Big Ten POW's

[wiscvball]

bigten.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/103006aaa.html

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jackie Simpson, Wisconsin
Jr., S, Downers Grove, Ill./South

Simpson earns Player of the Week honors after leading the Badgers to a pair of sweeps over ranked opponents last weekend. Against second-ranked and undefeated Penn State, the 6-0 setter put up 48 assists as the Badgers hit .330 as a team. She also added three kills, three digs and four blocks in the win. Simpson set UW to another .300-plus hitting percentage against No. 24 Ohio State, putting up 43 assists as the Badgers hit .312. She added four kills on seven attempts for a .571 hitting percentage. The Wisconsin junior also totaled six block assists and eight digs against the Buckeyes. On the weekend, she averaged 15.17 assists, 1.67 blocks, 1.83 digs and 1.17 kills per game while hitting .462 and leading Wisconsin to a .321 clip. Simpson was also honored by the conference on Oct. 25, 2004.

Last WIS POW: Maria Carlini (11/22/04)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chelsy Hyser, Northwestern
So., MB, Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere

Against Michigan last Saturday, Hyser turned in the best blocking performance in the past six years in the Big Ten. The Northwestern sophomore broke the Wildcats' single-match record for total blocks with 15, comprised of two solos and 13 blocks assists. The 15 total blocks ties for the eighth-best total in conference history and is the best effort since Penn State's Robyn Guokas had 15 on Oct. 7, 2000. Hyser had six blocks alone in the third game (a 30-23 NU win), and also notched a pair of blocks in the decisive fifth game. Additionally, Hyser's 13 block assists tied the NU single-match record held by Erika Lange, and again tied for the eighth-best total in conference history. In addition to a pair of blocks and nine kills against Michigan State, Hyser kept the Wildcats over .500 for the season.

Last NU DPOW: Kate Nobilio (10/16/06)

[Deleted]

Good for Jackie.

Doesn't WSU have a player named Chelsy Hyser? I get so confused.

[bomber]

Well deserved award....she played beautifully this week.

I hope she and the Badgers take their hot play on the road when they head to Michigan.

[Deleted]

Kelly Hyder.

Never mind.

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

It's curious, this is one of the first times I can remember where the Big Ten has awarded a defensive POW for a blocker, as opposed to the back row.

I remember lobbying for that once last year, I think, but I don't remember it happening (it certainly didn't then).

This is especially surprising given there was a back row player with an impressive 39 digs in 6 games (including 24 in a three game match). But then, Kelli Miller has won the POW a couple of times already, so I don't have a problem spreading it around. Especially if they are going to start recognizing good net play as a defensive contribution.

Now they just have to get past the "absolute" numbers aspect, where players with, say, 20 kills in a 5 game match is rewarded over someone with 15 kills in a 3 game affair. Too much of that going on yet, with no consideration of hitting percentage, it seems.

[maninyellowhat]

I concur on the absolute numbers aspect. Someone can get 25 kills and hit .200 and they get named POW.

[BearClause]

pablo said:

Now they just have to get past the "absolute" numbers aspect, where players with, say, 20 kills in a 5 game match is rewarded over someone with 15 kills in a 3 game affair. Too much of that going on yet, with no consideration of hitting percentage, it seems.

I don't know if that's always fair. I'd expect less overall consistency in a longer contest, as well as greater fatigue by the end. A lot of 5-gamers I've seen end with the losing side having more hitting errors than the winning side has kills. In addition, a 5th game generally results in fewer opportunities to amass stats since it's first to 15, and not 30.

I also hate calling it "hitting percentage" 38.5% is a hitting percentage. .385 is a hitting average.

[Deleted]

I think an Indiana blocker got the award earlier this year.

[bomber]

ruffda said:

I think an Indiana blocker got the award earlier this year.

It was Meister from Iowa I believe....

[hoosierman]

It was Moddrell from IU with 12 blocks in their (only ) Big 10 win thus far against Michigan. Alas.

[BoilerUp!]

What is taking so long to get the Big Ten weekly release #11 posted? I want to read it before I go home from work!

Hmmm... is there a POW jinx??? Megan Hodge, was POW last week.