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