University of Minnesota Athletics
Lindsey Taatjes Named Big Ten Volleyball Player of the Week
11/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
It marks the third time in school history that Minnesota has had four or more player of the week honors in the same season. The Golden Gophers had four player of the week honors in 2002 and a school record six in 2000. It is also the third time in school history that Minnesota has had three players win the honors in the same season. The Golden Gophers had three players win conference player of the week in 2000 (Nicole Branagh, Stephanie Hagen and Lindsey Berg) and in 1991 (Krista Nevelle, Sue Jackson and Karen Lushine).
This past week, Martin averaged 14.67 apg, 3.00 dpg, 1.17 kpg, 0.83 blpg and 0.67 sapg in a pair of three-game road victories over Michigan and Michigan State. It was the first time since 1999 that the Golden Gophers swept both teams on the road.
Taatjes had 46 assists, three service aces, three kills and helped pace the team to a .407 hitting percentage, its second-highest in Big Ten play, in a three-game victory over Michigan State on Nov. 21. She also had 42 assists, 15 digs, four kills and four blocks in a three-game win over Michigan on Nov. 22.
It marks the third time in Taatjes' career that she has won Big Ten Player of the Week honors, with the others coming Sept. 16, 2002 and Oct. 21, 2002. She becomes only the sixth player in Minnesota history to claim three or more player of the week honors joining Nicole Branagh (5), Busse (4), Andrea Gonzalez (4), Stephanie Hagen (3) and Katrien DeDecker (3).
Minnesota enters the week with a chance claim first place in the Big Ten for a second straight a season, along with the conference's automatic bid. The Golden Gophers will play No. 11 Penn State, who is one match ahead of them in first place at 15-3, on Friday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. Minnesota will wrap up the regular season against Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.