Mruzik Named to All-Big Ten First Team, Boney Earns All-Freshman Honor
12/1/2021 11:40:00 AM | Volleyball
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- University of Michigan volleyball sophomore Jess Mruzik was named to the All-Big Ten first team the conference announced Wednesday (Dec. 1). In addition to Mruzik, freshman Jacque Boney was named to the All-Freshman team and redshirt sophomore Hannah Grant was recognized as Michigan's sportsmanship honoree.
Mruzik led the Wolverines in kills (376) and points (431.5) in the regular season and was third in both service aces (28) and digs (266) during the regular season. She also ranked fourth on the team in blocking with a 0.46 blocks-per-set average (seven solo blocks, 41 block assists) and hit .251 as a primary scoring option from the pin. The sophomore outside hitter has started all 29 matches this season and played every set as a six-rotation player, posting 10 kill-dig double-doubles and leading the Wolverines in kills 13 times. Mruzik also registered 24 matches of double-digit kills, including a remarkable streak of 17 straight that is still ongoing. She won the final Big Ten Player of the Week honor earlier this week after averaging 4.38 kills per set and hitting a robust .368 in the Wolverines' final week of regular-season action. The Livonia, Mich., native becomes just the fourth sophomore in program history to earn All-Big Ten first team honors, joining Paige Jones (2019), Abby Cole (2014) and Lexi Zimmerman (2008).
Boney finished her first season in the maize and blue with a team-leading 1.11 blocks-per-set average and made an integral difference to the team's blocking as Michigan averaged more than a half-block more per set this fall than it did during the 2021 spring campaign. The Brookhaven, Ga., native finished with 18 solo blocks, which ranks third all-time for solo blocks from a freshman, and 97 block assists, which is the second most in program history for a first-year player. Boney is just the sixth freshman to lead the Wolverines in total blocks during their first season, sitting at 115 through 29 matches. The middle blocker also led the team in attack percentage on the season, hitting at a .340 clip while averaging 1.30 kills per set.
In addition to Michigan's two All-Big Ten honors, Grant was recognized by the conference as the Wolverines' Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree. A native of Northville, Mich., Grant has started all 29 matches as the team's libero this season, leading the team in digs per set (4.23) and finishing second on the team in assists (140) and service aces (29).
In the specialty awards, Minnesota's Stephanie Samedy was named Big Ten Player of the Year, while freshman libero Lexi Rodriguez of Nebraska was named Defensive Player of the Year. Wisconsin took the other two awards as Sydney Hilley won her third consecutive Setter of the Year honor and outside hitter Julia Orzol was named Freshman of the Year. Both the Big Ten coaches and media named Dave Shondell of Purdue the league's Coach of the Year.
