We are thrilled to shine the spotlight today on 2020-21 Purple Blanket Award Recipient, Melissa Langegger.

Video Interview with Winner Melissa Langegger

To watch the video interview with Melissa Langegger and her Head Coach Women's Volleyball, Melissa Bartlett, please view below. For closed captioning options, please view the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jvUuiGaVM8I



Purple Blanket Awards are granted to students who, often in their graduating year, are nominated by their coaches and chosen by members of the Selection Committee. Nominated individuals must have been a Western Mustangs student athlete for a minimum of three (3) years, have received a minimum of three (3) First Colour Awards throughout their career, and have been an active participant in their respective sport at the time of recommendation.



Langegger is part of the Mustangs Women's Volleyball Team and has been playing for Western since 2016. In her 2016-17 season, Langegger was the OUA West Division Rookie of the Year, and she was part of both the OUA and U Sports All Rookie Teams. She has been the Mustangs Women's Volleyball Team Captain for the past three seasons, a team starter for the past 5 seasons, and was an OUA 1st Team All Star in the 2019-20 season. In the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, Langegger helped her team place 4th in the OUA Finals and was an Academic All-Canadian in the same seasons. She is a Western Women's Volleyball record holder and ranks within the top ten career all-time totals in aces, digs, points, attempts and kills. 

Mustangs Women's Volleyball Head Coach Melissa Bartlett described Langegger as a having a "consistent presence in the success of [the] program". "In my 8 years as a coach, [Langegger] stands out as the athlete who most rapidly excelled and made incredible improvements in her game as a university athlete as compared to her career as a club athlete." said Coach Bartlett. "For years she has been the leader of our team, and a player that others look up to not only because of her abilities, but the passion, dedication and presence she has every time she steps into the gym. She will leave her mark on our program."

"We are so proud of the career that Melissa has put together as a Mustang. She has set the standard in our gym of hard work, team culture and resilience. She is such a deserving nominee for this prestigious award." Coach Bartlett explained. Coach Bartlett also described Langegger as "an extraordinary mentor to the younger athletes joining [the Mustangs Women's Volleyball] team after [Langegger]".

Langegger has been involved in other organizations on campus, including the Student Athlete Mental Health Initiative for the past two years, and the Mustangs Athlete Student Council for the past three. She has lead new recruit tours, run Sport Western camps and has given her time to run extra community clinics outside of her position playing for the Mustangs.

Langegger was also a nominee for the 2021 F.W.P. Jones Trophy, and is in the process of finishing her Kinesiology degree at Western and graduating this year.

She currently has plans to play professionally in Switzerland this upcoming year.

The Western Mustangs want to congratulate Melissa Langegger on winning a Purple Blanket for her outstanding accomplishments.