Oct. 20, 2008
BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CO-OFFENSE
Brook Dieter, Minnesota
So., OH, Bloomington, Minn./Bethany Academy
Dieter earns Big Ten Player of the Week honors after helping Minnesota to wins over Iowa and Michigan State last weekend. The sophomore averaged 5.0 kills, 3.4 digs and 1.0 blocks per set while hitting at a .388 clip for the two matches. Against the Hawkeyes, Dieter put down 16 kills on 38 errorless attacks to hit at a .421 mark, also adding five digs and two block solos in a sweep. The following day versus the Spartans, the outside hitter tallied 19 kills and 19 digs, also tacking on a service ace and five total blocks in a 3-1 win. The award is the first for Dieter this season and the fourth of her career as she was honored three times last season, tying the Big Ten’s freshman record for Player of the Week awards.
Last MINN POW: Christine Tan (defense), Oct. 6, 2008
Stephanie Lynch, Purdue
Sr., MH, New Albany, Ind./New Albany
Lynch grabs her second honor of the season and the fourth of her career after helping the No. 21 Boilermakers past No. 19 Wisconsin and Northwestern over the weekend. Lynch tallied 4.4 kills per set on the strength of a .439 hitting percentage, also adding 1.9 blocks per stanza to move into second place on Purdue’s all-time total blocks list. Against the nationally ranked Badgers, the senior put down 20 kills at a .459 clip with a match-high seven blocks in a 3-2 win. The next day against the Wildcats, she tallied 15 kills at a .414 mark with a service ace and eight stuffs in a 3-0 sweep. With 15 total blocks on the weekend, Lynch owns 563 in her career and needs just four more for the school record.
Last PUR POW: Stephanie Lynch (offense) & Kelli Miller (defense), Sept. 15, 2008
DEFENSE
Kelli Miller, Purdue
Sr., LIB, Muncie, Ind./Muncie CentralMiller earns Big Ten defensive accolades after averaging 5.0 digs and 0.6 aces per set as Purdue defeated nationally ranked Wisconsin and Northwestern over the weekend. Miller also executed on 44 of 45 (98 percent) of her service reception attempts and helped the Boilermakers to a .320 hitting mark on the weekend with her passing. Against No. 19 Wisconsin on Friday, Miller recorded 20 digs and five service aces, which is the highest total in any Big Ten match this season. Versus Northwestern, the libero posted her fifth 20-dig match of the year while executing on all 13 of her service reception opportunities as she helped pass her squad to a season-high hitting percentage of .352. The award is Miller’s second this season and the fifth of her career.
Last PUR POW: Stephanie Lynch (offense) & Kelli Miller (defense), Sept. 15, 2008
