PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers volleyball right-side hitter Alissa Kinkela has been named Second Team All-Big Ten in a vote among the league’s head coaches, it was announced on Thursday by the conference office.
Kinkela becomes the second Scarlet Knight tabbed to an All-Big Ten team and the first attacker to be lauded with Big Ten post-season honors.
The redshirt sophomore led RU on the attack in 2023 averaging 2.99 kills per set in playing all 115 sets in helping the Scarlet Knights to its best record since 2012. Kinkela finished the 2023 campaign in double-figure kills in 21 of 30 matches. She also added 206 digs and 79 blocks while collecting seven double-doubles on the year.
The Melbourne, Australia native posted a season-high 19 kills in a win over Iowa, marking the third most kills by an RU player in a Big Ten match since joining the league in 2014. The victory also put Rutgers into double-digit wins for the first time in 11 seasons.
Kinkela also swung .620 at Columbia during nonconference play marking the fifth-best hitting percentage in a match of the rally era.
The Scarlet Knight also captured a career-high 15 digs against No. 1 Nebraska in front of a record-breaking Jersey Mike’s Arena crowd of 6,757 and logged a career-high 15 blocks versus No. 24 Ohio State.
Among rally-era career leaders, in her three seasons “On The Banks” thus far, Kinkela ranks 10th in kills (655) and third in kills per set (2.84).
Rutgers Volleyball All-Big Ten Honorees
2023 – Alissa Kinkela (Second Team)
2020 – Inna Balyko (First Team)
Additionally, senior middle Kristina Grkovic was named Rutgers’ recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree.
This season, Grkovic became the rally-era season and career leader in solo blocks and etched her name into the all-time top 10 in career blocks. She wrapped up her career second among rally-era performers in career total blocks and block assists, second in career kills, hitting percentage and points and fourth in career aces. She captured career highs this season with 15 kills at Maryland, eight digs at Iowa and 11 blocks versus NC State.
The Belgrade, Serbia native was among the winningest senior classes in 11 seasons.
Rutgers Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
2014 – Ali Schroeter
2015 – Ali Schroeter
2016 – Mikaela Matthews
2017 – Karysa Swackenberg
2018 -…
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