Stephanie Samedy

Photo by: CRAIG HOUTZ

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Photo by: Kelly Hagenson

Photo by: Craig Lassig

Photo by: Eric Miller

Class:
Redshirt Senior
Position:
Opposite
Height:
6-2
High School:
East Ridge
Hometown:
Clermont, Fla.
Major:
Psychology

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS & AWARDS:
Senior CLASS Volleyball Player of the Year (2021)
Honda Award Finalist (2020-21, 2021)
Big Ten Player of the Year (2020-21; 2021)
AVCA Player of the Week (Sept. 25, 2017, Sept. 17, 2018, Feb. 10, 2021, Nov. 2, 2021)
AVCA North Region Player of the Year (2020-21, 2021)
AVCA First Team All-American (2017, 2018, 2020-21, 2021)
AVCA Second Team All-American (2019)
Volleyball Magazine First Team All-American (2020-21, 2021)
Volleyball Magazine Second Team All-American (2019)
Big Ten Player of the Week; 13x (Aug. 28, 2017, Sept. 24, 2018, Sept. 16, 2019, Sept. 30, 2019, Dec. 2, 2019, Feb. 8, 2021, Feb. 15, 2021, Sept. 13, 2021, Sept. 27, 2021, Nov. 1, 2021, Nov. 8, 2021, Nov. 22, 2021)
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 11, 2021)
NCAA Madison Regional All-Tournament Team (2021)
AVCA National Player of the Week 4x (Sept. 25, 2018, Sept. 17, 2019, Feb. 10, 2021, Nov. 1, 2021)
Academic All-Big Ten (2019)
5x First Team All-Big Ten (2017-21)
Preseason All-Big Ten (2018-21)
AVCA All-North Region 5x; (2017-21)
Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2017)
AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year (2017)
ESPNW Player of the Week (Sept. 11, 2017)

2021 - REDSHIRT SENIOR SEASON: AVCA First Team All-American • AVCA North Region Player of the Year • Big Ten Player of the Year • First Team All-Big Ten • Preseason All-Big Ten selection • led Big Ten and ranked in top-10 nationally in both points (5.32) and kills (4.75) pet set • became the first Gopher ever and second Big Ten player in history to record 2,000 career kills and 1,500 career digs • had 21 kills, 18 digs and two blocks against Baylor (8/27) • registered 12 kills, two aces, seven digs and six blocks against TCU (8/28) • tallied 21 kills, 19 digs and three blocks against Texas (9/1) • notched a career-best 31 kills at Florida (9/5) • totaled 20 kills, 14 digs and three blocks in a win over Stanford (9/10) • had another 20-kill match with 16 digs, a block and an assist at Oregon (9/11) • went for 12 kills and 11 digs in a win over Iowa State (9/18) • had 30 kills, 17 digs and three blocks in a win over Michigan (9/24) • totaled 11 kills, 14 digs and five blocks with three assists vs. Maryland (9/26) • tallied 16 kills and 10 digs at Wisconsin (10/1) • had 23 kills, seven digs and five blocks at Northwestern (10/2) • had 19 kills and a season-high 22 digs at Michigan (10/8) • had 11 kills/12 digs at MSU (10/9) • went for 10 kills, 12 digs and four blocks vs. Northwestern (10/13) • had 14 kills/7 digs vs. IU (10/17) • totaled 12 kills and 16 digs vs. PSU (10/22) • had her first 20/20 of the year with 22 kills and 21 digs vs. OSU (10/24) • went for 18 kills and 15 digs at Indiana (10/27) • tallied 20 kills and tied her career high with 26 digs vs. Nebraska (10/30) • 19 kills, 22 digs and a season-best three blocks at OSU (11/4) • 15 kills and eight digs in a sweep at Illinois (11/6) • had 12 kills and six digs at Iowa (11/11) • tallied 23 kills and 13 digs vs. Purdue (11/14) • totaled 31 kills, 20 digs and four blocks vs. Wisconsin (11/21) • went for 26 kills and 13 digs at Penn State (11/26) • posted 15 kills, 15 digs and five blocks at Maryland (11/27) • posted 13 kills, eight digs and six blocks vs. South Dakota (12/3) • totaled 16 kills, five digs and two blocks in a win over Stanford (12/4) • had 16 kills, 16 digs and four blocks in a Regional Semifinals win over Baylor (12/9) • posted 12 kills, seven digs and two blocks to end her career in the Regional Final against Wisconsin (12/11).

