Leisa Elisaia Named Big Ten Setter Of The Week

Posted on by Ethan Kasales

Penn State women’s volleyball graduate senior Leisa Elisaia was named the Big Ten Setter of the Week after leading the Nittany Lions to a 3-0 weekend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Elisaia had a season-high 49 assists in Penn State’s 3-1 win over Iowa State in the first match of its doubleheader Friday. She finished the Tiger Challenge at LSU with 124 assists, 17 digs, 11 kills, six blocks, and two aces.

Elisaia, a graduate transfer from Cal State Bakersfield, is the first Nittany Lion to be recognized with a weekly Big Ten honor so far this season. She had two double-doubles in the season-opening Penn State Invitational at Rec Hall.

Elisaia shared weekly conference recognition with Northwestern’s Hanna Lesiak, Ohio State’s Emily Londot, and Purdue’s Maddie Schermerhorn and Eva Hudson. Minnesota’s Melani Shaffmaster was named Big Ten Setter of the Week following week one of competition.

Gabby Blossom, who transferred to San Diego for her fifth season of eligibility, took home Big Ten Setter of the Week four times last season and on eight total occasions during her Penn State career. Blossom is having a strong start to the season for the Toreros, leading her team to upset wins over Pitt and Ohio State.

Elisaia, a 5-foot-10 standout from South Jordan, Utah, is quite an impressive blocker for her size at the setter position. She was among the top 10 in the entire Big West conference in blocks per set last season.

Elisaia discussed what her first few months on campus at Penn State have been like after moving across the country from California upon her graduation from Cal State Bakersfield, where she also played beach volleyball for the Roadrunners.

“It’s been a grind,” Elisaia said. “I mean, that’s all there is to it. I think day in and day out, we’re always in here grinding.”