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Penn State’s 2010 Women’s Volleyball season was capped by a so-called “Four-Peat” — a fourth consecutive NCAA Championship. Today it was announced that former (that will take some getting used to) Penn State star 6-5 Opp. Blair Brown has given Penn State a “Three-Peat” for the Honda Sports Award for Women’s Volleyball, by winning the 2010-11 Award for Volleyball, following Megan Hodge (2009) and Nicole Fawcett (2008). Former Penn State star Lauren Cacciamani won the award in 1999.
Blair Brown – 2010-2011 – Volleyball
Brown had this to say about receiving the award:
Winning the Honda Sports Award is such an honor,” said Brown. “But for me it is not an individual honor. My teammates, coaches, the Penn State family and university all play a huge part in me winning this award. I am so appreciative to be in the company of such talented athletes and those who came before us. It is even more special for me to be the fourth Penn Stater to represent my school in this award, as it is a tribute to the entire program and those who support it.
The Honda Award winner is determined by a vote of 1,000 NCAA member schools, with the winner moving on as a nominee for the Honda-Broderick Cup, which is awarded each year to the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. The other finalists for this year’s Volleyball award were Texas’ Juliann Faucette (Sr. All-America outside hitter, who led Texas to a 27-5 record and its third straight NCAA Semifinal appearance), USC’s Alex Jupiter (a two-time AVCA All-American who helped USC to a 2010 Final Four appearance and a 29-5 season record), and California’s Carli Lloyd (the 2010 American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I National Player of the Year and a three-time AVCA All-American).
Brown, a member of the 2010 NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team, was a three-time AVCA All-American, three-time All-Big Ten, and the sixth consecutive Penn State player to be named Big Ten Player of the Year (following Megan Hodge (2009, 2006), Nicole Fawcett (2008), Christa Harmotto (2007), and Sam Tortorello (2005)). For the 2010 season, Brown led the Nittany Lions with 521 kills, averaged 4.24 kills/set (second in the Big Ten and 21st in NCAA Division 1), and finished with a .320 attack %. She was second on the team in both digs (281; 2.28 digs/set) and blocks (113 total blocks; 0.92 blocks/set). She registered 1,295 career kills.
Blair Brown is the 10th Penn State player to be named a finalist for the Honda Award for Volleyball. The previous finalists are: Lori Barberich (1984), Bonnie Bremner (1997, 1998), Terri Zemaitis (1997), Lauren Cacciamani (1998, 1999), Sam Tortorello (2004, 2005), Christa Harmotto (2007, 2008), Megan Hodge (2007, 2009), Nicole Fawcett (2008) and Alisha Glass (2009).
Megan Hodge – 2009-2010 – Co-Winner – Honda-Broderick Cup (Collegiate Women’s Athlete of the Year)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z_XAtfoIvQ&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
In 2010, Megan Hodge won the 2010 Honda Sports Award in volleyball, and went on to be named the co-winner (with Connecticut basketball star Maya Moore) of the 2009-2010 Honda-Broderick Cup, awarded annually to the Collegiate Women’s Athlete of the Year.
Here’s a video from Honda on the Honda-Broderick Cup award:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euEzBwuWtyA[/youtube]
Megan Hodge won the 2010 Volleyball award over three other finalists — teammate Alisha Glass, California’s Hana Cutura and Texas’s Destinee Hooker.
For a link to Honda’s press release for the 2009-2010 Volleyball Award, including a nice video tribute to Hodge, Click Here.
Here’s a list of the past-winners of the Honda-Broderick Cup Award:
| Megan Hodge | 2009-10 | Penn State University, Volleyball | ||
| Maya Moore | 2009-10 | University of Connecticut, Basketball | ||
| Courtney Kupets | 2008-09 | University of Georgia, Gymnastics | ||
| Candace Parker | 2007-08 | University of Tennessee, Basketball | ||
| Sarah Pavan | 2006-07 | University of Nebraska, Volleyball | ||
| Christine Sinclair | 2005-06 | The University of Portland, Soccer | ||
| Ogonna Nnamani | 2004-05 | Stanford University, Volleyball | ||
| Tara Kirk | 2003-04 | Stanford University, Swimming & Diving | ||
| Natasha Watley | 2002-03 | University of California, Los Angeles, Softball | ||
| Angela Williams | 2001-02 | University of Southern California, Track & Field | ||
| Jackie Stiles | 2000-01 | Southwest Missouri State, Basketball | ||
| Cristina Teuscher | 1999-00 | Columbia University, Swimming & Diving | ||
| Misty May | 1998-99 | Long Beach State University, Volleyball | ||
| Chamique Holdsclaw | 1997-98 | University of Tennessee, Basketball | ||
| Cindy Daws | 1996-97 | University of Notre Dame, Soccer | ||
| Jennifer Rizzotti | 1995-96 | University of Connecticut, Basketball | ||
| Rebecca Lobo | 1994-95 | University of Connecticut, Basketball | ||
| Mia Hamm | 1993-94 | University of North Carolina, Soccer | ||
| Lisa Fernandez | 1992-93 | University of California, Los Angeles, Softball | ||
| Missy Marlowe | 1991-92 | University of Utah, Gymnastics | ||
| Dawn Staley | 1990-91 | University of Virginia, Basketball | ||
| Suzy Favor | 1989-90 | University of Wisconsin, Track & Field | ||
| Vicki Huber | 1988-89 | Villanova University, Track & Field | ||
| Teresa Weatherspoon | 1987-88 | Louisiana Tech University, Basketball | ||
| Mary T. Meagher | 1986-87 | University of California, Berkeley, Swimming & Diving | ||
| Kamie Ethridge | 1985-86 | University of Texas, Basketball | ||
| Jackie Joyner | 1984-85 | University of California, Los Angeles, Track & Field | ||
| Tracy Caulkins | 1983-84 | University of Florida, Swimming & Diving | ||
| Cheryl Miller | 1983-84 | University of Southern California, Basketball | ||
| Deitre Collins | 1982-83 | University of Hawaii, Volleyball | ||
| Tracy Caulkins | 1981-82 | University of Florida, Swimming & Diving | ||
| Jill Sterkel | 1980-81 | University of Texas, Swimming & Diving | ||
| Julie Shea | 1979-80 | North Carolina State University, Track & Field | ||
| Nancy Lieberman | 1978-79 | Old Dominion University, Basketball | ||
| Ann Meyers | 1977-78 | University of California, Los Angeles, Basketball | ||
| Lucy Harris | 1976-77 | Delta State University, Basketball |
Nicole Fawcett – 2008-2009 – Volleyball
Nicole Fawcett, the 6-4 All-American OH who helped lead Penn State to NCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championships in 2007 and 2008, won the 2008-2009 Honda Award for volleyball. The three other finalists were teammate Christa Harmotto, Stanford’s Foluke Akinradewo and Texas’s Destinee Hooker.
For a link to Honda’s press release, which includes a nice video tribute to Nicole, Click Here.