Big ten POW

[Keystonekid]

bigten.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/091007aad.html

[Deleted]

See? I told you it was PSU's award. Somebody just made a mistake last week.

[The Bofa on the Sofa]

There were a couple of candidates this week, too. Hodge had a great weekend, but so did Lynch. It could have gone either way. Too bad it went to PSU.

[jgrout]

We'll see if Hodge gets it again next week... if so, bad news for the Card.

[BoilerUp!]

Lynch was the go to hitter, and the blockers knew it, yet she still got 26 kills against Clemson. At one point she had 5 kills in a row, and basically put the team on her shoulders. Your viewpoint of that not being impressive is a little jaded... with Penn State, you run into a buzz saw no matter where you set the ball, but if you had a choice to set away from Lynch, wouldn't you avoid her block?

[destrier]

It would be nice if the Big Ten could get the name of the Defensive Player of the Week right. Her name is Jenilee, not Janilee.

[Keystonekid]

Harmotto could have gotten it again easily. She is having an amazing start. If you had to decide POY in the Bten so far, that would be my vote, and I bet a whole bunch of other peoples as well. I know opposing coaches and fans love her, not just because she is so good, but is charasmatic, loves playing, big smile etc..(iI will stop, i'm gushing)

[volleymania]

Sorry, but Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week against
Woufford, Harvard and Delaware State? No disrespect as I'm sure she's a great player but I just don't see it.

[bigtenfred]

Keystone you must be Harmotto's Dad or her Coach?Keysone is the region where Harmotto played? Hum

[bucky415]

I predicted that Harmotto might be POY this year before the season. I think she is the Lions' most fearsome player (and there is a lot of competition, unfortunately), because she is a big offensive threat and a top blocker. I think that most teams might be able to slow down Hodge or Fawcett, tough as that is, because they can put their best blockers/defenders against them, but I don't think a lot of teams' left sides can hold up against Harmotto on the block. The best candidates to do so are on her team.

It was pretty impressive how PSU blew out St. John's. I didn't expect much competition from the other two squads, but the Lions did completely whup them. Brown and Wilson would probably be starting for most other teams in the country, so it is good for the rest of the league that you can only play six players at a time. I do like the idea of a setter controversy in Happy Valley, though. It gives the rest of us more hope.

[destrier]

volleymania said:

Sorry, but Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week against
Woufford, Harvard and Delaware State? No disrespect as I'm sure she's a great player but I just don't see it.

There's already a de facto custom of not giving the award to a player whose team lost a game that week. That gives the players on the majority of teams few if any chances to win this honor no matter how well they play. If you also have a de facto rule that you can't win it against weak competition, then you've all but ruled those players out altogether, with the inevitable result that the award is monopolized by the top three or four teams. The players on those teams already get plenty of recognition, and I think every effort should be made to honor players on the other teams when worthy. Of course the level of competition should be taken into account, but it shouldn't be the only factor as you suggest.

No question the tournament MSU played in was very weak. But Rathje set a Big Ten freshman record with 11 blocks against the best team they faced, and was subbed out early against the weaker teams or else her extraordinary numbers would have been much more impressive. She's a deserving winner.