
Cassie Busse University of Minnesota RS/Opp Jr.
Erin Byrd University of Wisconsin OH Sr.
Paula Gentil University of Minnesota DS/Lib Fr.
Stacey Gordon The Ohio State University OH So.
Laura Hageman Ohio University MB Jr.
Erika Lange Northwestern University MB Jr.
Mishka Levy Penn State University MB Sr.
Angela Morley Michigan State University MB Sr.
Morgan Shields University of Wisconsin S Jr.
Cara Smith Penn State University MB Jr.
Lindsey Vander Well University of Minnesota S So.

Region Freshman of the Year: Paula Gentil, Minnesota, DS/Lib
Honorable Mention: Lisa Argabright (Illinois, MB, Jr.), Katie Butts (Ball State, OH, Sr.), Erin Moore (Michigan, MB, Jr.), Camila Olaio (Eastern Michigan, S, Sr.), Sam Tortorello (Penn State, S, Fr.), Goedele Van Cauteren (Manhattan College, S/H, Jr.)