Izzy Starck Named Big Ten Freshman Of The Week

Posted on by Ethan Kasales

Izzy Starck was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the first time in her Penn State career Monday after leading the Nittany Lions to wins over Tennessee and Temple on opening weekend.

Starck totaled 69 assists, 17 digs, four kills, three blocks, and one ace, including a double-double in her collegiate debut against the Lady Volunteers Friday in Knoxville. Starck is the first true freshman starting setter for the Nittany Lions since Micha Hancock in 2011.

Nebraska’s Bergen Reilly and Rebekah Allick and Purdue’s Eva Hudson, who also earned AVCA National Player of the Week recognition, shared the first Big Ten honors of the season with Starck. The No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, per Prep Dig, Starck dished out 42 assists and had 12 digs in a 3-1 win over Tennessee.

“It was crazy,” Starck said afterward. “It was really a rollercoaster of emotions, because the nerves were a lot more intense than I thought. I’ve played in so many big matches. You think, ‘Oh, it’s going to be fine. You’re not going to be nervous or anything.’ But actually stepping on this stage, it’s just a whole different experience. But after the first set, I was able to calm down and everything and it was really good.”

Starck’s ability to adjust on the fly and set her teammates from insane angles is quite impressive. Sometimes, she’s able to find her hitters with an off-balance, one-handed set if the pass isn’t in an ideal spot, which usually isn’t the case with Gill Grimes and Ava Falduto patrolling the backcourt.

Camryn Hannah, who tied Jess Mruzik with a match-high 19 kills against Tennessee, discussed what has impressed her about Starck at Big Ten volleyball media days in Chicago in early August.

“I think that Izzy is a phenomenal player, whether she’s a freshman or four years down the road when she’s a senior,” Hannah said. “I think she’s come in and she’s taken on her role commandingly.”

Hannah also touched on Starck and Falduto’s work ethic as the lone true freshmen on Penn State’s 2024 roster. The duo enrolled a semester early in January and participated in spring practice with their new teammates. The whole 16-player roster had a chance to bond on the program’s first international tour since 2017 when they visited Slovenia, Italy, and Greece in May.

“They always want to be in the gym, and that means a lot to us,” Hannah said. “Looking at that as seniors, it means a lot that they’re dedicated as much as we are, because sometimes it takes a long time for you to get that level of commitment, and they have that right away, which is great.”

Jordan Hopp, a middle blocker from Alliance, Nebraska, was the last Penn State player to arrive on campus this offseason, as she finished her degree at Iowa State this spring before joining the team a few days prior to their European tour. Hopp made her Penn State debut in a sweep of Temple Sunday in Philadelphia, recording four kills and four blocks. She highlighted what she likes about Starck’s game afterward.

“Izzy’s great,” Hopp said. “You always have to be ready with Izzy, because even if you think, ‘Maybe I’m not going to get set if this ball’s past the 10-foot-line,’ she’ll fire it in to you. Always being ready and being prepared with Izzy is really fun.”