USC Women's Volleyball's Reese Messer and Abigail Mullen Collect Big Ten Weekly Awards

USC women's volleyball Big Ten Players of the Week Abigail Mullen and Reese Messer

USC Women's Volleyball's Reese Messer and Abigail Mullen Collect Big Ten Weekly Awards

December 01, 2025 | Women's Volleyball

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ROSEMONT, Ill. – USC women's volleyball freshman Reese Messer (Olathe, Kan./Saint James Academy) was named the Big Ten Setter of the Week and opposite hitter Abigail Mullen (Kansas City, Mo./Liberty HS) was chosen as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the week of Nov. 24-30, the Conference announced on Monday, Dec. 1.

The two selections push the Trojans' total to 11 Big Ten weekly awards in 2025 and 15 all-time. Three weeks ago (Nov. 10) Mullen collected her first Freshman of the Week award, and in early November, Messer was tabbed for Co-Setter of the Week (Nov. 3). Messer has also been chosen as the Freshman of the Week twice (Sept. 22, Oct. 27). Among other Trojan winners, London Wijay earned two Player of the Week awards (Oct. 20, Nov. 3) and Leah Ford received Defensive Player of the Week notice twice (Sept. 1, Nov. 24). Taylor Deckert was tabbed Freshman of the Week (Oct. 20).

Messer totaled 87 assists to average 12.43 assists per set and produced her 10th double-double. She put up 39 assists and set USC to .333 hitting with seven digs, three blocks, and three kills in a sweep of Michigan State. She then racked up 48 assists and set USC to .313 hitting with 10 digs, two blocks, and two kills in a win over Michigan. Messer ranks second in the Big Ten for assists per set and helped the Women of Troy win their third and fourth straight matches to conclude the regular season

Mullen averaged 3.93 points per set with 3.14 kills per set while hitting .362 in USC's two matches. She had 11 kills (.348 hitting) and 10 digs with two blocks and an assist for 12.0 total points at Michigan State to record her seventh double-double of the season. She then tallied 11 kills (.375 hitting) to go with six digs, three service aces, and three blocks for 15.5 points in a win at Michigan. Mullen has reached double-digit kills 18 times and double-digit points 23 times this fall.

Among other award winners, Wisconsin's Mimi Colyer was named the Big Ten Player of the Week, and UCLA's Lola Schumacher was chosen as the league's defensive player of the week.

The 14th-ranked Trojans (24-6, 15-5 Big Ten) finished the regular season tied for third in the Big Ten and were awarded one of 33 at-large berths—and a hosting bid—into the 2025 NCAA tournament. USC makes its fourth straight appearance in the tourney under sixth-year head coach Brad Keller (41st all-time), and faces Ivy League champion Princeton (18-6) in the first round on Thursday (Dec. 4) at approximately 7 p.m. PT. In the other first-round match set for 5 p.m., fifth-seeded BYU (22-8) of the Big XII will face Big West champion Cal Poly (25-7). The winners of the two first-round contests advance to the second round to play on Friday (Dec. 5) at 7 p.m. PT. All three matches at Galen Center will be shown live on ESPN+. Tickets for individual days and an all-session package are available at USCTrojans.com/tickets.

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)
London Wijay, Player of the Week (Nov. 3)
Reese Messer, Co-Setter of the Week (Nov. 3)
Abigail Mullen, Freshman of the Week (Nov. 10)
Leah Ford, Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 24)
Reese Messer, Setter of the Week (Dec. 1)
Abigail Mullen, Freshman of the Week (Dec. 1)