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A nationwide voting committee selected USC setter Micah Christenson, UCLA outside attacker Gonzalo Quiroga and Loyola outside attacker Joseph Smalzer as finalists for the 2013 Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Server of the Year.
The Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Server of the Year recognizes the top individual serving performance from a NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball player during the regular season.
Christenson finished the Trojans’ season in the nation’s top five with 41 aces and averaged 0.45 aces per game. The All-American setter also had a season-high six aces in two matches this year and had five aces the team’s upset victory against then-No. 3 Pepperdine — USC’s one of two wins against a top-five nationally ranked team this season.
Quiroga was second in the nation and had a MPSF-best 51 aces, while finishing third in the nation with a 0.48 aces per game average. The junior also had at least one ace in Bruins’ final five regular season matches to help UCLA finish in fourth place in the MPSF and secure a home match for the upcoming MPSF Tournament quarterfinals.
Smalzer led the nation with 64 aces and a 0.65 per aces per game average. In addition, the junior had a season-best seven aces in a sweep against Ohio State in April to help Loyola secure a share of the MIVA regular season title and the No. 2 seed for the upcoming MIVA Tournament.
This is the inaugural year for the Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Server of the Year award. The voting committee for this award was comprised of more than 20 college men’s volleyball head coaches and volleyball reporters from around the nation.
The overall winner of the Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Server of the Year will be announced Monday.
Off the Block is a website that launched in January 2011 and has become among the nation’s leading media outlets for college men’s volleyball news and analysis. Springbak, Inc. is the official sponsor of the 2013 National Server of the Year and 2013 National Blocker of the Year and produces high performance footwear used by professional athletes from the NFL, NBA, MLB and U.S. Olympic teams and the top college teams in the nation.
VOTING RESULTS (Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Sever of the Year)
Finalists (listed in alphabetical order)
Micah Christenson, USC
Gonzalo Quiroga, UCLA
Joseph Smalzer, Loyola
Others receiving votes
Levi Cabral, Cal Baptist; Taylor Sander, BYU; Greg Herceg, Ball State; Ricardo Ferrer, Coker; Colin Hackworth, Lindenwood; Michael Kvidahl, George Mason; Kevin Hart, Limestone; Aaron Russell, Penn State; Kevin Tillie, UC Irvine; Maurice Torres, Pepperdine
Vinnie I wonder if u could also dig up the ace/error ratios for these 3 players. Thanks for ur help keep up the great job
Christenson is the clear leader there. He’s very very close to 1:1, which is just nuts.
I feel vindicated by these announcements, I must say. I voted for all 3 of the finalists for this award and 2 of the 3 for the blocker award (once again I’m flattered that Vinnie included me in the voting body). Makes me feel like I know what I’m talking about ;\
Joe Jr. is the best!
Joseph Smalzer no doubt.