University of Minnesota Athletics
Tan Named Defensive Player of the Week
8/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Senior libero Christine Tan (Safety Harbor, Fla.) was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week for Monday, Aug. 31. It marked the eighth Big Ten Defensive Player of Week honor that she has collected in her career, after claiming five in 2007 and two in 2008.
Tan averaged 4.70 dps, received 41 of 42 serves successfully and helped Minnesota hold its two opponents in the AVCA Showcase to a .153 hitting percentage. In the Golden Gophers' first match of the year against No. 22 Kansas State, Tan had 26 digs and three assists in a five-set victory.
She also collected 21 digs in a five-set defeated to No. 3 Nebraska. In the match against the Cornhuskers, Minnesota also limited Nebraska to a .138 hitting percentage, including a -.103 hitting percentage in the fourth set.
With the eighth weekly honor, Tan passes Nicole Branagh (1997-2000) for the most weekly honors by a Minnesota player in school history. Branagh collected seven Big Ten Player of the Week honors during her career. Tan's eighth defensive is also the most in the history of the conference.
Minnesota will be back in action when it travels to George Mason on Monday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. (CT). That match can be heard live on gophersports.com, and can also be followed on a live in-game blog. The Golden Gophers will wrap up their four-match road trip at Navy on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. (CT).
