Dec. 1, 2008
BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
Megan Hodge, Penn State
Jr., OH, Durham, N.C./Riverside
Hodge led the Nittany Lions as they became the first squad in NCAA history to finish the regular season undefeated in matches and sets played. Behind Hodge’s efforts, Penn State recorded wins on the road over Ohio State and No. 20 Michigan, finishing the Big Ten season undefeated for the second consecutive year. On the weekend, the junior averaged 5.0 kills per set on .436 hitting, also totaling 12 digs and three total blocks in the two matches. Against the Buckeyes on Friday, Hodge led her team with 12 kills, including the last three in the third set to break a 28-28 tie and give the Nittany Lions the come-from-behind win. The Durham, N.C., native also added an assist, two blocks and seven digs in the effort. Against the nationally ranked Wolverines on Saturday, Hodge recorded a season-high 18 kills on a .536 hitting percentage, also tallying an assist, a block and five digs as PSU wrapped up the perfect regular season. The award is Hodge’s first this season and the fifth of her career.
Last PSU POW: Alisha Glass (offense), Nov. 17, 2008
CO-DEFENSE
Ashley Edinger, Illinois
Jr., LIB, Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City
Edinger led the Illinois defense as it earned a pair of road victories over Wisconsin and Northwestern on the weekend. Against the Badgers, the junior recorded 12 digs and was flawless on 27 service reception attempts with two assists and a service ace as the Illini won in Madison for the first time since 1995. At Northwestern on Saturday, Edinger recorded 16 digs and converted on 13 of 14 service receptions, passing her team to a .371 hitting percentage. For the weekend, Edinger averaged 4.7 digs per set in a pair of three-set sweeps, also making good on 98 percent of her service reception opportunities as she passed her team to a combined .325 hitting mark. The libero finished the regular season with 521 digs and is now among the Big Ten’s all-time leaders in the category with 1,573 saves in her career. The weekly honor is the third for Edinger this season and the fourth of her career.
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Last ILL POW: Laura DeBruler (offense) & Johannah Bangert (defense), Nov. 24, 2008
Stephanie Lynch, Purdue
Sr., MH, New Albany, Ind./New Albany
Lynch helped the Boilermakers to a pair of road wins over the weekend, holding Wisconsin and Northwestern to a combined hitting percentage of under .200. Lynch became the school’s single-season block-assists record holder with 152 on the year. The senior tallied three blocks against the Wildcats on Friday, also contributing six digs and nine kills. Against the Badgers on Saturday, the New Albany, Ind., native recorded a season-best 12 block assists, also adding one block solo, 17 kills and four digs. On the weekend, the middle hitter averaged 1.6 blocks, 1.0 digs and 2.7 kills per game as the Boilermakers tallied their highest win total in conference play since 1987. The weekly accolade is Lynch’s fourth this season and the sixth of her career.
Last PUR POW: Stephanie Lynch (defense), Nov. 17, 2008
