Rutgers Women's Volleyball Big Ten Honors

College, Featured, Rutgers University, Volleyball

December 1, 2023

On Thursday, the All-Big Ten volleyball teams were announced with Rutgers' Alissa Kinkela making it on the list. Kinkela, a redshirt sophomore from Australia, made the Second Team All-Big Ten, making her the Scarlet Knights' first attacker to receive post season honors.

Despite a lack luster season, Kinkela was recognized by head coaches in the league for her efforts match in and match out.

Kinkela led the Scarlet Knights in kills and aces, with 344 and 29 respectfully, as well as being second in blocks with 79. Her season high 19 kills came in a win over Iowa making it the third most kills by a Scarlet Knight in a Big Ten match. She is also the second Rutgers volleyball player to make the Big Ten honorees list with Inna Balyko making the All-Big Ten first team in 2020.

Along with Kinkela, her teammate Kristina Grkovic was named Rutgers' recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree. The senior from Serbia was the career leader in solo blocks with 113 on the season. Grkovic also made her way into the top 10 in career blocks. She finished her Rutgers career second amid rally-era performers in career total blocks and block assists. This to go with second in career kills, hitting percentage and points and she was fourth in career aces.