by COLLEGE PARK, Md. – For the second time this season, Maryland volleyball senior middle blocker Rainelle Jones was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week by the conference on Monday afternoon.
Jones’ weekend was punctuated by a career performance on Saturday night in the Terps’ sweep of Indiana. Jones notched her first career double-double in unique fashion with 12 blocks and 11 kills after beginning the night sizzling hot with four blocks and a kill within the first seven points of the match. Jones’ efficiency was off-the-charts with a .556 hitting percentage alongside 4 blocks per set and 3.67 kills per set.
Her Friday night featured a career-high 14 kills against Northwestern with eight blocking assists also included.
On the season the senior is up to 124 kills and leads the team with 112 total blocks. Her 1.9 blocks per set leads not only the team, but also the conference and the entire NCAA. A consistent presence throughout her time in College Park, Jones inches closer to a 500 kill – 500 block career as she currently sits at 592 kills and 470 blocks.
This is the second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award for Jones after she first secured the honor on September 27, 2021. Jones has also been named Terp of the Week twice this season.
