Women’s Volleyball: Bockrath named Patriot League Rookie of the Year

Carolyn Bockrath, a former Newport Harbor High standout, has been named Patriot League Rookie of the Year for her efforts as a freshman for the Army women’s volleyball team.

Bockrath, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker who led the conference with a .391 hitting percentage, also earned a spot on the All-Patriot League second team and helped Army advance to the Patriot League Tournament for the 16th consecutive year.

Bockrath was third among Patriot League freshmen with 2.61 kills per set, and is second on her team with 271 kills

Bockrath becomes Army’s eighth Patriot League Rookie of the Year and the second straight honoree after Olivia Fairfield took the award last season. Bockrath earned a pair of Patriot League Rookie of the Week awards en route to her pair of postseason honors.

“It is not easy to make the transition to West Point with its academic and military challenges, but Carolyn has excelled and became a mainstay in our lineup,” Army Coach Alma Kovaci said in a release. “We are very proud of her and her future is bright as a member of this team.”

Bockrath was a four-year letter winner in girls’ varsity at Newport Harbor, where she earned All-Orange County, All-Sunset League and Daily Pilot Dream Team honors her senior season.

Army (14-15, 9-7 in the Patriot League) enters the Patriot League Tournament as the fourth seed and will challenge tournament host and top seed American in Saturday’s semifinal at 10 a.m. PST. The match can be seen live on Patriot League Network.

— From staff reports