BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Katie Forsythe, the all-time leader at Loyola University Maryland and in the Patriot League in digs, was named the conference's Preseason Libero of the Year, earning a spot on the Preseason All-Patriot League by a vote of the league's coaches.
 
Forsythe and the Greyhounds were pegged to finish fifth in the Patriot League, as well, heading into the 2022 campaign that will start next weekend.
 
A graduate student from Perry, Ohio, Forsythe returns for her fifth season at Loyola as the career record holder in digs (2,201) at both the school and conference level.
 
Last year, she became the first player in Patriot League volleyball history to earn an end-of-the-year award for the fourth-straight season when she was named the conference's Libero of the Year. She led the Patriot League in digs for the fourth time, posting 582 for an average of 5.71 per set while earning All-Patriot League First Team recognition for the fourth time.
 
Throughout her career, she has averaged 5.93 digs per set over 95 matches and 371 sets, a total that ranks her fourth all-time in NCAA Division I in the statistical category.
 
She has also been a standout in the classroom, graduating last year with her bachelor's degree in elementary education after earning Academic All-Patriot League honors in 2021.
 
Loyola, which has advanced to the Patriot League Championships for each of the last three full seasons played, will start its 2022 campaign August 26 and 27 at the Penn State Invitational. The Greyhounds will first play Duquesne (10:30 a.m.) and West Virginia (3 p.m.) on Friday before taking on the host Nittany Lions on Saturday (11:30 a.m.).