More on this week’s edition of “Big Ten Whip Around” — start listening to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. 372) on the SiriusXM app now.

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Rutgers Earn Weekly Football Honors

Hoosiers’ Rourke and Walker, Illini’s Laughery, Hawkeyes’ Stevens, Wolverines’ Zvada and Scarlet Knights’ Raymond garner accolades

VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Player of the Week
Julia Hanson, Minnesota
Jr. – OH – Savage, Minn. – Major: Food and Agriculture Business Management

• Averaged 6.44 points and 5.63 kills (.337) with 2.00 digs, 0.63 blocks and 0.50 aces per set in wins over Illinois and Ohio State last week

• Went for 22 kills (.283) with an ace, seven digs and three blocks in a comeback win at Illinois

• Had 23 kills (.400) with three aces, nine digs and two blocks in the home finale against the Buckeyes

• Last Minnesota Player of the Week: Julia Hanson (Oct. 28, 2024)

Defensive Player of the Week
Phoebe Awoleye, Minnesota
RS-Sr. – MB – Marietta, Ga. – Master’s: Sport Management

• Tallied 2.50 blocks, 1.13 kills and 0.75 digs per set in wins over Illinois and Ohio State

• Had 10 blocks, three kills and five digs against Illinois in a comeback win

• Totaled 10 blocks and six kills (.333) with a dig in a senior night win against Ohio State

• Led the Big Ten in blocks per set (1.64) in regular season conference matches

• Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week: Phoebe Awoleye (Oct. 14, 2024)

 

Setter of the Week
Izzy Starck, Penn State
Fr. – S – Viera, Fla. – Major: Undecided

• Averaged 11.71 assists/set and recorded double-doubles in both matches while helping No. 4 Penn State clinch a share of the Big Ten title with wins over Rutgers and No. 2 Nebraska

• Added 3.00 digs, 1.14 blocks, and 1.14 kills per set over the two wins

• The win over the Cornhuskers on Friday was the Nittany Lions’ first in the series since 2018. Starck racked up 46 assists, 11 digs, six blocks, and three kills

• Earlier in the week she tallied 36 assists, 10 digs, two blocks, and five kills in a 3-0 sweep at Rutgers

• Last Penn State Setter of the Week: Izzy Starck (Nov. 25, 2024)

 

Freshman of the Week
Caroline Jurevicius, Penn State
OPP – Cleveland, Ohio – Major: Communications

• Jurevicius had the best match of her young career while helping No. 4 Penn State secure the 18th Big Ten title in program history

• Posted a career-high 18 kills on .414 hitting and added two blocks and two digs in a 3-1 win over No. 2 Nebraska in front of a sold-out crowd Friday at Rec Hall. It was the Nittany Lions’ first win over Nebraska since 2018 and the team’s first Big Ten title since 2017

• The 18 kills eclipsed her previous career-high total of 11

• Earlier in the week she contributed five kills, three digs, and two blocks in a 3-0 sweep at Rutgers

• Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Izzy Starck (Nov. 4, 2024)

MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Player of the Week
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
F – Jr. – 6-9 – Sellersburg, Ind. – Silver Creek

• Named MVP of the Rady Children’s Invitational after leading No. 8 Purdue to a pair of wins, scoring 23.5 points on 61.5 percent shooting and 10.5 rebounds
• Recorded his first career double-double with 25 points and a career best 13 rebounds in a win over then-No. 23 Ole Miss
• Garners his first Player of the Week award
• Last Purdue Player of the Week: Zach Edey (March 11, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
Dylan Harper, Rutgers
G – 6-6 – Franklin Lakes, N.J. – Don Bosco Prep

• Averaged 30.3 points last week, including 29-of-34 form the free throw line
• Tallied 36 points in a win over Notre Dame and 37 points in a loss to then-No. 9 Alabama
• First freshman in 20 years to score 35-plus points in back-to-back games and first Rutgers player to score 30-plus points in back-to-back games since Quincy Douby on March 9, 2006
• Earns his second Freshman of the Week award

• Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week: Dylan Harper (Nov. 18,  2024)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Player of the Week
Ajae Petty, Ohio State
Graduate – Forward – Baltimore, Md. – Baltimore Polytechnic Institute
• Averaged 20.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 76.0 percent from the field during Ohio State’s 2-0 week
• Named MVP of the Daytona Beach Classic
• Racked up a season-high 24 points and added 11 rebounds for her first double-double as a Buckeye against Old Dominion
• Went 11-for-13 from the floor against the Monarchs
• Paced the team versus Utah State with 17 points and nine rebounds
• Earns her first Big Ten Player of the Week award
• Last Ohio State Player of the Week: Cotie McMahon (Jan. 22, 2024)

Big Ten Women’s Basketball Weekly Honor Roll
JuJu Watkins, USC: Acrisure Holiday Invitational MVP behind 27.0 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Trojans
Julia Ayrault, MSU: Acrisure Classic MVP with 23.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in a pair of comeback Spartan wins
Gracie Merkle, PSU: Dropped 31 points and 11 rebounds in the Lady Lions’ victory over Drexel

Freshman of the Week
Syla Swords, Michigan
Guard – Sudbury, Ontario – Long Island Lutheran  
• Led Michigan to the Fort Myers Tip-Off Shell Division Championship averaging 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds
• Selected as the tournament MVP
• Went for 14 points and eight boards against Belmont
• Chipped in 24 points and six rebounds versus Virginia Tech
• Became the 10th Wolverine in program history to hit at least six three-pointers in a single game with a career-high six triples against the Hokies
• Collects her second Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurel
• Last Michigan Freshman of the Week: Mila Holloway (Nov. 18, 2024)