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Four Gophers Named to All-Big Ten Teams
12/4/2024 11:09:00 AM | Volleyball
Grote, Hanson and Shaffmaster were named to the first team
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Minnesota volleyball had four players named to the All-Big Ten teams, the conference announced on Wednesday morning.
Senior opposite Lydia Grote, junior outside Julia Hanson and senior setter Melani Shaffmaster all made the first team while senior middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye made the second team. Elise McGhie garnered Minnesota's Sportsmanship Award.
A Savage, Minn., native, Julia Hanson's breakout season landed her a unanimous spot on the All-Big Ten First Team, the first all-conference honor of her career. On the season, Hanson hit double-digit kills in 25 of 30 matches, including seven 20+ kill matches. She's hit 20+ kills in five of the last six matches. Hanson led the team with 4.61 points and 4.05 kills per set in 2024. She also tallied career-highs in digs (2.19 dps), blocks (0.54 bps) and aces (0.29 saps).
Among Big Ten pins, Hanson ranked seventh in kills per set and third in hitting percentage (.270). Her 445 kills ranked sixth in the league. She earned two Big Ten Player of the Week awards and won AVCA Player of the Week on Dec. 3, 2024. Hanson was the first Gopher to earn the distinction since Nov. 22, 2022.
Senior setter Melani Shaffmaster earned her third consecutive postseason honor from the Big Ten after being named to the first team in 2024. Shaffmaster averaged 9.27 assists, 0.96 kills, 2.76 digs, 0.64 blocks and 0.21 aces per set in 2024, tallying 16 double-doubles. She posted her first ever triple-double against TCU in September, becoming the first Golden Gopher since Sarah Wilhite in 2016 to earn that accomplishment.
Melani passed 5,000 career assists on senior night, becoming the sixth Gopher ever to do so, including the second in the rally scoring era. She ranks eighth in Minnesota laurels in career digs, with 1,456 in her career. Shaffmaster became the first Gopher ever to reach 5,000 assists, 1,000 digs, 400 kills and 300 blocks this year as well.
This was the second First Team All-Big Ten accolade of her career after making the team in 2022 as well. Overall, this honor is her fourth postseason accolade from the Big Ten after she was named to the 2020-21 Big Ten All-Freshman team, 2022 All-Big Ten First Team and 2023 All-Big Ten Second Team.
A Burbank, Calif., native, senior opposite Lydia Grote earned her second career postseason honor with a First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2024. She made the second team in her first year at Minnesota in 2023. The former California transfer ranked second on the team with 3.63 points and 2.88 kills per set while leading the 'U' with 0.33 aces per set (35 aces). She set a career-high with 0.82 blocks per set and totaled a career-high eight blocks against UST on Sept. 10.
Grote tallied 16 double-figure kill matches this year, including a run of seven straight to begin Big Ten play. She registered four double-doubles and had five-or-more blocks six different times. Grote had aces in a team-high 21 matches in 2024.
Phoebe Awoleye was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team after a breakout season in the Maroon and Gold. She led the Big Ten with 1.64 blocks per set in conference play, tallying 125 blocks. No other Big Ten player was within 25 blocks of her in league competition. For the season, she recorded 1.50 blocks per set, a figure that ranks No. 4 all-time for a single season at Minnesota and put her in the top-15 nationally this year.
Awoleye tied the school record with 14 blocks in a match against Maryland on Oct. 12 in a sweep. She's the only player in the country to register 14 blocks in a three set match in 2024. Awoleye had four matches with 10-or-more blocks, which led the Big Ten. She posted five-or-more blocks 17 times this season and won two Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week awards.
Senior setter Elise McGhie earned Minnesota's Big Ten Sportsmanship award. The Kansas City, Mo., native is an Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. She's appeared in 85 matches for Minnesota after transferring from Kansas in 2022. She played in 28 matches this season, averaging 0.14 aces and 0.49 digs per set.
