University Park, Pa. — Penn State women's volleyball outside hitter Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) has been named one of two winners of the Honda-Broderick Cup designating the top Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. Hodge shares the honor with University of Connecticut women's basketball junior Maya Moore.
It is just the second time in the history of the Collegiate Women's Sports Award that two female athletes have tied for the Honda-Broderick Cup. The pair was selected by a vote among 1,000 NCAA member schools and the Board of Directors of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program.
"This year's history-making tie for out top award is highly unusual," said Judith R. Holland, co-founder and executive director of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards. "And while it is extremely rare for us to have a tie for Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year, in this case it is quite fortuitous, as we are delighted to be able to give the award to two such outstanding athletes and exemplary young women as Maya and Megan. They are both very worthy recipients and we are proud to have them join our legacy."
The ceremony to award the Honda-Broderick Cup was held at UCLA's J.D. Morgan Center and was attended by all "Top Three" finalists, including track & field distance runner Lisa Koll from Iowa State. Hodge is the first athlete from Penn State to be honored as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.
"It's been a whirlwind," said Hodge. "With all the traveling and competing. I'm humbled and honored to win."
The Penn State Female Athlete of the Year, Hodge accumulated numerous awards during her Penn State career. She became Penn State's fourth four-time AVCA First Team All-American and was chosen as the Big Ten Player of the Year twice. A finalist for the AAU Sullivan Award, she was also four-time First Team All-Big Ten selection. Hodge guided the Nittany Lions to an unprecedented third straight NCAA title in 2009, while on a 102-match winning streak. The 2009 Division I National Player of the Year, Hodge is part of the winningest class in program history having amassed a career win/loss record of 142-5.
Off the court, Hodge was an excellent student. She was honored as an ESPN The Magazine Second Team Academic All-American in 2008 and garnered first team accolades in 2009. She went on to be named the Academic All-American of the Year for volleyball. In addition, Hodge was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Hodge graduated in May with a degree in business.
The Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year award recognizes not only outstanding athletic achievement, but also team contributions, scholastics and community involvement. This year's tie marks only the second time two athletes have received the Honda-Broderick Cup in the same year. In 1984, the award went to both swimmer Tracy Caulkins from the University of Florida and basketball player Cheryl Miller from the University of Southern California.