UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Three Penn State women's volleyball players were named All-Big Ten by the conference on Thursday. Jess Mruzik and Mac Podraza earned a spot on the first team, while Camryn Hannah was voted to the second team. Additionally, Macy Van Den Elzen was the team's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Mruzik, a senior with another year of eligibility remaining, was a unanimous selection as she picked up her third career first-team honor. The outside hitter ranks third in the Big Ten in points/set (5.00) and kills/set (4.42). She has 464 kills on the season and needs just seven more to move into fifth on Penn State's single-season kills list during the 25-point rally scoring era. Mruzik totaled double-digit digs in 25 of 29 matches this season, including 18 of the 20 Big Ten matches.
Podraza, who is in her fifth season of collegiate volleyball, is now a four-time first-team All-Big Ten honoree at setter, including one year in which she was named the conference's Setter of the Year. She guided Penn State to the NCAA Tournament for a 43rd consecutive season with 10.42 assists/set overall and 10.80 assists/set in Big Ten matches. The Nittany Lions' attack ranked third in the conference in hitting percentage. Podraza added to the defensive effort with 2.11 digs/set while recording 11 double-doubles with assists and digs.
Hannah, another senior with a year of eligibility left, earned her first All-Big Ten honor in her first year playing in the conference. The versatile player has seen time at hitter on the outside and the right side. She excelled against Big Ten opponents, hitting .283 while averaging 3.13 kills/set. Overall she averaged 2.97 kills/set and reached double-digit kills in 17 matches.
Van Den Elzen adds the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award to her two Academic All-Big Ten accolades. She is set to graduate with a degree in marketing and will join both of her parents as proud Penn State alumni.
Penn State's season continues tonight with an NCAA Tournament First Round match against Yale. The match is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Kansas's Horesji Arena.
