Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Penn State Earn Weekly Volleyball Awards

by | Sep 18, 2017 | RRSN News | 0 comments

Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Penn State Earn Weekly Volleyball Awards

Illinois’ Brandi Donnelly, Iowa’s Gabrielle Orr, Michigan’s Carly Skjodt, Minnesota’s Samantha Seliger-Swenson and Stephanie Samedy, and Penn State’s Simone Lee earn weekly honors

 Co-Players of the Week

Carly Skjodt, Michigan

OH – Jr. – Indianapolis, Ind. – Carmel

• Averaged 4.1 kills and 2.6 digs per set to help No. 21 Michigan sweep N.C. State, Milwaukee and Cincinnati to win the Michigan Challenge

• Recorded a season-high 16 kills, while adding six digs and a block for a hitting percentage of .394 in the straight-set victory over Milwaukee

• Named Michigan Challenge MVP

• Earns her first career Player of the Week award

• Last Michigan Player of the Week: Abby Cole (Sept. 14, 2015)

Simone Lee, Penn State

OH – Sr. – Menomonee Falls, Wis. – Menomonee

• Averaged 3.6 kills and 1.7 digs per set to help No. 2 Penn State defeat Yale, Wake Forest and Ohio for the Penn State Classic team title

• Recorded a career-best five service aces, while adding 10 kills and a pair of blocks for a hitting percentage of .818 in the straight-set victory over Wake Forest

• Named the Penn State Classic MVP

• Earns her second career Player of the Week award

• Last Penn State Player of the Week: Ali Frantti (Sept. 11, 2017)

Defensive Player of the Week

Brandi Donnelly, Illinois

L – Sr. – Williamsville, Ill. – Williamsville

• Recorded 68 digs and 11 set assists to pace Illinois to the team title at the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational

• Opened the tournament with a match-high 19 digs against Chattanooga, before turning in a 24-dig performance in three sets against Tennessee State

• The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree had a single receiving error in 49 opportunities, helping the Illini hold their opponents to a .133 hitting percentage

• Collects her fourth career Defensive Player of the Week accolade and first the season

• Last Illinois Defensive Player of the Week: Ali Bastianelli (Aug. 28, 2017)

Setter of the Week

Samantha Seliger-Swenson, Minnesota

S – Jr. – Minnetonka, Minn. – Hopkins

• Posted 139 set assists to average 11.6 per set with a .333 hitting percentage in guiding top-ranked Minnesota to wins over Oregon State, Boise State and Idaho State  

• Added a season-best 59 assists along with 13 digs, and two block assists in the Gophers’ five-set win over Boise State

• Named to the Boise State Classic All-Tournament Team

• Receives her eighth career Setter of the Week citation and second of the season

• Last Minnesota Setter of the Week: Samantha Seliger-Swenson (Sept. 5, 2017)

Co-Freshmen of the Week

Gabrielle Orr, Iowa

S – Eagan, Minn. – Eagan HS

• Posted 117 set assists to average 11.7 per set with an .500 hitting percentage, leading Iowa to the team title at the American Volleyball Classic  

• Registered 15 digs and 13 kills on the weekend to help the Hawkeyes finish their non-conference slate with an 11-2 record, the team’s best start since 2006

• Named to the American Volleyball Classic  All-Tournament Team

• Receives her first career Freshman of the Week award

• Earns Iowa’s first Freshman of the Week honor since the award’s inception in 2009

Stephanie Samedy, Minnesota

OPP – Clermont, Fla. – East Ridge

• Averaged 4.7 kills and 2.4 digs per set with two double-doubles and a .322 hitting percentage last weekend, helping top-ranked Minnesota claim the Boise State Classic Tournament team title

• Had a season-best 26 kills, 12 digs and four blocks against Boise State

• Named to the Boise State Classic All-Tournament Team

• Earns her second career Freshman of the Week award

• Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week: Stephanie Samedy (Aug. 28, 2017)

2017 Big Ten Players of the Week

Aug. 28

P: Stephanie Samedy, Fr., MINN

P: Dana Rettke, Fr., WIS

D: Ali Bastianelli, Jr., ILL

S: Sydney Hilley, Fr., WIS

F: Stephanie Samedy, MINN

F: Dana Rettke, WIS

Sept. 5

P: Haleigh Washington, Sr., PSU

D: Briana Holman, Sr., NEB

S: Samantha Seliger-Swenson, Jr., MINN

F: Sydney Hilley, WIS

Sept. 11

P: Ali Frantti, Sr., PSU

D: Tionna Williams, Jr., WIS

S: Kelly Hunter, Sr., NEB

F: Hannah Gruensfelder, OSU

F: Dana Rettke, WIS

Sept. 18

P: Carly Skjodt, Jr., MICH

P: Simone Lee, Sr., PSU

D: Brandi Donnelly, Sr., ILL

S: Samantha Seliger-Swenson, Jr., MINN

F: Gabrielle Orr, IOWA

F: Stephanie Samedy, MINN

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