Russ Rose Then (1995): “I think Zeynep is clearly what college athletics is about. She’s the epitome of the student-athlete. She’s a great team player and a marvelous role model. She’s a positive upbeat young lady who has the time for anyone to talk about anything. She’s just a marvelous member of our volleyball program and university community. From a volleyball standpoint, I think Zeynep needs to be one of our key passers this year and step up offensively whether
she’s playing on the left or right side. She has had the luxury of having some key offensive players around her the last few seasons and now there’s going to be more pressure and responsibility for her to carry that load offensively. If she can do that, which I believe she can, then we’re going to be fine.”
1995 Season (Senior) Highlights and Awards: GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American … Academic All-Big Ten … 1st Team All-Big Ten … NCAA Mid-East All-Region … finished in the top 10 in the conference in hitting efficiency, aces and digs (Head Coach Russ Rose said “I felt Zeynep had the best year statistically of all our players”) … 1995 Evan Pugh Award
Season Recap: The gifted left-handed outside hitter played in all 35 matches and 114 of 116 sets … tallied 329 kills (2.89 kills/set) with a .287 hitting % … her 405 digs (3.55 digs/set) ranked 3rd on the team (behind Heidi Rottinghaus’s 479 digs and Angie Kammer’s 427 digs) … led the team with 42 service aces (.37 aces/set) with 32 service errors … had 85 total blocks (.75 blocks/set).
From Turkey to America: “When Zeynep Ton walked into her first practice as a member of the Penn State women’s volleyball team in 1992, she [barely knew] a word of English. Coming directly from Turkey, 16-year-old Ton walked into practice having memorized the media guide for that year. Penn State coach Russ Rose recalled that when she saw a teammate she would recognize their picture from the guide, and greet them by saying, ‘Hello (fill in name) from (their hometown).’ In Ton’s four years on the team, she not only learned another language, but she proved herself as both a standout athlete and scholar. ‘She was a breath of fresh air everyday,’ Rose said. ‘I think most college students, given the opportunity could do all the right things, some elect not to do all the right things, or elect to do what they think is important. Zeynep did all the right things.'” From “Former Penn State athlete finds success as professor,” by Jocelyn Syrstad, The Daily Collegian, Dec. 8, 2009.
Before Penn State: Ton competed on 3 national championship high school teams, a junior national title club team and the Turkey Junior National squad … a team captain, Ton led Uskudar HS to national titles in 1989, 1990 and 1991 and the International School Championship in 1990 … led her junior club team to the national title in 1990, a 2nd place showing in 1991 and a 3rd-place finish in 1992 … was a participant on Turkey’s Junior National team which placed 7th at the 1990 European Championship … also experienced success on the sub-junior level, competing on teams that placed 3rd nationally in 1990 and 1991.
