Sept. 10, 2007
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Megan Hodge, Penn State
So., OH, Durham, N.C./Riverside
Hodge was named the Most Valuable Player of the Penn State Classic after leading the Nittany Lions to the tournament title. Against No. 24 St. John's on Friday night, Hodge led all players with 18 kills on .556 hitting, also adding two service aces and nine digs. Against Colgate on Saturday, Hodge tallied 15 kills on a .583 clip, also contributing a team-high nine digs and five blocks. In the event's title match against VCU, the sophomore tallied 12 kills with a .381 hitting percentage, adding 12 digs for her 13th career double-double. On the weekend, Hodge averaged 5.00 kills per game on the strength of a .514 hitting mark with 3.33 digs and 1.22 blocks per game. The award is the fourth of Hodge's career, as she was honored three times as a freshman in 2006.
Last PSU POW: Christa Harmotto (8/27/07)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Janilee Rathje, Michigan State
Fr., MB, Mount Pleasant, Mich./Mount Pleasant
Rathje tallied 29 blocks in four matches as the Spartans won the Harvard Invitational. She set a Michigan State freshman blocks record with 11 stuffs against Harvard on Sunday as she earned her first career double-double with 11 kills in the 3-1 victory. The freshman missed a triple-double by just two digs in the match, finishing the tournament's championship contest with eight saves. The Mount Pleasant, Mich., native contributed three service aces in the opening game of the weekend, a 3-0 sweep over Wofford.
Last MSU Defensive POW: Vanessa King (11/13/06)
