By Kalyn Kahler, NU Athletic Communications
EVANSTON, Ill. -- After opening conference play with two victories against Rutgers and Maryland this weekend, Northwestern's Taylor Tashima was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week Monday. It is the first weekly award from the conference for the `Cats freshman setter.
The Wilmette, Ill., native earned the recognition after posting consecutive double-doubles in her first weekend of Big Ten play, bringing her career total up to five.
In Friday's conference opener against Rutgers, Tashima recorded 27 assists and 10 digs. She added to a strong defensive performance at the net with three blocks in the three-set sweep. Tashima also hit at a clip of .400 with two kills on five swings.
Against Maryland Saturday, Tashima outdid her performance from the previous night with 46 assists and matched a career-high 12 digs. It was a record night for the freshman setter, who set another career high with six kills in the five-set match.
Tashima ranks sixth overall in the Big Ten, and first among freshman, with 10.69 assists per set and is Northwestern's second true freshman to win the award this season; outside hitter Symone Abbott received the honor Sept. 15 after a strong showing at the Wildcat Classic.
Tashima and the rest of the `Cats will return to Welsh Ryan Arena this week to host two nationally ranked conference foes - Wisconsin on Wednesday, Oct 1 at 7 p.m. and Minnesota on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.
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