University Park, Pa. — Freshman middle hitter Katie Slay (Raleigh, N.C.) was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week, conference officials announced Monday. These are Slay’s first career honors. Indiana’s Jordan Haverly was named the Big Ten Player of the Week.
Slay led the Nittany Lion defense to wins on the road against No. 15 Michigan and Michigan State over the weekend. The freshman blocked 10 Wolverine attempts on Friday, which tied for the fifth-highest single-match total in the Big Ten this season, as the Nittany Lions held Michigan to .069 hitting in the three-set match. Her six blocks against Michigan State brought her weekend total to 16 for an average of 2.3 blocks per set. In addition, Slay combined for 17 kills on .593 hitting while on the road. She had seven kills on 10 errorless swings at Michigan and was fourth on the team with 10 kills at Michigan State.
Penn State (21-4, 11-3 Big Ten) is back in action Friday, Nov. 12 against Wisconsin at 7 p.m. Penn State then hosts Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. The match will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.