Photo by: Kim Ly
USC Women's Volleyball's Reese Messer Earns Second Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honor
October 27, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
The first-year setter had career highs of 48 assists and 16 digs for her eighth double-double in a win against Washington
ROSEMONT, Ill. – USC women's volleyball freshman setter Reese Messer (Olathe, Kan./Saint James Academy) was chosen as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week—her second such honor—for the week of Oct. 20-26, the Conference announced on Monday, Oct. 27.
While it is the second selection for Messer, it lifts USC's total to five weekly awards this season. She was first chosen on Sept. 22. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Leah Ford was named the league's Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 1) and last week, London Wijay was selected as the league's Player of the Week while Taylor Deckert was tabbed Freshman of the Week (Oct. 20).
Messer guided USC to a pair of wins over Maryland (3-0) and Washington (3-1) and set the Trojans to a season-high .427 hitting with 35 assists, four digs, two blocks, and a kill in the win over the Terrapins. She then produced her eighth double-double with a career-high 48 assists and a career-high tying 16 digs against the Huskies and had three kills, three blocks, and a pair of service aces. In the two matches, Messer averaged 11.86 assists per set to go with 2.86 digs per set and had 1.21 points per set.
Among other award winners, Purdue's Grace Heaney was chosen as the Big Ten Player of the Week and the Boilermakers' Taylor Anderson repeats for Setter of the Week. Iowa's Hannah Whittingstall was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week.
The No. 22-ranked Women of Troy (15-5, 6-4 Big Ten) open the back half of conference play against crosstown rival UCLA (12-8, 6-4) on Wednesday (Oct. 29) at Galen Center. The Trojans and Bruins meet for the second of two regular-season matches at 7 p.m. PT and will be shown live on Big Ten Network. USC then travels to Minneapolis to take on No. 20 Minnesota (16-5, 6-4) on Saturday (Nov. 1) to open November. The teams will meet at 8 p.m. CT (6 p.m. PT) and be shown live on Big Ten Plus.
For more information on the USC women's volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
USC BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY AWARDS
2024
Mia Tuaniga, Setter of the Week (Sept. 23)
Jadyn Livings, Freshman of the Week (Sept. 23)
Mia Tuaniga, Setter of the Week (Nov. 4)
Ally Batenhorst, Player of the Week (Nov. 4)
2025
Leah Ford, Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 1)
Reese Messer, Freshman of the Week (Sept. 22)
London Wijay, Player of the Week (Oct. 20)
Taylor Deckert, Freshman of the Week (Oct. 20)
Reese Messer, Freshman of the Week (Oct. 27)
While it is the second selection for Messer, it lifts USC's total to five weekly awards this season. She was first chosen on Sept. 22. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Leah Ford was named the league's Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 1) and last week, London Wijay was selected as the league's Player of the Week while Taylor Deckert was tabbed Freshman of the Week (Oct. 20).
Messer guided USC to a pair of wins over Maryland (3-0) and Washington (3-1) and set the Trojans to a season-high .427 hitting with 35 assists, four digs, two blocks, and a kill in the win over the Terrapins. She then produced her eighth double-double with a career-high 48 assists and a career-high tying 16 digs against the Huskies and had three kills, three blocks, and a pair of service aces. In the two matches, Messer averaged 11.86 assists per set to go with 2.86 digs per set and had 1.21 points per set.
Among other award winners, Purdue's Grace Heaney was chosen as the Big Ten Player of the Week and the Boilermakers' Taylor Anderson repeats for Setter of the Week. Iowa's Hannah Whittingstall was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week.
The No. 22-ranked Women of Troy (15-5, 6-4 Big Ten) open the back half of conference play against crosstown rival UCLA (12-8, 6-4) on Wednesday (Oct. 29) at Galen Center. The Trojans and Bruins meet for the second of two regular-season matches at 7 p.m. PT and will be shown live on Big Ten Network. USC then travels to Minneapolis to take on No. 20 Minnesota (16-5, 6-4) on Saturday (Nov. 1) to open November. The teams will meet at 8 p.m. CT (6 p.m. PT) and be shown live on Big Ten Plus.
For more information on the USC women's volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/WVB. Fans of the Women of Troy can follow @USCWomensVolley on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
USC BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY AWARDS
2024
Mia Tuaniga, Setter of the Week (Sept. 23)
Jadyn Livings, Freshman of the Week (Sept. 23)
Mia Tuaniga, Setter of the Week (Nov. 4)
Ally Batenhorst, Player of the Week (Nov. 4)
2025
Leah Ford, Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 1)
Reese Messer, Freshman of the Week (Sept. 22)
London Wijay, Player of the Week (Oct. 20)
Taylor Deckert, Freshman of the Week (Oct. 20)
Reese Messer, Freshman of the Week (Oct. 27)
Players Mentioned
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