Northwestern University Athletics
Erika Lange Named Preseason All-Big Ten
7/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
July 31, 2002
EVANSTON, ILL. - For the second consecutive season, Northwestern University middle blocker Erika Lange has been selected to the preseason All-Big Ten Team by the conference's volleyball head coaches. Lange received the same honor prior to her sophomore season.
Lange, a 6-foot-3 junior from Orland Park, Ill. and a graduate of Carl Sandburg High, was named honorable mention All-Big Ten following the 2001 season. She finished ninth in the nation and first in the Big Ten a year ago with a 1.62 blocks-per-game average.
Lange enters the 2002 season ranked first on NU's career hitting percentage list (.268), third in career kills-per-game average (3.22), fifth in career block assists (278) and seventh in career total blocks (319).
She also holds the school's individual match record for total blocks with 14, a feat she has recorded twice in her career.
In addition to her accomplishments on the court, Lange has also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-Big Ten accolades last season while majoring in economics.
Meanwhile, the Big Ten head coaches have tabbed Northwestern University to finish eighth in their preseason poll. The Wildcats finished eighth in conference play in 2001 with a 6-14 mark, but return all six starters and 11 letterwinners from last year's squad.
Ohio State, which finished second in the Big Ten last season, is the coaches' pick to win the conference title this season. Last season's conference champion, Wisconsin, has been picked to finish second.
Northwestern opens the 2002 season at the Spring Hill Suites Invitational in Charlotte, N.C. on August 30-31.