The Gophers (20-10, 13-7 B1G) compete in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT against Western Kentucky (28-6, 18-0 CUSA). The match will take place at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky.
2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL POSTSEASON HONORS
Player of the Year: Sarah Franklin, Gr., OH, Wisconsin
Setter of the Year: Bergen Reilly, So., Nebraska
Libero of the Year: Lexi Rodriguez, Sr., Nebraska
Freshman of the Year: Izzy Starck, S, Penn State
Coach of the Year (Coaches & Media): Katie Schumacher-Cawley, Penn State
ALL-BIG TEN FIRST TEAM*
RAINA TERRY, Sr., OH, Illinois
Allison Jacobs, Gr., OH, Michigan
Nalani Iosia, Sr., L, Michigan State
Lydia Grote, Gr., OPP, Minnesota
JULIA HANSON, Jr., OH, Minnesota
Melani Shaffmaster, Gr., S, Minnesota
Merritt Beason, Sr., OPP, Nebraska
ANDI JACKSON, So., MB, Nebraska
Harper Murray, So., OH, Nebraska
Bergen Reilly, So., S, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, Sr., L, Nebraska
Emily Londot, Gr., OPP, Ohio State
MIMI COLYER, Jr., OH, Oregon
Onye Ofoegbu, Gr., MB, Oregon
Camryn Hannah, Gr., OH, Penn State
JESS MRUZIK, Gr., OH, Penn State
Izzy Starck, Fr., S, Penn State
Taylor Trammell, Sr., MB, Penn State
Raven Colvin, Sr., MB, Purdue
Eva Hudson, Jr., OH, Purdue
Cheridyn Leverette, Jr., OH, UCLA
Ally Batenhorst, Gr., OH, USC
Mia Tuaniga, Sr., S, USC
SARAH FRANKLIN, Gr., OH, Wisconsin
Anna Smrek, Sr., OPP, Wisconsin
ALL-BIG TEN SECOND TEAM*
Ramsey Gary, So., L, Indiana
Camryn Haworth, Sr., S, Indiana
Samantha Schnitta, Gr., OPP, Maryland
Valentina Vaulet, So., OPP, Michigan
Phoebe Awoleye, Gr., MB, Minnesota
Michelle Ohwobete, Gr., OH, Oregon
Gillian Grimes, Jr., L, Penn State
Taylor Anderson, So., S, Purdue
Chloe Chicoine, So., OH, Purdue
Anna Dodson, Sr., MB, UCLA
Leah Ford, Fr., MB, USC
Kierstyn Barton, So., OH, Washington
Emoni Bush, Jr., OH, Washington
Carter Booth, Jr., MB, Wisconsin
Charlie Fuerbringer, Fr., S, Wisconsin
Julia Orzol, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Ashlyn Philpot, MB, Illinois
Emmi Sellman, OH, Ohio State
Cristin Cline, S, Oregon
Caroline Jurevicius, OH, Penn State
IZZY STARCK, S, Penn State
Leah Ford, MB, USC
Julia Hunt, MB, Washington
CHARLIE FUERBRINGER, S, Wisconsin
Lola Schumacher, L, Wisconsin
SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES
Christy Martinez Mundo, Gr., L, Illinois
Ava Vickers, So., MB Indiana
Joy Galles, Gr., L, Iowa
Ellie Watson, Sr., MB, Maryland
Allison Jacobs, Gr., OH, Michigan
Taylor Preston, Jr., OH, Michigan State
Elise McGhie, Gr., S, Minnesota
Leyla Blackwell, Sr., MB, Nebraska
Sophia Summers, Gr., MB, Northwestern
Sydney Taylor, Sr., DS, Ohio State
Daley McClellan, Sr., DS, Oregon
Ava Falduto, Fr., DS, Penn State
Sydney Yim, Sr., S, Purdue
Lexi Visintine, Jr., OH, Rutgers
Gala Trubint, Jr., L, USC
Sophia Tulino, Sr., OH, Washington
Julia Orzol, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
* - Additional player(s) due to tie in voting
ALL CAPS denotes unanimous selection
ALL CAPS indicates unanimous selections
Senior opposite Lydia Grote, junior outside Julia Hanson and senior setter Melani Shaffmaster all made the first team while senior middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye made the second team. Elise McGhie garnered Minnesota's Sportsmanship Award.
