BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Colgate volleyball team claimed the top spot in the 2022 Patriot League preseason poll for the second-straight year 124 points and 12 first-place votes, when it was announced by the League office on Friday.
Army West Point earned the second position in the poll with 110 points and four first-place votes, while American tallied two first-place votes and recorded 105 points for third place. Navy placed fourth with 85 points, followed by Loyola Maryland with 65 points to round out the top five. Lafayette tallied 62 points for sixth place, followed by Lehigh (46), Bucknell (34), and Holy Cross (17).
American senior outside hitter Zeynep Uzen earned preseason player of the year after being named to the All-Patriot League First Team last season.
Four-time Patriot League Libero of the Year, Loyola graduate student Katie Forsythe received preseason libero of the year honors.
Colgate graduate student Julia Kurowski, the two-time setter of the year, earned preseason setter of the year.
American and Colgate placed two student-athletes on the preseason All-League team, while Army, Loyola, and Navy had one honoree each. American’s Uzen was joined by teammate graduate student middle blocker Carlie Fikse on the preseason squad, while Colgate’s Kurowski and junior outside hitter Libby Overmyer also earned a spot on the team. Forsythe, Army junior middle blocker Paige Fixemer, and junior middle blocker Maggie Bodman rounded out the seven-member team.
All seven preseason all-league members were named to the 2021 Patriot League Volleyball first or second All-Patriot League teams, with four on the first team and three on the second team. Uzen, Fixemer, Kurowski, and Overmyer nabbed first-team laurels, while Fikse, Forsythe, and Bodman earned second-team honors last season.
The preseason poll and individual awards were voted on by the volleyball coaches and sports information directors from each institution, with restrictions on voting for their team and student-athletes.
2022 Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year
Zeynep Uzen, American, Sr., OH, Istanbul, Turkey/TED Istanbul College
* Uzen finished her junior season averaging 4.10 kills and 2.54 digs (325 digs) per set to help pace the Eagles to an 11-5 League record.
* Her 525 total kills ranked seventh in NCAA Division I, while her 583.5 points ranked 10th.
* The senior was placed on the all-tournament team last season and the preseason all-
League team.
* Uzen was named rookie of the year in 2019 and is a two-time first-team All-Patriot League team member (2019, 2021).
2022 Patriot League Preseason Libero of the Year
Katie Forsythe, Loyola Maryland, Gr., L, Perry Ohio/Gilmour Academy
* The four-time libero of the year enters the season after leading the League with 5.71 digs per set last year.
* Forsythe holds the League’s record in career digs with 2,201. The mark was previously held by AU's Kristen Largay with 2,012 digs.
* Forsythe is the NCAA's active career leader in digs per set at 5.93 while ranking fourth in NCAA Division I history in digs per set.
* Her four libero of the year honors mark the first time in League history that a volleyball player has accomplished that feat.
2022 Patriot League Preseason Setter of the Year
Julia Kurowski, Colgate, Gr., S, Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster Central
* The two-time setter of the year paced the team with 891 assists to go along with 224 digs and 45 block assists in 101 sets played in 2021.
* The graduate student setter helped guide the Raiders to their first outright regular-season title since the 2012 season.
* Kurowski’s 8.75 assists per set ranked fourth in the Patriot League last season.
* Kurowski was named Colgate’s first setter of the year in program history in the spring of 20
-21, and collected First-Team All-Patriot League laurels in 2019, 2020-21, and 2021.
2022 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year: Zeynep Uzen, American, Sr., OH
2022 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Libero of the Year: Katie Forsythe, Loyola Maryland, Gr., L
2022 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Setter of the Year: Julia Kurowski, Colgate, Gr., S
2022 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason All-League Team
Zeynep Uzen, American, Sr., OH
Carlie Fikse, American, Gr., MB
Paige Fixemer, Army West Point, Jr., MB
Julia Kurowski, Colgate, Gr., S
Libby Overmyer, Colgate, Jr., OH
Katie Forsythe, Loyola Maryland, Gr., L
Maggie Bodman, Navy, Jr., MB
2022 Patriot League Volleyball Preseason Poll
Colgate – 124 (12 first-place votes)
Army West Point – 110 (4)
American – 105 (2)
Navy – 85
Loyola Maryland – 65
Lafayette – 62
Lehigh – 46
Bucknell – 34
Holy Cross – 17
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.