Penn State, Michigan State, Maryland And Purdue Claim Weekly Volleyball Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill.  (Sept. 5, 2023) – The Big Ten Conference has announced this week’s Volleyball Weekly Awards for the week of August 28 – September 3. 

 

Offensive Player of the Week 

Jess Mruzik, Penn State

Sr. – Outside Hitter – Livonia, Mich. – Farmington Hills Mercy – Major: Master’s in Business Adminstration

• Hit .345 with 53 kills, 14 digs, eight blocks and three aces as No. 12 Penn State went 3-0 at the PSU Invitational with wins over No. 22 Western Kentucky, Colgate and James Madison
• Reached 1,000 career kills in the second set of the win over Colgate
• Closed the tournament with a 26-kill performance against James Madison, the most by a Nittany Lion in a match since 2018, and the program’s top mark in a four-set match sicne the 25-point rally scoring era began in 2008
• Last Penn State Player of the Week: Kashauna Williams (9/12/22)

Defensive Player of the Week 

Nalani Iosia, Michigan State

Sr. – Libero – Long Beach, Calif. – Redondo Union – Major: Sociology

• Named the Most Valuable Player of the inaugural Kathy DeBoer Invitational where the Spartans went 3-0 on the weekend
• Recorded 20+ digs in two-of-three matches, averaging 5.22/set
• Last Michigan State Defensive Player of the Week: Jayme Cox (9/3/19)

Setter of the Week 

Sydney Dowler, Maryland

Sr. – Setter – Oconomowoc, Wis. – Green Hope – Major: Cell Biology & Genetics

• Led the Terrapins in assists in all three matches at the Kristin Dickmann Invitational, averaging 10.8/set
• Became the sixth player in Maryland history to reach the 2,500 assist milestone
• Last Maryland Setter of the Week: Sydney Dowler (10/17/22)

Freshman of the Week 

Chloe Chicoine, Purdue

Fr. – Outside Hitter – Lafayette, Ind. – McCutcheon – Major: Business Management and Kinesiology

• Recorded back-to-back double-doubles to help lead No. 20 Purdue to wins over No. 23 Kansas and No. 19 Marquette
• Led all players with 21 kills in the win over Kansas, and ranked second on the team with 2.30 digs/set during the weekend
• Last Purdue Freshman of the Week: Eva Hudson (11/28/22)

2023 Big Ten Volleyball Players of the Week  

Aug. 28

O: Emily Londot – Ohio State

D: Kylie Murr – Minnesota

S: Mia Tuman – Ohio State

F: Harper Murray – Nebraska

Sept. 5

O: Jess Mruzik – Penn State

D: Nalani Iosia –…