Oct. 26, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- After guiding the Penn State women's volleyball team to a pair of Big Ten conference road wins last week, sophomore Haleigh Washington (Colorado Springs, Colo.) has earned Big Ten Co-Player of the Week honors. She splits the award with Minnesota's Hannah Tapp.
The honor is Washington's fourth Big Ten conference weekly award this season, while also marking her seventh career weekly conference nod in any category.
Washington helped Penn State to a five set victory on the road at No. 23 Michigan, as well as straight set win at Michigan State this past week. During the undefeated week, she led the team with a .525 hitting efficiency, totaling 25 kills to average 3.12 per set. She also led the blocking unit with a pair of multi-block performances, averaging 1.00 blocks per frame on the week.
She highlighted the weekend with a career-high 17 kills in the win against the Wolverines, posting a .593 hitting clip with just one error on 27 attempts. She added two aces and five total blocks. Against the Spartans, she tallied eight kills on .385 hitting, while also logging three blocks and one ace.
Washington's leading the team in both hitting efficiency (.459) and blocking (1.51/ps) this year, having recorded at least three blocks in all but one match this year.
Washington and the rest of the Penn State women's volleyball team (19-2, 8-2) are set to square off against Big Ten travel partner Ohio State twice in a three-day span this week. The Nittany Lions travel to Columbus for a midweek matchup Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m., before returning home to host the Buckeyes Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall.
Wednesday's match will broadcast live on ESPNU with Karch Kiraly and Paul Sunderland on the call.
Penn State will host a Halloween match on Friday at Rec Hall with free candy at the door and a costume parade for children on the court during the intermission. Youth tickets are also buy-one-get-one free for kids ages 12 and younger. Call 1-800-NITTANY to purchase the discounted tickets.