CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Freshman Megan Cooney was named the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week after helping lead the Fighting Illini volleyball team to a pair of sweeps against Ohio State and Maryland over the weekend, the league announced on Monday (October 16).
It is the first career conference freshman of the week accolade for Cooney and the third weekly honor the Illini have received this season after junior Ali Bastianelli and senior Brandi Donnelly each garnered Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week accolades on August 28 and September 18, respectively.
Cooney averaged 3.17 kills per set after totaling 19 kills and only committing four errors on 54 swings for a .278 hitting percentage, while adding three digs, a block and an assist in the two wins.
The Topeka, Kansas, native opened the weekend with a team-high-tying 11 kills on 27 attacks and only two errors for a .333 hitting percentage to go along with a block against the Buckeyes on Friday, before posting eight kills on a .222 attack clip, three digs and an assist against the Terrapins on Saturday.
Cooney and the Illini next head on the road for a three-match swing, starting with a trip to Iowa City, Iowa, to take on the Hawkeyes on Friday (October 20), before heading to Lincoln, Neb., to face No. 7 Nebraska on Saturday (October 21) night. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. CT.
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