Around The Big Ten – October 23

Offensive Player of the Week

Ethan Garbers, UCLA

QB – Sr. – Newport Beach, Calif. – Corona del Mar

• Led UCLA to its first-ever Big Ten win on Saturday at Rutgers with his best statistical performance as a Bruin, posting career-highs in passing yards (383) and touchdowns (4) while recording the fifth-highest completion percentage by a Bruin QB since 1980 (32-38, 84%)
• Added a 49-yard rushing touchdown, giving him five total touchdowns on the day
• Recorded the longest pass of his career with a 67-yard touchdown pass to Keegan Jones
• Earns UCLA’s first Offensive Player of the Week honor

Defensive Player of the Week

Gabe Jacas, Illinois

OLB – Jr. – Port St. Lucie, Fla. – Fort Pierce Central

• Recorded a career-high 13 tackles including six solo, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in Illinois’ 21-7 win over No. 24 Michigan
• Helped the Illini hold Michigan to its fewest points since 2014
• His 2.5 sacks marked a new career high and the most sacks by a Big Ten Conference game by any player this season
• Last Illinois Defensive Player of the Week: Xavier Scott (Sept. 9, 2024)

Special Teams Player of the Week

Jonathan Kim, Michigan State

K/P – Gr. – Fredericksburg, Va. – Massaponax

• Split the uprights on a school-record 6-of-7 on field goals, including making four of 40+ yards in Michigan State’s 32-20 victory against Iowa
• His six field goals tie Big Ten record, matching Jake Moody of Michigan with six field goals vs. Indiana (11/17/18)
• With 20 points Saturday, Kim also set a top mark in modern-day Big Ten history by a kicker, bettering 19 (Moody) in the 2018 win over Indiana
• Last Michigan State Special Teams Players of the Week: Matt Coghlin (Oct. 18, 2021)

Freshman of the Week

Nick Marsh, Michigan State

WR – Detroit, Mich. – River Rouge

• Had 113 receiving yards and tied a season high with eight catches to help Michigan State past Iowa, 32-20, Saturday night in Spartan Stadium
• Marsh’s last catch went for 11 yards to the 1-yard line to set up MSU’s final touchdown of the game with 2:03 remaining to seal the victory
• Marked the newcomer’s second game this year with at least 100 yards
• Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Nick Marsh (Sept. 9, 2024)

BIG TEN WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Player of the Week
Jess Mruzik, Penn State
Gr. – OH– Livonia, Mich. – Master’s: Business Administration

• Averaged 5.88 kills and 3.50 digs per set while recording a pair of double-doubles in No. 3 Penn State’s 2-0 week with wins over Ohio State and No. 14 Minnesota

• Matched a season high with 29 kills and added 12 digs and four blocks in a five-set win at Ohio State on Friday

• Hit .325 with 18 kills 16 digs and one block in a sweep over the nationally ranked Gophers on Sunday at Rec Hall

• During Penn State’s 10-match winning streak, Mruzik is hitting .292 with 5.29 kills and 2.91 digs per set. She currently leads the conference with 5.41 kills/set in conference play, doing so while hitting .285
• Last Penn State Player of the Week: Jess Mruzik (Oct. 7, 2024)

Defensive Player of the Week
Carter Booth, Wisconsin
Jr. – MB – Denver, Colo. – Major: Psychology

• Helped Wisconsin to a 2-0 week with wins over No. 11 Oregon and Michigan

• Set a career-best on Sunday against the Wolverines, tallying 12.0 of Wisconsin’s 21.0 blocks. The Badgers’ 21 blocks were a program-best in a four-set match

• Averaged 1.88 blocks per set and chipped in with a combined 12 kills (1.50 k/s) for 2.63 points per set

• Helped limit Michigan to .089 hitting and nationally ranked Oregon to a .167 hitting percentage
• Last Wisconsin Defensive Player of the Week: Carter Booth (Nov. 6, 2023)

Setter of the Week
Izzy Starck, Penn State
Fr. – S – Viera, Fla. – Major: Undeclared

• Averaged 12.00 assists and 2.88 digs per set while leading No. 3 Penn State to wins over Ohio State and No. 14 Minnesota

• Recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 50 assists and 17 digs in a five-set road win over the Buckeyes

• Tallied 46 assists while leading the Nittany Lions to .305 hitting against No. 14 Minnesota, adding six digs to help complete the sweep of the Gophers
• Last Penn State Setter of the Week: Izzy Starck (Sept. 30, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
Cristin Cline, Oregon
S – Stanfield, N.C. – Major: Undeclared