A Savage, Minn., native, Julia Hanson's breakout season landed her a unanimous spot on the All-Big Ten First Team, the first all-conference honor of her career. On the season, Hanson hit double-digit kills in 25 of 30 matches, including seven 20+ kill matches. She's hit 20+ kills in five of the last six matches. Hanson led the team with 4.61 points and 4.05 kills per set in 2024. She also tallied career-highs in digs (2.19 dps), blocks (0.54 bps) and aces (0.29 saps).
Among Big Ten pins, Hanson ranked seventh in kills per set and third in hitting percentage (.270). Her 445 kills ranked sixth in the league. She earned two Big Ten Player of the Week awards and won AVCA Player of the Week on Dec. 3, 2024. Hanson was the first Gopher to earn the distinction since Nov. 22, 2022.
Senior setter Melani Shaffmaster earned her third consecutive postseason honor from the Big Ten after being named to the first team in 2024. Shaffmaster averaged 9.27 assists, 0.96 kills, 2.76 digs, 0.64 blocks and 0.21 aces per set in 2024, tallying 16 double-doubles. She posted her first ever triple-double against TCU in September, becoming the first Golden Gopher since Sarah Wilhite in 2016 to earn that accomplishment.
Melani passed 5,000 career assists on senior night, becoming the sixth Gopher ever to do so, including the second in the rally scoring era. She ranks eighth in Minnesota laurels in career digs, with 1,456 in her career. Shaffmaster became the first Gopher ever to reach 5,000 assists, 1,000 digs, 400 kills and 300 blocks this year as well.
This was the second First Team All-Big Ten accolade of her career after making the team in 2022 as well. Overall, this honor is her fourth postseason accolade from the Big Ten after she was named to the 2020-21 Big Ten All-Freshman team, 2022 All-Big Ten First Team and 2023 All-Big Ten Second Team.
A Burbank, Calif., native, senior opposite Lydia Grote earned her second career postseason honor with a First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2024. She made the second team in her first year at Minnesota in 2023. The former California transfer ranked second on the team with 3.63 points and 2.88 kills per set while leading the 'U' with 0.33 aces per set (35 aces). She set a career-high with 0.82 blocks per set and totaled a career-high eight blocks against UST on Sept. 10.
Grote tallied 16 double-figure kill matches this year, including a run of seven straight to begin Big Ten play. She registered four double-doubles and had five-or-more blocks six different times. Grote had aces in a team-high 21 matches in 2024.
Phoebe Awoleye was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team after a breakout season in the Maroon and Gold. She led the Big Ten with 1.64 blocks per set in conference play, tallying 125 blocks. No other Big Ten player was within 25 blocks of her in league competition. For the season, she recorded 1.50 blocks per set, a figure that ranks No. 4 all-time for a single season at Minnesota and put her in the top-15 nationally this year.
Awoleye tied the school record with 14 blocks in a match against Maryland on Oct. 12 in a sweep. She's the only player in the country to register 14 blocks in a three set match in 2024. Awoleye had four matches with 10-or-more blocks, which led the Big Ten. She posted five-or-more blocks 17 times this season and won two Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week awards.
Senior setter Elise McGhie earned Minnesota's Big Ten Sportsmanship award. The Kansas City, Mo., native is an Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. She's appeared in 85 matches for Minnesota after transferring from Kansas in 2022. She played in 28 matches this season, averaging 0.14 aces and 0.49 digs per set.
The Gophers (20-10, 13-7 B1G) compete in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 4:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. CT against Western Kentucky (28-6, 18-0 CUSA). The match will take place at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky.
