Orange Crush: Morton Named CVU.com Blocker of the Year

The Collegiate Volleyball Update (CVU) is pleased to announce its selection of Syracuse's Sarah Morton as the 2009 CVU Blocker of the Year.

A 6-1 senior from Burnt Hills, N.Y., Morton not only ranked high in blocking efficiency, but finished first in the nation in total blocks with 186, solo blocks with 52, and third in blocks per set with 1.55.

Those numbers lead to Morton taking over the blocking categories in both Syracuse's single-season and career record books.

For her career, Morton now holds the Syracuse records for total blocks, block assists, solo blocks and blocks per set. On the season, she picked up records for most total blocks and blocks per set, as well as placing third in the single-season book for solo blocks and block assists. She set the school single-season solo block record in 2007 — when she was also a CVU.com Top Five blocker.

Also returning to the list this season is Arielle Wilson -- who was honored last season -- as she has helped Penn State to another CVU.com Blocking Team of the Year title. Joining her is fellow junior teammate Fatima Balza.

Big East players Meagan Dooley and Lecia Brown round out the list, as Brown earns her second honor after Top Five recognition in 2007.

Blocker of the Year

Sarah Morton, Syracuse

Honorable Mentions

• Fatima Balza, Penn State
• Lecia Brown, Louisville
• Meagan Dooley, Pittsburgh
• Arielle Wilson, Penn State

To aid selection, player stats were used. Rather than strictly using blocks per game, a formula was developed to score blocking. An average number of opponent attempts per game was figured, and by using that, an approximate efficiency was calculated. Also, instead of counting solo blocks and block assists as equal, they were scaled as is done in team stats, with blocks assists counting half. Further, a player's blocking errors were also including in the figures to come up with the final numbers.

This formula is still being developed to include more blocking variables. For more information on the methods used, to provide input, or help develop these methods, please contact CVU here. Feedback is welcome.

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