EVANSTON, Ill. (October 27, 2026) – After helping lead a resolute defensive showing last week, Northwestern University senior Fritz Volmar (Peoria, Ill./Laurel Springs) has been named the Big Ten Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday. Now a two-time honoree this season, Volmar has earned the Big Ten’s top weekly defensive honor three times during his career.
Volmar was at the forefront of a stout showing by the Wildcats in last Friday’s 0-0 stalemate with No. 4 Indiana. Featuring as part of a backline that went unchanged across all 90 minutes, the Peoria, Ill. product helped deny the Hoosiers victory at home for the first time this season, as Northwestern became just the second team in 2026 to hold Indiana scoreless.