Northwestern University Athletics
2022 Northwestern Volleyball Awards and Honors
10/31/2022 2:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Temi Thomas-Ailara (Oct. 31)
Co-Big Ten Player of the Week – For the third time this year, Temi Thomas-Ailara has been named the conference player of the week. Thomas-Ailara led Northwestern by averaging 5.50 k/s (44 kills) and hitting .320 as the Wildcats won both of their matches this week against No. 12 Purdue and Iowa. She posted 25 kills on a .327 hitting percentage and 10 digs as the 'Cats upended the No. 12 Boilermakers for their third victory over a ranked opponent this season. Her 25 kills are tied for the second-most kills in a match by a Big Ten student-athlete this year. On Sunday, Thomas-Ailara logged 19 kills on a .311 hitting percentage in a sweep over Iowa. The senior helped NU to its first four-match win-streak in Big Ten play since 2011, and first win over Purdue since 2016.
Megan Miller (Oct. 31)
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week – Miller grabbed defensive player of the week honors for the second time this year and averaged a team-best 6.00 d/s (48 digs) as the Wildcats won both of their matches this week against No. 12 Purdue and Iowa. She tied her career-high with 30 digs and held the opposition to a .190 hitting percentage in the win over No. 12 Purdue. He 30 digs are tied for second-most in a match by a Big Ten student-athlete this season. Miller followed by posted 18 digs in the three-set win over Iowa.
Sienna Noordermeer (Oct. 31)
Big Ten Freshman of the Week – Appearing in just her fifth and sixth career collegiate matches, Sienna Noordermeer took home freshman of the week honors after averaging 12.25 a/s (98 assists) over both of Northwestern's win this weekend. She recorded a career-high 57 assists in the Wildcats win over No. 12 Purdue, which is tied for the second-most assists by a Big Ten student-athlete this year. Noordermeer dished out 41 assists in the sweep over Iowa, tied for third among Big Ten student-athletes in three-set matches. Since Noordermeer assumed primary setter duties, Northwestern is 4-2.
Temi Thomas-Ailara (Oct. 24)
Co-Big Ten Player of the Week – Temi Thomas-Ailara averaged a team-best 5.29 k/s (37 kills) and led Northwestern to a 2-0 weekend on the road, defeating Rutgers and Maryland on back-to-back nights. The senior posted 19 kills and five digs while hitting .357 against Rutgers on Friday. Thomas-Ailara logged 18 kills and four digs on a .342 hitting percentage against Maryland, and led NU's offense to a .282 hitting percentage on the week. Northwestern won back-to-back Big Ten road matches for the first time since 2019. Thomas-Ailara ranks third in the Big Ten this season averaging 4.08 k/s.
Alexa Rousseau (Oct. 3)
Co-Big Ten Setter of the Week – Junior Alexa Rousseau dished out 10.67 assists per set, leading Northwestern to a win at No. 7 Minnesota, the program's first road victory over a top 10 opponent. She logged a season-high 52 assists against the Golden Gophers and contributed four aces, three blocks and three kills. Later in the week, the Bloomfield Hills, Mich. product posted 44 assists against Michigan and added two kills, three aces and two blocks. Rousseau leads the Big Ten this season with 542 total assists.
Megan Miller (Oct. 3)
Co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week – Fifth year Megan Miller recorded 4.78 digs per set for the week and helped Northwestern defeat No. 7 Minnesota on the road for the program's first road victory over a top 10 opponent. She logged 20+ digs in both matches this week, posting 21 at Minnesota and 21 against Michigan. Miller also contributed eight assists against the Golden Gophers. Miller is the first Northwestern student-athlete to win defenive weekly honors since Caroline Niedospial on Sept. 15, 2014.
Alexa Rousseau (Sept. 19)
Big Ten Setter of the Week – Junior Alexa Rousseau posted a triple-double, averaged a team-best 10.33 a/s (124 assists) and contributed 1.42 k/s (17 kills) as Northwestern went 3-0 at the Chicago Cup. Rousseau notched her second career triple-double and first of the season by recording a career-high 11 kills, 11 digs and 44 assists against DePaul. She added 34 assists in a sweep of UIC before concluding the weekend registering a season-high 46 assists with 11 digs against Loyola Chicago. Rousseau is the first Wildcat to be named Big Ten Setter of the Week since Caleigh Ryan on Sept. 23, 2013.
Temi Thomas-Ailara (Sept. 19)
Big Ten Player of the Week – Senior Temi Thomas-Ailara led Northwestern to a 3-0 weekend averaging a team-best 4.75 k/s (57 kills, while hitting .311 and adding eight blocks. She registered a double-double against DePaul posting 19 kills and 12 digs in the 3-1 win. After totaling 14 kills in a sweep of UIC, Thomas-Ailara totaled a season-high 24 kills with a .367 hitting percentage against Loyola Chicago. The outside hitter has helped the Wildcats to an 11-1 record this season, the program's best mark through the first 12 matches of a season since 2012. Thomas-Ailara and Hanna Lesiak have both won Big Ten Player of the Week honors this season, it marks the first time since 2003 that Northwestern has won two player of the week awards in the same year.
Husky Invitational All-Tournament Team (Sept. 9)
Husky Invitational All-Tournament – Temi Thomas-Ailara, Megan Miller
Hanna Lesiak (Sept. 5)
Big Ten Player of the Week – Fifth year Hanna Lesiak powered Northwestern to a 3-0 record at the Golden Eagle Invitational recording a team-best 3.45 k/s (38 kills) with a .412 hitting percentage. Lesiak, who was also named tournament MVP, tallied a season-high 14 kills while hitting .478 and contributing eight digs against Tennessee Tech. The outside hitter followed by recording a double-double (12 kills, 11 digs) against Evansville. She wrapped up the weekend with 12 kills and three service aces against Western Carolina. Lesiak and the Wildcats are 6-0 through two weekends of competition, and are on the program's best start to a season since 2012. She shared the award with Ohio State's Emily Londot. As a team, Northwestern leads the Big Ten hitting .332 for the season. Lesiak is the first Northwestern Big Ten Player of the Week since Maddie Slater (Sept. 28, 2015).
Golden Eagle Invitational All-Tournament Team (Sept. 3)
Golden Eagle Invitational All-Tournament Team – Hanna Lesiak (MVP), Ellee Stinson, Temi Thomas-Ailara
Wildcats Classic All-Tournament Team (Aug. 27)
Wildcats Classic All-Tournament Team – Alexa Rousseau (MVP), Desiree Becker, Leilani Dodson