• Averaged 11.00 assists/set and 1.88 digs per set in a pair of road matches at No. 9 Wisconsin and Iowa

• Recorded 43 assists, nine digs, two aces and a block against Wisconsin

• In the Ducks’ weekend finale, Cline guided Oregon to a .328 efficiency with 45 assists against the Hawkeyes, with five attackers with at least seven kills each

• Cline is the first Oregon freshman to be named Freshman of the Week

BIG TEN MEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offensive Player of the Week
Justin Weiss, Indiana
Grad. – F – Syosset, N.Y. – Syosset – Major: Master’s in Finance

• Notched three goals to help the No. 25 Hoosiers go 2-0 on the week
• Marked the score sheet twice as Indiana topped then-No. 18 Michigan
• Garners his second Offensive Player of the Week award
• Last Indiana Offensive Player of the Week: Tommy Mihalic (Sept. 3, 2024)

Defensive Player of the Week 
Quinton Elliot, Indiana
Jr. – D – Charleston, W. Va. – New Albany (Ohio) – Major: Sports Marketing and Management

• Tallied a goal and two assists as Indiana claimed a pair of wins
• Paired a goal and a helper in a win over the Wolverines
• Earns his first Defensive Player of the Week award
• Last Indiana Defensive Player of the Week: Jansen Miller (Oct. 15, 2024)

Goalkeeper of the Week 
Wyatt Nelson, UCLA
So. – Seattle, Wash. – Roosevelt – Major: Business Economics

• Surrendered just one goal with 10 saves as No. 15 UCLA went 1-0-1 on the road
• Notched a career-best eight saves in a 3-0 win at Rutgers and two in a draw at then-No. 6 Maryland
• Earns his second consecutive Goalkeeper of the Week award
• Last UCLA Goalkeeper of the Week Award: Wyatt Nelson (Oct. 15, 2024)

Freshman of the Week 
Tamir Ratoviz, UCLA
Fr. – M – Los Angeles, Calif. – Oak Park – Major: Business Economics

• Scored the game-tying goal as the Bruins earned a 1-1 draw at then-No. 6 Maryland
• Earns his first Freshman of the Week award
• Last UCLA Freshman of the Week: Artem Vovk (Oct. 8, 2024)

BIG TEN WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offensive Player of the Week
Helena Sampaio, USC
Sr. – MF – Porto Alegre, Brazil – Major: International Relations

• Led USC to a 2-0 week with wins over No. 15 Ohio State (1-0) and No. 16 Penn State (2-1)

• Scored the game-winning goal against Penn State with a 25-yard free kick in the final minute of regulation

• Played 63 minutes in the midfield in a 1-0 shutout of Ohio State on Thursday

• The goal against Penn State was her third of the season and helped keep USC atop the Big Ten standings, setting up a winner-take-all match against UCLA for the Big Ten title this Sunday

• Last USC Offensive Player of the Week: Maile Hayes (Oct. 8, 2024)

Defensive Player of the Week
Jayden Perry, UCLA
Sr. – D – Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. – Major: Sociology

• Led the Bruin defense to a pair of shutouts against Top 20 teams last week in No. 16 Penn State (0-0) and No. 15 Ohio State (1-0)

• Scored the game’s only goal against Ohio State, the game-winning penalty kick in the 61^st minute

• With Perry playing the full 90 minutes in each contest, the Bruin defense allowed just three shots against Penn State and four against Ohio State, including zero in the second half

• Perry’s defensive play has helped UCLA record 13 shutouts in 18 matches this season, the second-most in the nation

• Last UCLA Defensive Player of the Week: Jayden Perry (Oct. 8, 2024)

Goalkeeper of the Week
Kaitlyn Parks, Michigan State
Gr.  – GK – Upper Marlboro, Md. – Major: Digital Media

• Helped Michigan State to a pair of shutout wins last week, defeating Wisconsin and Northwestern

• Played 90 minutes in goal in a 2-0 win over the Badgers, facing 18 shots and making 10 saves, one shy of her career high

• Registered another 90-minute outing vs. Northwestern making three saves

• Has recorded eight shutouts and nine wins this season

• Last Michigan State Goalkeeper of the Week: Kaitlyn Parks (Sept. 24, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
Berit Parten, Iowa
F – St. Paul, Minn. – Major: Pre-Physical Therapy

• Led Iowa to a 2-0 week with wins over No. 24 Washington and Oregon

• Scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season against Washington which ended up being the game winner

• Assisted on two goals in the Hawkeyes’ 4-0 win over Oregon. It was Parten’s first two assist game of her career and third assist this season

• Last Iowa Freshman of the Week: Berit Parten (Sept. 3, 2024)