Megan Hodge already knew she was the Big Ten's Player of the Year when Penn State women's volleyball coach Russ Rose congratulated her before practice around 3 p.m. yesterday.

An hour earlier, she began to receive phone calls in class, but didn't pick up. Somebody had to have died, Hodge thought.

Then class got out at 2:15. She checked her voicemail and began to hear good news.

She was conference Player of the Year, the first freshman ever to be named such in the 23-year history of Big Ten volleyball. She was also the fifth consecutive Penn State player to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

"I didn't really think I was going to get Player of the Year," Hodge said with a bright smile. "I thought I would have a chance for Freshman of the Year, but wasn't thinking about Player of the Year at all."

"I'm just really happy, and I'm glad everybody's happy for me. Hopefully, coach will be nice to me during practice today."

As a 6-foot-3 outside hitter, Hodge led the Big Ten with 5.34 kills per game and ranked third in service aces with 0.41 per game. She led all conference players with 6.16 points per game on 342 kills, 26 service aces, 39 block assists and seven solo blocks in 64 games.

All that plus three Big Ten Player of the Week awards culminated in yesterday's honor.

"Megan's a terrific talent," Rose said. "I'd like to take credit for making Megan a better player over the course of her career. But Megan's where Megan is because she had good training from her experiences in club and high school volleyball. She's special because of the genetics her mother and father brought to the table."

Her dad, a former member of the Virgin Islands National Volleyball team (her mom was, too) left one of the first messages on Hodge's cell phone to congratulate her. Her father and mother, who live in Durham, N.C., were in the stands last weekend when the Nittany Lions won their fourth consecutive Big Ten title.

Hodge entered her freshman year as one of the most heralded recruits in the country after being named National High School Player of t he Year. But she went through an adjustment period like most freshman.

Her maturation, though, translated on the court. If it was her "genetics" and attacking ability that guided Penn State to its conference title, then it was her dedication to improving her own game that won her Player of the Year honors.

"It's so incredible. At the beginning of the season she was just trying to find her way and really try to figure out her role," said Salima Rockwell, Director of Volleyball Operations. "The most pleasant surprise is what she can do out of the back row. Not just hitting out of the back row, not just her jump serve, but her defense, too. That's what really added to her winning that award."

"She's really turning into a truly complete player."

Hodge only turned 18 last month, making her accolades even more impressive.

"It's not like she's a finished product," Rose said.

After Rose briefly shook her hand and said, "Congratulations," on the Rec Hall floor yesterday, Hodge was still unaware of the history she made -- being the first freshman to win Player of the Year -- until somebody told her.

"Wow, that's pretty cool, I guess," Hodge said. "I listened to my messages and everyone kept saying, 'Congratulations, Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, but I didn't know if they were talking about Big Ten, or whatever."

Or National?

She considered, but then thought, "That's a little much."

Being the best player in the conference is plenty good for now.

More awards...

Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Fawcett and sophomore middle hitter Christa Harmotto were named first-team All-Big Ten for the second consecutive year. Junior middle hitter Melissa Walbridge was selected honorable mention All-Big Ten. Freshman setter Alisha Glass joins Hodge on the Big Ten All-Freshman team. Rose was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the eighth time.