Hodge Named ESPN (the Magazine) Academic All-American of the Year

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Nov. 23, 2009 – “Penn State women’s volleyball senior outside hitter Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) has been named the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced. This prestigious honor is the fourth overall and second consecutive for a Nittany Lions women’s volleyball student-athlete. Bonnie Bremner earned the accolade in 1998 and 1999, and Christa Harmotto was selected in 2008.

Hodge, who was also named one of six ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-Americans, earns her second career honor after being selected to the Second Team in 2008. Hodge is a Business major with a 3.45 grade point average.

A three-time AVCA First Team All-American who is on track to become Penn State’s fourth four-time All-American, Hodge has led Penn State to back-to-back NCAA titles, as well as the 2009 Big Ten title. It was the seventh straight and 13th overall for the program. In 2009, Hodge leads Penn State with 436 kills, averaging 4.69 kills per set with a .400 attack percentage. Hodge ranks ninth in the nation in kills and 10th in hitting percentage. In addition, Hodge has tallied 10 service aces, 229 digs (2.46 digs per set) and 63 total blocks (0.68 blocks per set). Most recently, Hodge surpassed the 2,000 career kills mark after tallying 24 at Purdue on Nov. 20. She became just the second Nittany Lion in program history to reach the milestone and heads into the final weekend of conference play with 2,018. Hodge has been honored twice this season as the Big Ten Player of the Week (9/21, 11/2) and as the AVCA National Player of the Week (9/22, 11/3).”

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We think this is a fantastic award, recognizing a truly remarkable person who excels in so many ways. Megan is a credit to Penn State, her family and, perhaps stating the obvious, herself. Well done!