2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL POSTSEASON HONORS
Player of the Year: Sarah Franklin, Gr., OH, Wisconsin
Setter of the Year: Bergen Reilly, So., Nebraska
Libero of the Year: Lexi Rodriguez, Sr., Nebraska
Freshman of the Year: Izzy Starck, S, Penn State
Coach of the Year (Coaches & Media): Katie Schumacher-Cawley, Penn State
ALL-BIG TEN FIRST TEAM*
RAINA TERRY, Sr., OH, Illinois
Allison Jacobs, Gr., OH, Michigan
Nalani Iosia, Sr., L, Michigan State
Lydia Grote, Gr., OPP, Minnesota
JULIA HANSON, Jr., OH, Minnesota
Melani Shaffmaster, Gr., S, Minnesota
Merritt Beason, Sr., OPP, Nebraska
ANDI JACKSON, So., MB, Nebraska
Harper Murray, So., OH, Nebraska
Bergen Reilly, So., S, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, Sr., L, Nebraska
Emily Londot, Gr., OPP, Ohio State
MIMI COLYER, Jr., OH, Oregon
Onye Ofoegbu, Gr., MB, Oregon
Camryn Hannah, Gr., OH, Penn State
JESS MRUZIK, Gr., OH, Penn State
Izzy Starck, Fr., S, Penn State
Taylor Trammell, Sr., MB, Penn State
Raven Colvin, Sr., MB, Purdue
Eva Hudson, Jr., OH, Purdue
Cheridyn Leverette, Jr., OH, UCLA
Ally Batenhorst, Gr., OH, USC
Mia Tuaniga, Sr., S, USC
SARAH FRANKLIN, Gr., OH, Wisconsin
Anna Smrek, Sr., OPP, Wisconsin
ALL-BIG TEN SECOND TEAM*
Ramsey Gary, So., L, Indiana
Camryn Haworth, Sr., S, Indiana
Samantha Schnitta, Gr., OPP, Maryland
Valentina Vaulet, So., OPP, Michigan
Phoebe Awoleye, Gr., MB, Minnesota
Michelle Ohwobete, Gr., OH, Oregon
Gillian Grimes, Jr., L, Penn State
Taylor Anderson, So., S, Purdue
Chloe Chicoine, So., OH, Purdue
Anna Dodson, Sr., MB, UCLA
Leah Ford, Fr., MB, USC
Kierstyn Barton, So., OH, Washington
Emoni Bush, Jr., OH, Washington
Carter Booth, Jr., MB, Wisconsin
Charlie Fuerbringer, Fr., S, Wisconsin
Julia Orzol, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Ashlyn Philpot, MB, Illinois
Emmi Sellman, OH, Ohio State
Cristin Cline, S, Oregon
Caroline Jurevicius, OH, Penn State
IZZY STARCK, S, Penn State
Leah Ford, MB, USC
Julia Hunt, MB, Washington
CHARLIE FUERBRINGER, S, Wisconsin
Lola Schumacher, L, Wisconsin
SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREES
Christy Martinez Mundo, Gr., L, Illinois
Ava Vickers, So., MB Indiana
Joy Galles, Gr., L, Iowa
Ellie Watson, Sr., MB, Maryland
Allison Jacobs, Gr., OH, Michigan
Taylor Preston, Jr., OH, Michigan State
Elise McGhie, Gr., S, Minnesota
Leyla Blackwell, Sr., MB, Nebraska
Sophia Summers, Gr., MB, Northwestern
Sydney Taylor, Sr., DS, Ohio State
Daley McClellan, Sr., DS, Oregon
Ava Falduto, Fr., DS, Penn State
Sydney Yim, Sr., S, Purdue
Lexi Visintine, Jr., OH, Rutgers
Gala Trubint, Jr., L, USC
Sophia Tulino, Sr., OH, Washington
Julia Orzol, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
* - Additional player(s) due to tie in voting
ALL CAPS denotes unanimous selection
ALL CAPS indicates unanimous selections
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