CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Following wins over Northwestern and Michigan over the past week, the Illinois volleyball team had a pair of Illini earn Big Ten Conference weekly honors as senior Brandi Donnelly and junior Jordyn Poulter were named Co-Defensive Player and Setter of the Week, respectively, the conference announced on Monday (November 6).
This is the fourth and fifth weekly honors the Illini have received this season, with Donnelly collecting her fifth career conference defensive player of the week accolade and second of the season and Poulter earning her third career setter of the week award and first of the season.
After being sidelined with an injury for almost a month, Donnelly returned to the court in impressive fashion after totaling 41 digs for a 5.12 digs per set average, while also adding 10 assists and an ace on the week. The Williamsville, Ill., native had just one reception error in 67 opportunities, including converting all 48 opportunities in Saturday's intense five-set victory over the Wolverines. She led all players in digs in both matches with 14 against the Wildcats, before turning in a career-high 27 against Michigan.
Poulter directed the Illini offense with 81 assists in two matches for a 10.12 assist per set average as the Orange and Blue posted a .287 team hitting percentage on the week. She also recorded the second-most digs (21) and blocks (10) on the team to average 2.62 digs and 1.25 stuffs per set, while adding five kills on a .222 hitting percentage in the two wins.
The Aurora, Colo., native opened the week with 31 assists en route to leading the Illini to a .348 team hitting percentage against NU, while also posting seven digs and four blocks in the win. She followed that up with her 18th career double-double and eight of the season with 50 assists, 14 digs and a team-high six blocks against the Wolverines as the Illini hit .254 as a team.
Donnelly, Poulter and the Illini head back on the road next weekend, heading to the Mitten State to take on Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., on Friday (November 10) at 5:30 p.m. CT, before traveling to Ann Arbor to face the Wolverines for the second time in an eight-day span on Saturday (November 11) at 6 p.m.
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