Nov. 3, 2008
Park Ridge, Ill. -
The accolades continue to roll in for Illinois libero Ashley Edinger. Saturday, the junior broke the Illinois career digs record with well more than a season to play. Monday she has repeated as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
With her ninth dig of the night, which came late in the second set vs. Ohio State, Edinger surpassed Tracey Marshall as the Illini all-time digs leader. She now has 1,442 compared to Marshall's 1,426. For the weekend, the Michigan City, Ind., native averaged 4.9 digs per set and received serves with 98 percent accuracy as the Illini defeated No. 18 Michigan, 3-2, and the Buckeyes, 3-1. Edinger posted back-to-back 20-dig matches for the first time since Aug. 30 and Sept. 5 of this year, recording 20 saves against the nationally ranked Wolverines and 24 versus Ohio State. The libero passed her team to a combined .231 hitting mark on the weekend while anchoring the defense that held opponents to a .219 clip. Behind Edinger, the Illini moved up to second place in the Big Ten standings.
Edinger makes it three DPOW honors in the last for weeks for the Illini this year and four Big Ten Player of the Week accolades overall. Sophomore Laura DeBruler was Big Ten and National Player of the Week on Sept. 1 after leading the Illini to an upset of no. 11 Oregon and the State Farm Illini Classic Championship. Sophomore Johannah Bangert was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 13 after leading Illinois to road victories over Michigan and Ohio State.
Speaking of Bangert, the Washington, Mo., native continues to lead the nation in blocks. She entered last week tied for the lead and this week is in sole possession of the top spot, averaging 1.61 blocks per set. She had 10 blocks vs. Michigan and seven more vs. Ohio State. With 140 blocks on the season, Bangert is 189 for her career, which would be second most ever in a season by an Illini.
Illinois moved up a spot to 16th in the Bison/AVCA rankings this week. The Illini have won five matches in a row and eight of their last nine. They play at Iowa and no. 17 Minnesota this weekend.
