Nebraska, Wisconsin and Penn State Earn Weekly Volleyball Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill.  -- The Big Ten Conference has announced this week’s Volleyball Weekly Awards for the week of September 26 – October 1. 

Offensive Player of the Week 

Merritt Beason, Nebraska

Jr. – Opposite Hitter – Gardendale, Ala. – Gardendale – Major:  Child, Youth, and Family Studies

• Led the Huskers to road wins at No. 17 Purdue and Indiana with 4.56 kills/set on a .348 hitting percentage

• Had 19 kills on .378 hitting, along with nine digs and five blocks, in a five-set win over the Boilermakers

• Posted a career-best 22 kills and a season-high 12 digs in the victory at Indiana

• Earns her second Player of the Week honor of the season

• Last Nebraska Player of the Week: Merritt Beason (9/18/23)

Defensive Player of the Week 

Carter Booth, Wisconsin

So. – Middle Blocker – Denver, Colo. – Cherry Creek – Major: Psychology

• Registered 13 blocks to help lead the Badgers to wins over No. 22 Ohio State and Michigan

• Tallied eight blocks, including four in the decisive third set, in a midweek win over the Buckeyes

• Averaged 2.17 blocks/set and totaled 14.5 points for the week

• Last Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week: Gulce Guctekin (11/28/22)

Co-Setters of the Week 

Mac Podraza, Penn State

Gr. – Setter – Sunbury, Ohio – Big Walnut – Major: Business Management Solutions

• Averaged 11.29 assists/set in leading Penn State to road wins over Illinois and No. 13 Minnesota

• Guided the Nittany Lions to .346 hitting with 47 assists in the four-set win over the Gophers

• Earns the 13th Setter of the Week honor of her career, fourth-most since the Big Ten introduced the award in 2012

• Last Penn State Setter of the Week: Seleisa Elisaia (11/7/22)

Bergen Reilly, Nebraska

Fr. – Setter – Sioux Falls, S.D. – O’Gorman – Major: Business and Law

• Averaged 11.89 assists/set and 1.89 digs/set with eight kills and a pair of aces in wins over No. 17 Purdue and Indiana

• Piled up a career-best 54 assists with 12 digs and five kills in Friday’s five-set road win in West Lafayette

• Earns her second consecutive Setter of the Week honor

• Last Nebraska Setter of the Week: Bergen Reilly (9/25/23)

Freshman of the Week 

Harper Murray, Nebraska

Fr. – Setter – Sioux Falls, S.D. – O’Gorman – Major: Business and Law

• Posted 4.22 kills/set and 1.67 digs/set while hitting .278 in road wins over No. 17 Purdue and Indiana

• Set a career-high with 21 kills, along with 10 digs and two blocks, in the victory over the Boilermakers on Friday

• Hit .368 with 17 kills in the four-set win at Indiana

• Earns the third Freshman of the Week honor of her debut season

• Last Nebraska Freshman of the Week: Bergen Reilly (9/25/23)

2023 Big Ten Volleyball Players of the Week  

Aug. 28

O: Emily Londot – Ohio State

D: Kylie Murr - Minnesota

S: Mia Tuman – Ohio State

F: Harper Murray – Nebraska 

Sept. 5

O: Jess Mruzik – Penn State

D: Nalani Iosia – Michigan State

S: Sydney Dowler - Maryland

F: Chloe Chicoine - Purdue 

Sept. 11

O: Chloe Chicoine - Purdue

D: Ellee Stinson – Northwestern

S: Taylor Anderson - Purdue

F: Chloe Chicoine - Purdue

Sept. 18

O: Merritt Beason - Nebraska

D: Amani McArthur – Michigan State

S: Camryn Haworth - Indiana

F: Harper Murray – Nebraska

Sept. 25

O: Jess Mruzik – Penn State

D: Raven Colvin – Purdue

S: Bergen Reilly - Nebraska

F: Bergen Reilly – Nebraska 

Oct. 2

O: Meritt Beason – Nebraska

D: Carter Booth – Wisconsin

S: Mac Podraza – Penn State

S: Bergen Reilly – Nebraska

F: Harper Murray – Nebraska