Kennedy Martin Earns Third Straight Big Ten Honor
The Penn State right-side hitter was named Big Ten Player of the Week after reaching 2,000 career kills.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Volleyball
Big Ten Conference named Penn State right-side hitter Kennedy Martin Big Ten Player of the Week. The honor is her third consecutive weekly award, following a week in which she recorded her 2,000th career kill against Minnesota.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights a sustained stretch of production from one of Penn State's key attackers as the Nittany Lions continue conference play. Martin's career milestone places her among the program's top offensive contributors.
Martin averaged 6.89 kills and 2.67 digs per set for the week, and recorded 28 kills, 12 digs, two blocks and three aces in the Sunday win over Wisconsin. Her 34-kill total against Minnesota matched her own Penn State record.
The players
Kennedy Martin
Kennedy Martin is a right-side hitter for Penn State women's volleyball and one of the program's leading attackers.
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is a major NCAA Division I athletic conference that administers league awards, including the weekly Player of the Week honor.
The details
Penn State defeated No. 19 Minnesota on Friday, with Martin recording her 2,000th career kill during the match. The Nittany Lions followed with a Sunday win over No. 7 Wisconsin, where Martin hit .328.
Timeline
Friday: Penn State defeated Minnesota, and Martin recorded her 2,000th career kill.
Sunday: Penn State defeated Wisconsin in a match where Martin recorded 28 kills.
Monday: The Big Ten Conference announced Martin as Player of the Week.
Wednesday: Penn State plays at Maryland at 7 p.m.
Saturday: Penn State plays at Illinois at 7 p.m.
Season Trajectory
Martin's third consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week selection makes her one of the conference's most consistently recognized attackers this season. The honor arrives as Penn State continues a stretch of road matches that will test its position in the league standings.
Martin's hitting and kill totals make her a central factor in Penn State's remaining conference schedule. Fantasy and bracket watchers tracking the Nittany Lions will see her output shape the team's road results against Maryland and Illinois.
The takeaway
Martin's back-to-back-to-back weekly honors reflect steady production across several matches rather than a single standout performance. Readers following Penn State volleyball can track her output in the upcoming road matches against Maryland and Illinois.
What happens next
Penn State plays at Maryland on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and at Illinois on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Further reading
For more on Penn State's season, see Pennsylvania Volleyball coverage.