2021 SPRING - SENIOR SEASON: 2021 Senior CLASS Volleyball Player of the Year, which excels in the classroom, community, character and competition • AVCA First Team All-American, her fourth All-America honor and third First Team honor • 2021 Big Ten Player of the Year • Unanimous First Team All-Big Ten • All-Region selection and AVCA North Region Player of the Year • two-time Big Ten Player of the Week and once the AVCA National Player of the Week • first Gopher since 2011 to accomplish 20 kills and 20 digs in a match and had 20-plus kills in five matches • led the Gophers in kills and points 10 times • averaged a league-best 4.11 kills per set in Big Ten play and finished the year with 4.15 kills per set • averaged 4.69 points per set when she had a team-best 295 kills and 333 points • finished her senior year with 1,485 career kills, which ranks 10th all-time in Gopher history • Preseason All-Big Ten selection • had 23 kills against Michigan State (1/23-24) • posted 20 kills and 14 digs against Maryland (1/29-30) • had 48 kills and 36 digs • became the first Gopher to earn 20 kills (28) and 20 digs (26) in a single match in over a decade • named Big Ten Player of the Week after the Purdue series • averaged 4.67 kills per set against Penn State and had 42 kills • named Big Ten Player for the second consecutive week • had 27 kills and hit .379 against Nebraska (2/19 ) • averaged 3.63 kills per set and had 29 kills against Illinois (3/12-13) • had 24 kills and hit .396 against Northwestern (3/26-27) • led the Gophers in kills both matches against Iowa (4/2-3) • had 13 kills and hit .357 against Georgia Tech (4/15) • had 23 kills in the Regional Semifinal.

2019 - JUNIOR SEASON:
AVCA Second Team All-American • Volleyball Magazine Second Team All-American • First Team All-Big Ten • All-Region • Academic All-Big Ten • played in 115 sets • led the Gophers in kills (353), kills per set (3.07) and attempts (1002) • averaged 0.93 blocks per set and also contributed 23 aces and 299 digs • had 28 kills and 25 digs in opening weeknd of play for back-to-back double-doubles • added a team-best 14 kills against Texas • had 16 kills and 12 digs against Florida • had 35 kills, 22 digs and seven blocks during the Big Ten/Pac 12 Challenge, including 21 kills against Stanford • named Big Ten and AVCA National Player of the Week after the Oregon/Stanford weekend • had 18 kills and 10 blocks in the Diet Coke Classic • named Big Ten Player of the week after a 21-kill performance against Purdue • had 14 kills against Iowa • reached her 1,000 career kill in the win over Rutgers • posted 10 kills, seven blocks and 14 digs against Illinois • added 16 kills and 12 digs in the home match against Illinois • had 12 kills and 13 digs against Michigan • had a team-best 18 kills in 50 attempts against OSU • had six blocks against Ohio State • had seven kills against Michigan • posted 10 kills and seven blocks vs. Iowa • hit .475 against Penn State and had 21 kills, 12 digs and named Big Ten Player of the Week • had 16 kills, 24 digs and three aces during the NCAA Regionals.

