UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women’s volleyball senior Haleigh Washington joined elite company on Monday afternoon when she was awarded her eighth career Big Ten Player of the Week honor as announced by the league office, after leading the Nittany Lions to a 2-0 weekend.
Washington, who was honored for the third time this season, joins Penn State alumnae Nicole Fawcett (2005-08) and Megan Hodge (2006-09) as the only three players in Nittany Lion history with eight Big Ten Player of the Week selections. All three are tied for second in the history of the award in all of the Big Ten, trailing Stacey Gordon (OSU, 2001-04) who finished her career with 16.
Over the weekend, Washington continued her dominance, averaging 5.2 points per set out of the middle. She led the team in kills (3.88), blocks (1.88), and points (5.2) and finished with a .531 hitting percentage.
The senior put down a career-high 20 kills on a clip of .500, while adding eight blocks, one solo, and two digs in the Nittany Lions gritty win over Ohio State. She followed that performance with a team-best 11 kills while hitting .588, adding seven blocks, one solo, and three digs in the Nittany Lions sweep of Maryland on Saturday evening.
Washington currently leads the nation in hitting percentage at 0.509.
Washington (9/4, 10/2, 10/9) is one of three Nittany Lions honored this season as both Simone Lee (9/18) and Ali Frantti (9/11) have been recognized.