University Park, Pa. — Freshman outside hitter Deja McClendon (Louisville, Ky.) was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week, conference officials announced Monday. It is McClendon’s second honor of the season.
McClendon helped guide the Nittany Lions to sweeps of George Washington, Princeton and St. John’s in the Rockvale Outlets Classic at Rec Hall. McClendon started all three matches and was second on the team with 25 kills (3.12 kills per set) on a team-best .524 attack percentage. She also contributed one ace, 14 digs (1.75 digs per set) and seven total blocks (0.88 blocks per set). Against the Colonials, McClendon led the team with 15 kills on .636 hitting. She also had six digs and was second on the team with four blocks. On Saturday, Sept. 18 against the Tigers, McClendon once again led the team with 12 putdowns with just one error in 17 attempts. She closed out the weekend with eight kills, four digs and three blocks against the Red Storm.
Other Big Ten honorees in addition to McClendon include Michigan’s Alex Hunt as Big Ten Player of the Week and Ohio State’s Mariah Booth as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
Penn State (10-1) concluded preseason play over the weekend and opens Big Ten play on Friday, Sept. 24 at nationally-ranked Illinois. Action is set for 8 p.m. (ET). The Nittany Lions travel to Wisconsin on Sept. 26 for a 2 p.m. (ET) matchup with the Badgers.