UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Three Penn State women's volleyball players earned All-Big Ten honors on Wednesday. Seniors Kaitlyn Hord and Jonni Parker were voted to the first team, while senior Jenna Hampton was a second-team honoree. Additionally, sophomore Annie Cate Fitzpatrick was the team's representative for the Sportsmanship Award.
Hord is now a four-time All-Big Ten selection after being voted to the first team for the third-straight season. The senior middle blocker is hitting .411 while averaging 2.95 kills/set and 1.39 blocks/set. Her block numbers rank ninth in the nation. She excelled in the team's 20 Big Ten matches, ranking first in the conference in hitting percentage (.432). Hord posted double-digit kills in 13 of the team's final 16 matches and recorded seven or more blocks in a match 10 times during the season. She registered her 500th career block and 1,000th career kill during the final weekend of the season.
Parker also earned her fourth career All-Big Ten nod. It's her third time making the first team, adding to the honors she won as a freshman and sophomore. Parker ranks sixth in the Big Ten in points/set (4.32) and in kills/set (3.77). The senior right side hitter is a consistent threat for double-digit kills, doing so in 26 of the team's 30 matches while finishing with nine kills three times. She averaged 1.91 digs/set during the regular season and added 0.82 blocks/set. Parker has five double-doubles this year.
Hord and Parker are the ninth and 10th Penn State platers to earn four career All-Big Ten honors, joining Salima Davidson, Bonnie Bremner, Lauren Cacciamani, Nicole Fawcett, Christa Harmotto, Megan Hodge, Deja McClendon, and Haleigh Washington.
Hampton picked up her first All-Big Ten honor in her second season as the team's starting libero. No Big Ten libero was more productive than the senior in conference play this season as she ranked first in digs/set with 4.83. She tallied double-digit digs 25 times, including each of the final 18 matches of the regular season. She had over 20 digs in nine matches. Five of her 20-plus dig matches went just four sets.
Fitzpatrick is known for her energy both on the court and in her support of her teammates. She has played in 84 sets and 32 matches over the past two seasons. During that time she has totaled 171 kills, 135 digs and 22 aces.
Penn State begins postseason play against Towson on Friday in the NCAA First Round. The match is scheduled for 4 p.m., at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.
