Sept. 29, 2008
BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Vanessa King, Michigan State
Jr., MB, Spring Lake, Mich./Spring Lake
King earns Big Ten Player of the Week honors after helping Michigan State to its first 2-0 conference start since 1996. The junior middle blocker combined for 31 kills on a .472 hitting percentage with 14 total blocks, six digs and two service aces over the weekend. Against Ohio State on Friday, King put down 13 kills at a .364 clip with two aces, three digs and eight block assists, which was one stuff shy of her career best. Versus No. 21 Michigan on Saturday, King slammed a career-high 18 kills on the strength of a .548 percentage, also contributing three saves and six block assists. Led by King, the Spartan block held the Buckeyes and Wolverines to a combined .192 hitting percentage. The award is the second of King’s career as she was honored on defense on Nov. 13, 2006. It is the first offensive accolade for MSU this season.
Last MSU POW: Allyson Karaba (defense), Sept. 8, 2008
DEFENSE
Christine Tan, Minnesota
Jr., LIB, Safety Harbor, Fla./Palm Harbor
Tan receives Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades for the third time this season after anchoring the Minnesota defense that held Northwestern and No. 18 Wisconsin to a combined .143 hitting mark over the weekend. Tan combined for 43 digs over seven sets, moving to ninth on the Golden Gophers’ all-time digs list with 1,095 career saves. The junior averaged 6.1 digs, 0.6 assists and 0.4 service aces per set and was perfect on all 39 of her service reception opportunities. Against the Wildcats on Friday, Tan recorded 22 digs with 14 service receptions, also adding one dig and a service ace. Closing out the weekend against the nationally ranked Badgers, she notched 21 digs and 25 service receptions with three assists a pair of aces. This week’s award marks the fifth of Tan’s career, tying her for eighth all-time in the Big Ten. It also gives her more weekly defensive honors than any other conference player since the award was started in 2005.
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Last MINN POW: Christine Tan (defense), Sept. 22, 2008
