Minnesota redshirt senior Phoebe Awoleye and junior outside Julia Hanson have been named Big Ten Defensive Player and Player of the Week, respectively, the conference announced on Monday.
Awoleye earned her second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award this season after going for 2.50 blocks, 2.38 points, 1.13 kills and 0.75 digs per set in wins at Illinois and versus Ohio State.
The Marietta, Ga., native posted 10 blocks, five digs and three kills in a come-from-behind four set win at Illinois on Wednesday. She followed that up with 10 blocks and six kills on senior night in a four set win over Ohio State. For the season, Awoleye has posted five-or-more blocks in 17 matches and 10-or-more four times. She tied the school record for a match with 14 blocks on Oct. 12 versus Maryland.
For the 2024 season, Awoleye ranked first in the Big Ten during conference matches (20 games) with 1.64 blocks per set (125 blocks). The next closest player in each category to her were at 1.54 blocks per set and 100 blocks. In all matches, she’s recorded 1.50 blocks per set. If the season ended today, that mark would rank No. 4 all-time in Gophers single-season history.
Savage, Minn., native Julia Hanson also earned her second Big Ten Player of the Week distinction. Her massive week saw her record 6.44 points, 5.63 kills, 2.00 digs, 0.63 blocks and 0.13 assists per set.
In Wednesday’s match at Illinois, Hanson had 22 kills (.283) with seven digs, three blocks and an ace. Friday against Ohio State she went for 23 kills (.400) with nine digs, two blocks and three aces.
On the season, Hanson has hit double-digit kills in 25 of 30 matches, including seven 20+ kill matches. She’s hit 20+ kills in five of the last six matches.
The Gophers (20-10, 13-7 B1G) compete in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT against Western Kentucky (28-6, 18-0 CUSA). The match will take place at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky.
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)