2018 - SOPHOMORE SEASON:
First Team All-American • First Team All-Big Ten selection • AVCA All-North Region selection • Preseason All-Big Ten • led the team with 359 kills and averaged 3.49 kills per set in 921 attempts • ranked second on the team in digs and third in blocks per set at 0.82 • had 24 kills, hit .301 and had a double-double during the Big Ten/ACC Challenge • had 20 kills, eight blocks and 14 digs during the Diet Coke Classic • had 26 kills, an ace, 22 digs and seven blocks during the Pac-12/Big Ten Challenge • hit .500 against Green Bay • had 14 kills in 40 attempts, 10 digs and five blocks against Penn State • hit .310 against Maryland and had 13 kills • named Co-Big Ten and AVCA National Player of the Week after the PSU/Maryland weekend • produced a double-double 14 kills, 10 digs in the win over Wisconsin • hit .304 when she had 11 kills in 23 attempts against Indiana • hit .417 and had seven kills in the win at Northwestern • had a double-double 10 kills, 18 digs and three aces in the win over Nebraska • had a double-double against Northwestern with 10 kills, 10 digs and produced six blocks • had 12 kills, 11 digs and hit .312 during the Iowa win • posted 13 kills and 10 digs against Nebraska (10/20) • hit .391 against Michigan when she had 10 kills in 23 attempts, an ace and eight digs • had 12 kills and 15 digs in the win over Wisconsin (10/31/18) • added 20 digs and 14 kills against MSU (11/3/18) • hit .526 against Indiana and had 10 kills against Purdue • hit .361 and had 16 kills against Maryland • posted a team-best 21 digs, 17 kills, two blocks and five aces at Ohio State. • had 24 kills (hit .357) and 13 digs against Penn State • had 12 kills and hit .345 against South Carolina.

2017 - FRESHMAN SEASON:
Minnesota's first ever freshman to garner First Team All-America honors • unanimous All Big Ten and Freshman All-Big Ten selection • All-North Region selection and named the North Region Freshman of the Year • played in all 118 sets and 34 matches as a true freshman • led the team with 478 kills, averaged 4.05 kills per set and hit .303 as a six-rotation starting opposite • averaged 2.82 digs per set, which ranked second on the team • led all Big Ten freshmen in kills per set • started in both matches during the Big Ten/ACC Challenge (Aug. 25-26) and established a team-best 31 kills • made her collegiate debut in the 3-0 win over North Carolina • established double-doubles in both wins against both UNC (14 kills, 12 digs) and Louisville (17 kills, 15 digs) • was named the Co-Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Week in just first week of collegiate competition • named the Diet Coke Classic's most valuable player when she averaged 4.78 kills per set and hit .363 • was named the MVP of the American Campus Classic when she averaged 4.3 kills per set and hit .313 • ESPNW Player of the Week Sept. 11 • named all-tournament at the Boise State Classic when she averaged 4.67 kills per set, 56 kills and 29 digs • averaged 3.43 kills per set in the opening weekend of Big Ten play • recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 11 digs • had a double-double 15 kills and 16 digs against Wisconsin and recorded five blocks produced a career-best eight blocks in the 3-0 win over Michigan • added a team-best 13 kills in the win over Purdue • held a match-best 16 kills in the win at Ohio State and added a double-double with 12 digs • posted a double-double when she had 11 kills and career-best 20 digs in the home Wisconsin win • tallied another double-double in the Illinois win • averaged 5.17 kills per set and hit .418 in a pair of wins over Maryland and Ohio State • added 15th double-double of the season with 22 kills and 13 digs against Penn State • had nine kills and five blocks in the win over Northern Iowa in NCAA Second Round • had 13 kills in the Regional Semfinal match vs. USC.

HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB:
Played for East Ridge High School and Top Select Volleyball Academy • ranked as the No. 5 overall recruit by Prepvolleyball.com • named a First Team Under Armour All-American • played with the USA Youth National Team and USA Junior National Team • was also a two-time AAU Junior National All-American her sophomore and junior seasons • named the Florida Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year • also garnered all-tournament honors in 2016 • awarded the U14, U16 and U18 Elite team's Most Valuable Player • with the 16 Elite, helped the team to a second-place finish in the ESPN Wide World of Sports and won the Mid East qualifier • named a two-time Bright House Breakfast of Champions Girls Volleyball Athlete of the Year (Central Florida) and a Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-American • two-time Lake County Player of the Year • as a senior, hit .391, had 424 kills, 189 digs, 38 aces and 25 blocks - graduated suma cum laude from East Ridge High School and was on the honor roll all four years.

PERSONAL:
The daughter of Francine Samedy and Ronald Samedy • has a younger sister, Victoria • psychology major.