Minnesota junior libero Paula Gentil (Forteleza Ceara', Brazil) was named the CVU.com National Player of the Year according to an announcement by CVU.com on Dec. 14.

Gentil recorded 79 digs, five assists and four service aces in two matches this past week to help lead Minnesota to a pair of five-game victories over Georgia Tech and Ohio State in the NCAA Regionals.

With the two NCAA Regional victories, Minnesota advanced to the National Semifinals for the second straight year.

In the NCAA Regional Semifinals, Gentil had her second-highest career dig total with 41 against Georgia Tech in a five-game victory. The next night she had 38 digs and three service aces in a victory over Ohio State that punched Minnesota's ticket to the NCAA National Semifinals.

Gentil enters the week with an NCAA single-season record of 876 digs this season.

Minnesota will have a rematch of last year's National Semifinals when it takes on USC on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 9:30 p.m. (CT). The first National Semifinal match will feature Stanford and Washington on Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. (CT).