CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A pair of Illinois volleyball players garnered Big Ten Conference postseason honors, the league announced on Wednesday (December 1) as graduate student Megan Cooney was named All-Big Ten First-Team, with junior Jessica Nunge tabbed as Illinois' Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient.
The 'Iron Woman' of the Illini, Cooney recently became the program's career sets played leader and has played in 546 sets in her career at Illinois, playing in 145 of 149 matches in her five years, including starting all 31 contests this season. The 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Second-Team honoree ranks second on the team with 344 kills for a 2.97 kill per set on a .261 hitting percentage and 271 digs, while also ranking third on the team with 77 blocks and fourth with 29 service aces. A 2020-21 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and three-time Academic All-Big Ten, Cooney was named All-Big Ten Second-Team a season ago.
Nunge has made an immediate impact in her first season with the Illini, playing all 31 matches in 2021. A Panther Invite and Redbird Classic All-Tournament selection, she ranks third on the team with 295 kills and 32 aces and has also registered 104 digs and 37 blocks.
Minnesota's Stephanie Samedy was named Big Ten Player of the Year by a vote of the conference's coaches, with Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez earning Defensive Player of the Year. Sydney Hilley of Wisconsin was tabbed Setter of the Year and teammate Julia Orzol garnered Freshman of the Year accolades. Purdue's Dave Shondell was named Coach of the Year by both the coaches and media.
Cooney, Nunge and the Illini are set to start postseason play on Friday (December 3) as Illinois takes on West Virginia at 4 p.m. CT in Lexington, Ky., in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
For more Fighting Illini volleyball news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniVBall on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.
ALL-BIG TEN FIRST TEAM*
Megan Cooney, Grad., OH/OPP, Illinois
Rainelle Jones, Sr., MB, Maryland
Jess Mruzik, So., OH, Michigan
Sarah Franklin, So., OH, Michigan State
CC McGraw, Sr., L/DS, Minnesota
STEPHANIE SAMEDY, RS-Sr., OPP, Minnesota
Madi Kubik, Jr., OH, Nebraska
Lexi Rodriguez, Fr., L/DS, Nebraska
Lauren Stivrins, Sr., MB, Nebraska
Temi Thomas-Ailara, Jr., OH, Northwestern
Mac Podraza, Jr., S, Ohio State
RYLEE RADER, So., MB, Ohio State
Kaitlyn Hord, Sr., MB, Penn State
Jonni Parker, Sr., RS, Penn State
Hayley Bush, RS-Sr., S, Purdue
Grace Cleveland, Sr., OH, Purdue
Caitlyn Newton, RS-Sr., OH, Purdue
SYDNEY HILLEY, Grad., S, Wisconsin
DANA RETTKE, Grad., MB, Wisconsin
ALL-BIG TEN SECOND TEAM
Courtney Buzzerio, Sr., RS, Iowa
Jenna Wenaas, So., OH, Minnesota
Nicklin Hames, Sr., S, Nebraska
Emily Londot, So., OPP, Ohio State
Jenna Hampton, Sr., L/DS, Penn State
Jena Otec, RS-Sr., L/DS, Purdue
Lauren Barnes, Grad., L/DS, Wisconsin
Devyn Robinson, So., MB/RS, Wisconsin
BIG TEN ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Milan Gomillion, L/DS, Maryland
Jacque Boney, MB, Michigan
Lindsay Krause, OH, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, L/DS, Nebraska
ARICA DAVIS, MB, Ohio State
Raven Colvin, MB, Purdue
JULIA ORZOL, OH, Wisconsin
Player of the Year: Stephanie Samedy, RS-Sr., OPP, Minnesota
Defensive Player of the Year: Lexi Rodriguez, Fr., L/DS, Nebraska
Setter of the Year: Sydney Hilley, Grad., Wisconsin
Freshman of the Year: Julia Orzol, OH, Wisconsin
Coach of the Year (Coaches & Media): Dave Shondell, Purdue
Illinois Sportsmanship Award Honoree
Jessica Nunge
ALL CAPS indicates unanimous selections
* - additional member named to team due to tie in voting
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December 01, 2021 at 11:59PM
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Cooney, Nunge Collect All-B1G Honors - University of Illinois Athletics - Fighting Illini
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