Katzen named ECAC All-Star for 2016 performance

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University senior setter Vika Katzen (Kfar Saba, Israel) has been named an ECAC All-Star for her 2016 on-court performance.

The only player out of the Northeast Conference to earn the honor, Katzen led the Bulldogs to their second-straight postseason appearance and highest regular-season finish in the program's Division I history in 2016. Bryant finished tied for second in the overall standings but fell to eventual tournament champ LIU Brooklyn in the league semifinals.

Katzen completed a stellar career donning the Black and Gold in 2016, earning her second-consecutive NEC Setter of the Year honor and repeating as an All-NEC First Teamer. One of two senior captains, Katzen once again ran the offense for the Bulldogs in 2016, driving the Black and Gold to tie the program's Division I record for wins in a season (19).

Averaging 7.29 assists per set (868 total), the senior was also a force on the attack, ranking fifth in the league in aces (35) and sixth in attack percentage (.252) while contributing 151 kills and 338 digs. Katzen also added 28 blocks on the year.

Just as impressive were her string of double-doubles, as she registered 20 on the season to bring her career total to 55 in just three years. Katzen became just the fourth player in program history – and first at the Division I level – to finish her career with more than 2,500 assists and 1,000 digs and leaves the program ranked sixth in the all-time record books in career assists (2,906), fourth in assists per set (7.85) and 14th in digs per set (2.71).

The 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection is just as successful in the classroom, where she is a six-time Dean's List qualifier and three-time NEC Commissioner's Honor Roll selection (3.75+ GPA).