COLLEGE PARK, Md. – After averaging 4.4 kills per set in two matches, outside hitter Gia Milana was selected as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, as announced by the conference on Monday.
 
The Romeo, Mich., native led the Terps in a four-set match vs. No. 10 Penn State and helped Maryland to a three-set win over Rutgers.
 
Against the Nittany Lions, Milana led the match with 20 kills while adding 11 digs. She has had eight double-doubles this season, the most by a non-setter in the Big Ten.
 
In a win over the Scarlet Knights, Milana notched 11 kills while adding four digs, three blocks and three service aces.
 
Milana ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 4.02 kills per set, which also leads conference freshmen. She is second on the Terps with 2.30 digs per set, which ranks seventh amongst Big Ten freshmen.
 
The outside hitter has led Maryland in kills in 23 of 28 matches this season and has hit double-digit kills in all but six matches this year.
 
Milana is Maryland's second-ever Big Ten Freshman of the Week after Angel Gaskin earned the honor last season.
 
Sarah Wilhite (Minnesota) was named Big Ten Player of the Week while Rachel Minarick (Michigan State) was selected as Big Ten Setter of the Week. Kelli Bates (Wisconsin) and Alyssa Garvelink (Michigan State) share Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors.
 
The Terps (11-17, 3-13 Big Ten) make their final road trip of the season this weekend. Maryland takes on Illinois (14-13, 7-9) on Friday at 8 p.m. before facing Northwestern (8-20, 1-15) on Saturday at 8p.m.