Sept. 8, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
FACES OF THE BIG TEN
Caity DuPont, wisconsin
Jr., Muskego, Wis.
Dedicated to "going green," the junior outside hitter has teamed up with other student-athletes to create a recycling program for the athletics facilities around the UW campus. The group, "REthink Wisconsin," works to educate the public about the benefits of reducing, reusing and recycling. It also helps people implement sustainable waste management practices and promotes the adoption of waste management policies across campus.
BIG TEN. BIG NEWS.
Three Teams Undefeated After Week 2
After two weeks of competition, three Big Ten squads remain undefeated, now with 6-0 records. The No. 1 team in the nation, Penn State swept through its own Nittany Lion Invitational, earning 3-0 wins over Long Island, George Washington and Villanova. In the tournament, PSU recorded an average margin of victory of 11.11 points per set. Also undefeated and in the national rankings at No. 25 Michigan claimed the title at the Georgia Tech Invitational with three-set wins over Georgia State and Arkansas before a five-set victory over the host Yellow Jackets. The 3-2 win marked Michigan's first match of the season to go beyond three sets. No. 15 Purdue also moved to 6-0 on the year with wins over Tennessee Tech, Southern Illinois and Ball State at the Active Ankle Challenge. The Boilermakers swept each match and held their opponents to a combined .060 hitting percentage.
DeBruler Takes Home National Honors
Illinois sophomore Laura DeBruler was named National Player of the Week by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) last Tuesday. DeBruler earned the first national award of her career after helping the Illini to wins over then-No. 11 Oregon and then-No. 23 New Mexico State. The victories helped Illinois earn its first national ranking since 2004.
Waite-ing for 500
Wisconsin head coach Pete Waite is one win shy of 500 in his career. The mentor currently owns an all-time record of 499-170 in 21 years of coaching. With his next win, Waite will become the 24th active coach in NCAA Division I and the third active coach in the Big Ten to reach the milestone, joining Penn State's Russ Rose and Minnesota's Mike Hebert.
MVP Honors Roll in for Big Ten Players
After bringing home six MVP awards in the first week of the season, Big Ten volleyball players combined to earn five more MVP honors in Week 2. Indiana's Erica Short was named MVP of the adidas Classic after averaging 5.5 kills per set and setting an IU record with 24 hits in a three-set match. Michigan's Lexi Zimmerman earned the same honors at the Georgia Tech Invitational for posting 118 assists in three matches, setting her team to a combined .293 average on the weekend. Michigan State's Vanessa King was MVP at the Delaware Asics Invitational, averaging 3.2 kills per set on a .411 hitting average with 1.7 blocks per set. Arielle Wilson of Penn State was the Most Outstanding Player at the Nittany Lion Invitational, averaging 1.9 blocks and 2.3 kills per set on a .341 average. Purdue's Kelli Miller earned MVP accolades at the Active Ankle Challenge, recording 4.67 digs per set while holding opponents to a .060 hitting mark.
The Race to 1,000
Wisconsin sophomore Brittney Dolgner became the fastest player in UW history to record 1,000 career kills, reaching the milestone in her 231st set. The mark surpasses that set by two-time All-American Sherisa Livingston, who needed 265 sets to reach the mark. Also reaching major milestones over the weekend, Penn State's Christa Harmotto recorded her 1,000th career kill, while teammate Roberta Holehouse notched her 1,000th career dig. Joining the chase for 1,000, Minnesota's Kyla Roehrig needs five kills for the milestone, while Gopher libero Christine Tan is 69 digs away from 1,000.
Big Ten on TV
The Big Ten's 11 volleyball squads will enjoy vast exposure during the 2008 regular season with 23 matches set to air on national television. Twenty contests will air on the Big Ten Network and three on ESPN2. The Big Ten Network will also feature Big Ten volleyball as part of its nightly highlight show, Big Ten Tonight, as well as the Big Ten Women's Show, which airs Monday evenings. Match coverage begins Sunday, as Minnesota hosts Notre Dame as part of the Diet Coke Classic.
