Oct. 8, 2007
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State women's volleyball junior outside hitter Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio) has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week, conference officials announced today. It is the fifth career honor for Fawcett and the fifth for the Nittany Lions this year, bringing Penn State's total Big Ten Player of the Week citations to 55 since joining the conference for the 1991 season.
Fawcett is the fourth different Nittany Lion to earn the honor this year as sophomore outside hitter Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) picked up the accolade on Sept. 10, junior middle hitter Christa Harmotto earned the award on Aug. 27 and Sept. 24 and freshman middle hitter Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.) was named the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 1.
Behind Fawcett's play, No. 3 Penn State remained tied for first place in the Big Ten with Wisconsin after sweeps of Iowa and No. 11 Minnesota last weekend at Rec Hall. Against the Hawkeyes, Fawcett racked up 18 kills while hitting .351 and adding five digs. The following night versus the Golden Gophers, Fawcett posted 23 kills on .308 hitting with two service aces and a team-leading five blocks.
For the weekend, Fawcett averaged 6.83 kills per game on .329 hitting while also adding two aces, eight digs and six blocks for an average of 7.75 points per game. She leads the conference in overall kills per game (4.85) and points per game (5.66) while also ranking first in Big Ten kills per game (4.89) and points per game (5.83).
Penn State remains at home with a split week, hosting Ohio State on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 8:00 p.m. at Rec Hall before facing Michigan on Friday, Oct. 12 at 8:00 p.m. at Rec Hall. The contest between the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes will air live on the Big Ten Network.
For more information on the Penn State women's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com.