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It’s all about the numbers — particularly the number on the jersey.
Off the Block is unveiling the best player to wear each jersey number in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball during the 25-point rally scoring era.
The latest installment in this summer series examines the best to don the No. 21 jersey. Check out Off the Block throughout June as it continues to reveal the best in the sport to wear each number.
Best player to wear No. 21
Jeff Jendryk, Loyola (2015-18)
Awards and honors: First-Team All-Decade, MIVA First-Team All-Decade, 2015 National Newcomer of the Year, 2015 Freshman All-American, 2015 Second-Team All-MIVA, 2015 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, 2015 NCAA All-Tournament Team, 2016 Second-Team All-American, 2016 Ryan Millar Award finalists, 2016 First-Team All-MIVA, 2017 First-Team All-American, 2017 Ryan Millar Award finalist, 2017 Off the Block National Blocker of the Year finalist, 2017 First-Team All-MIVA, 2018 First-Team All-American, 2018 Ryan Millar Award finalist, 2018 First-Team All-MIVA
Player bio: Jendryk finished each of his final three seasons in the nation’s top five for attack percentage and remains second in program history with a .449 career attack percentage. As a freshman, Jendryk had a season-high 17 kills while hitting .500 in a five-game victory against Lewis in the 2015 NCAA Tournament finals. Jendryk during his senior season was second in the nation with a .457 attack percentage and had double-digit kills in 10 matches. The future U.S. Men’s National Team middle attacker also was third in program history with 424 career blocks, including being seventh in the nation with a 1.16 blocks per game average in 2017.
Best players to wear No. 21 by conference
Big West: Kyle McCauley, UC San Diego
ConfCarolinas: Derek Sullivan, Belmont Abbey
EIVA: Davis Waddell, Princeton
MIVA: Jeff Jendryk, Loyola
MPSF: Kupono Fey, Hawai’i
Independents: N/A
Honorable mentions: Kyle Bugee, Lewis; Wyatt Dimke, McKendree; Gerrard Lipscombe, Grand Canyon; Connor Olbright, Long Beach State; Kyle Overby, Lindenwood