Mac Podraza Earns 13th Big Ten Setter Of The Week Honors

Posted on by Ethan Kasales

Penn State women’s volleyball star Mac Podraza was named the Big Ten Setter of the Week for the 13th time in her career Monday after leading the Nittany Lions to road wins over Illinois and Minnesota last weekend.

Podraza, a three-time AVCA All-American and the reigning Big Ten Setter of the Year, combined for 79 assists, 21 digs, eight total blocks, and seven kills in a sweep of the Fighting Illini and 3-1 win over the Golden Gophers. Podraza led Penn State’s offense to a .346 hitting percentage against Minnesota, the alma mater of her mother, Christine, who was also an All-American volleyball player.

Podraza shared Big Ten Setter of the Week honors with Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly, who was previously named Big Ten Setter and Freshman of the Week on September 25. Reilly’s teammate, Merritt Beason, earned Big Ten Player of the Week for the second time this season, while fellow Husker Harper Murray collected her third Big Ten Freshman of the Week laurels. Wisconsin middle blocker Carter Booth took home Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

Podraza’s favorite offensive weapon, Jess Mruzik, has twice been named Big Ten Player of the Week so far this season, on September 5 and September 25. Mruzik and Podraza both had double-doubles against Minnesota, proving especially clutch in one of Penn State’s most difficult road matches of conference play. Podraza had a match-high 47 assists and 12 digs versus the Golden Gophers, while Mruzik had a match-high 21 kills and 15 digs.

Podraza, a Penn State co-captain alongside Allie Holland, is second in the Big Ten in assists per set with 10.32, trailing only Reilly’s 10.49. They are the only setters in the conference who are currently averaging more than 10 assists per set.

Podraza has 454 assists, 79 digs, 32 total blocks, 31 kills, and four aces through 13 matches (44 sets). Not only did Podraza show off her offensive skills last weekend, but the Sunbury, Ohio, native also significantly improved her blocking and digging production.

Earlier in the season at one of her weekly press conferences, head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley discussed Podraza’s impact on the team and the extra work she puts in outside of practice, which is beginning to pay off midway through the season after some early non-conference struggles.

“I think Mac is a great leader,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “I think she knows the game well and is always trying to help players around her.”

No. 14 Penn State (10-3, 4-0 Big Ten) moved up one spot in this week’s AVCA rankings ahead of the Nittany Lions’ home stand against Indiana and Ohio State at Rec Hall, when the program will honor its 2008 and 2013 NCAA national championship teams.

“I think Mac has been working really hard in the gym,” Schumacher-Cawley said. “She’s been getting in early with the middles and the other attackers, and I think just getting comfortable setting different hitters than what she was used to. I think she’s done a really good job.”

Podraza, who’s pursuing her master’s in business management, was also named a Penn State student-athlete of the week for the second time this fall alongside men’s cross country standout Evan Dorenkamp. Podraza is one of the most recognizable and well-respected players in college volleyball, and it’s clear she understands the influence she has on the next generation.

“It’s kind of a surreal thing,” Podraza said of being seen as a role model. “I can remember looking up to girls who were in the Big Ten when I was younger, and now, I am one of those girls who’s in the Big Ten. It’s definitely a surreal feeling, and not something I take lightly.”