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Butler's Knightly Earns Top Horizon League Defensive Honor
Nov. 16, 2005 Senior libero Megan Knightly, on the verge of becoming both Butler and the Horizon League's leader in career digs, has been honored as the 2005 Horizon League "Defensive Player of the Year." It's a repeat performance for Knightly, who received the league's inaugural award in 2004. Butler freshmen Dana Daprile and Alicia Coltrane also earned spots on the league's six-member "All-Newcomer Team." The league's eight head coaches voted on the awards, which the league announced Wednesday (Nov. 16). Knightly also earned a spot on the 12-person "All-Horizon League" first team. She leads the conference in digs per game at 5.41 dpg. That average is also 22nd in the nation entering weekend play. After beginning the 2005 season in 11th place, Knightly is now just 11 digs shy of Jessica Taylor (1989-92), who holds both the Butler and Horizon League career mark with a total of 1,722. Click here to view Knightly's spot on Butler's career digs list. "We're thrilled that Meg has earned the league's top defensive honor for the second time," said Butler coach Sharon Clark. "It's nice that my colleagues around the league join me in seeing Meg as the league's top defensive player and definitely an All-League selection." The Chicago native has recorded double-figure digs in 55 of her last 56 matches. Knightly had a career-high 41 digs in the team's five-game win over Youngstown State Sept. 24. The total was the second-best mark in Butler's 31-year volleyball history. Knightly has led the team in digs on 24 occasions this season, including the last 23 matches. She also earned Horizon League "Defensive Player of the Week" honors on three occasions in 2005.
Daprile, a setter, began to emerge as an all-around force for the Bulldogs before a knee injury suffered Oct. 12 in practice prematurely ended her season. She posted four double-doubles and narrowly missed triple-doubles on three occasions (either two digs or two kills shy). Daprile had career-highs of 11 kills and .625 hitting in the team's win over Loyola Oct. 8 with both marks leading the team. Her 476 assists still lead the team despite missing the last eight matches. Coltrane, an outside hitter, is fourth on the Bulldogs at 2.04 kills per game. She led the team in kills on three occasions during the regular season, including a career-high 20 in the team's win over UW-Green Bay Oct. 29. Coltrane posted double figures in kills five times this season, including three of the last four matches entering postseason play. She hit .529 (9-0-17) in the team's win against Loyola Oct. 8 and is coming off a career-high 10 digs at Wright State Friday. "Everybody knows we are extremely young this season," said Clark. "As the only team with two newcomers honored, it's obvious that our future is very bright. Alicia and Dana stepped in admirably for us right away. It's a credit to Dana that the coaches recognized her special talents even though she missed more than half the league schedule." This is the fifth consecutive season that Butler has had at least one honoree on the "All-Newcomer Team." Cleveland State's Nickole Kennedy was selected "Player of the Year," while the Vikings' Chuck Voss earned "Coach of the Year" honors. Cleveland State's Jenni Ramminger and UW-Milwaukee's Becky Peters shared "Newcomer of the Year" honors. Butler finished the regular season tied for fifth in the Horizon League standings. Butler opens the Horizon League Tournament Thursday with a 7:30 p.m. (CST) match against seventh-seeded Wright State. UIC serves as the 2005 host with tournament play continuing through Sunday in Chicago. Click here to view the Horizon League's release, which includes a list of all recognized players. |
