Around the Big Ten – September 11
The latest news and performances from a busy slate in the Big Ten Conference.
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.
Offensive Player of the Week
Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
RB – Sr. – Roseland, N.J. – Don Bosco Prep
- Rushed for a career-high 208 yards in the win over Akron, tying for the 10th-best mark in a game in school history
- Became the first Scarlet Knight to reach 200 rushing yards in a game since 2014
- Marked his fourth straight 100-yard game dating back to 2023, the best Rutgers streak since Jawan Jamison had six consecutive games from 2011-12
- Rushed for three touchdowns for the second time in his career
- Ranks ninth among Rutgers’ career rushing leaders with 2,315 yards
- Last Rutgers Offensive Player of the Week: Kyle Monangai (Sept. 18, 2023)
Defensive Player of the Week
Xavier Scott, Illinois
DB – Jr. – Riviera Beach, Fla. – Dwyer
- Forced three turnovers in Illinois’ 23-17 win over #19 Kansas
- Only player in the nation to force three turnovers in a single game this season
- Collected two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, one forced fumble, 1.0 sack and eight solo tackles to lead Illinois to its highest ranked nonconference win since 1995
- Had a game-changing pick-six with :36 seconds left in the first half to give Illinois a 13-10 lead entering halftime
- Recorded the game-ending strip-sack forced fumble on the final play to secure the win
- Last Illinois Defensive Player of the Week: Seth Coleman (Oct. 16, 2023)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Tez Johnson, Oregon
WR – Sr. – Pinson, Ala. – Pinson Valley HS
- Returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter of Oregon’s 37-34 win over Boise State
- First Duck to return a punt for a touchdown since Ugo Amadi in 2018
- Recorded the fifth-longest punt return in program history and longest since the 2008 season
- Finished with 109 punt-return yards, becoming the first Oregon player to go over 100 punt-return yards in a game since 2019
- It was his first career punt return for a touchdown
Freshman of the Week
Nick Marsh, Michigan State
WR – Detroit, Mich. – River Rouge
- Snared eight catches for 194 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, to help Michigan State beat Maryland on the road in its Big Ten opener
- His 194 receiving yards was the best MSU single-game receiving total against Maryland and only the second 100-yard receiving outing against the Terps, topping the previous mark set in 2021
- It was the 10th-most receiving yards in a single game by a Spartan and the second-most by a true freshman
- Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Katin Houser (Nov. 20, 2023)
Player of the Week
Raina Terry, Illinois
Gr. – OH – Marengo, Ohio – Major: Recreation, Sport and Tourism
- Helped Illinois to a 4-0 week, extending its winning streak to six matches. The 6-0 start is the Illini’s best start since the 2018 campaign
- Led Illinois in kills in three of the team’s four matches
- Surpassed the 20-kill mark twice, tallying 25 kills vs. Iowa State and 20 kills vs. Wake Forest
- Hit for .304 across the four matches, including a season-high .552 (17-1-29) in a 3-0 win vs. Toledo
- Moved into second all-time at Illinois in career aces (178), tallying 12 aces from the service line this week
- Named the Cyclone Invitational MVP
- Last Illinois Player of the Week: Jacqueline Quade (Sept. 17, 2018)
Defensive Player of the Week
Nalani Iosia, Michigan State
Sr. – L – Long Beach, Calif. – Major: Sociology
- Named to All-Tournament Team at the Kathy DeBoer Invitational
- Posted a season-high 25 digs and eight assists against RV Western Kentucky on Friday
- Led the Spartans all weekend in digs, averaging 5.09/set
- Surpassed 1,000 digs at Michigan State, pushing her career total to 1,583
- Last Michigan State Defensive Player of the Week: Amani McArthur (Sept. 18, 2023)
Setter of the Week
Taylor Anderson, Purdue
So. – San Antonio, Texas – Major: Kinesiology
- Guided No. 8 Purdue to a 3-0 weekend to push the Boilermakers to 6-0 on the season
- Finished the weekend with 11.50 assists per set, recording back-to-back double-doubles vs. Cal and at Utah
- Posted a double-double with 52 assists and 11 digs in a four-set win vs. California. Her 52 assists were the most by a Big Ten player in any four-set match last week and the second-most in a match overall
- Neared a triple-double with 34 assists, 10 digs and seven blocks at Utah in a 3-0 sweep of the Utes
- Third in the nation through two weeks of play with 11.85 assists/set
- Last Purdue Setter of the Week: Taylor Anderson (Nov. 27, 2023)
Freshman of the Week
Izzy Starck, Penn State
S – Viera, Fla. – Major: Undeclared
- Guided No. 7 Penn State to a 3-0 week with wins over No. 4 Louisville, No. 9 Kentucky, and Ball State
- In a 3-0 sweep over Louisville, Starck tallied 32 assists as the Nittany Lions hit .358
- In a 3-2 reverse sweep road win over the Wildcats, Starck recorded her second double-double of the season with 47 assists and 17 digs in addition to five kills, five blocks and an ace
- Finished the week with 11.09 assists/set, helping the Penn State offense to a .321 hitting percentage to move to 5-0 on the season
- Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Izzy Starck (Sept. 2, 2024)\
Offensive Player of the Week
Noah Glorioso, Wisconsin
Sr. – M – Naperville, Ill. – Waubonsie Valley – Major: Physical Education
- Paired a goal and an assist, as the No. 8 Badgers improved to 5-0-0 on the season
- Score the lone goal, a 78th minute marker, in Wisconsin’s 1-0 win at then-No. 16 Kentucky
- Garners his first career Offensive Player of the Week award
- Last Wisconsin Offensive Player of the Week: Maxwell Keenan (Aug. 27, 2023)
Defensive Player of the Week
Chris Meyers, Washington
Sr. – D – Sacramento, Calif. – Jesuit – Major: Sociology
- Anchored a defensive effort that led Washington to a draw at San Diego and an upset win over then-No. 11 Seattle
- Recorded an assist on the Huskies’ ninth minute goal in its 2-1 win over Seattle
- Earns his first Defensive Player of the Week award
Goalkeeper of the Week
Matisse Hébert, Wisconsin
Fr. – Montreal, Quebec – CF Montreal – Major: Undeclared
- Notched his third clean sheet of the season with a save in Wisconsin’s 1-0 victory at Kentucky
- Earns his second Goalkeeper of the Week award this season
- Last Wisconsin Goalkeeper of the Week: Matisse Hebert (Aug. 27, 2024)
Freshman of the Week
Nick Skubis, Ohio State
Fr. – M – Tampa, Fla. – Berkeley Prep – Major: Finance
- Tallied an assist in 42 minutes of action, as the No. 12 Buckeyes scored a 3-1 win over Xavier
- Earns his first Freshman of the Week award
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