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

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