PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Junior middle blocker Zora Hardison was named the Rutgers recipient of the annual Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

The Big Ten Sportsmanship Award is an annual award given to student-athletes who demonstrate distinguished sportsmanship, ethical behavior and good citizenship both on and off the court.

Hardison, a native of Palm Bay, Florida, set two records during the 2025 campaign as she became both the rally-era career and rally-era season solo blocks leader. The junior Scarlet Knight led Rutgers with 104 total blocks while hitting a team-second best .317 with 2.07 kills per set.

Off the court, the psychology major participated in the Big Ten's Big Life Series: Selma to Montgomery and worked alongside her teammates in the creation of the first Black Excellence Game to honor and celebrate black history in the Rutgers community.