UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State’s Kennedy Martin was named the Big Ten Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week on Monday, earning the award for the third-straight week after leading the Nittany Lions to road wins at No. 19 Minnesota (3-1) and at No. 7 Wisconsin (3-2).
Martin is the first player since Nebraska’s Kelsey Robinson in 2013 to win the award three straight weeks. It is the third-straight year that a Penn State player earned the honor three times in a single season. Jess Mruzik accomplished the feat in 2024, while Martin did it last season.
Martin has been the best player in the nation over the past three weeks. Most recently, she was nearly unstoppable in the wins at Minnesota and Wisconsin. It started with a four-set win over the Gophers in which she hit .500 with 34 kills and 12 digs. The 34 kills matched her own Penn State single-match record during the 25-point rally scoring era.
Penn State then traveled to play the Badgers and beat them in Madison for the first time since 2017. Martin led the way again, hitting .328 with 28 kills, 12 digs, and three aces. Her final kill secured match point in the fifth set.
For the week, Martin hit .413 while averaging 7.50 points, 6.89 kills, and 2.67 digs per set over the two matches.
Penn State has won seven straight matches, including five against nationally-ranked opponents to move into a tie for second place in the Big Ten standings. The Nittany Lions return to action Wednesday with a road trip to play Maryland.
The 2026 Penn State women’s volleyball season is presented by Musselman’s.