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For the third consecutive week, USC outside attacker Lucas Yoder is earning the nation’s top weekly award for a freshman.
Off the Block announced on Monday that Yoder was selected as the Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Freshman of the Week.
Yoder finished with 22 kills and an ace as No. 7 USC upset No. 2 Long Beach State in conference play Saturday to jump into fifth place in the MPSF standings. It was also the third time in the Trojans’ last four matches that the freshman finished with at least 20 kills.
Along with his offensive performance in the upset victory, Yoder had 11 kills in a home sweep against Cal State Northridge on Friday.
Yoder with this week’s award has earned Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Freshman of the Week honors a record six times this season. In addition, Yoder leads all freshmen and is in the nation’s top 10 with a 4.11 kills per game average.
The Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Freshman of the Week is presented to the NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball freshman who had the most outstanding performance during the week.
The winner is announced every Monday during the regular season on the Off the Block website, offtheblockblog.com.
Each of the four NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball conferences have an opportunity each week to nominate one player for the National Freshman of the Week. In addition, fans and teams can nominate a player for the National Freshman of the Week by tweeting their nominee to the official Twitter account of Off the Block, @offtheblock11.
Off the Block is a website that started in January 2011 and has become among the national leaders in college men’s volleyball coverage. Springbak, Inc. is the official sponsor of the 2014 Freshmen All-American Team and National Freshman of the Week 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.
Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Freshman of the Week honorable mentions
Owen McAndrews, Loyola middle attacker — McAndrews had 10 kills on a .562 attack percentage and added two blocks in a four-game victory against Penn State on Friday. He also finished with six kills and two aces to help No. 1 Loyola defeat its conference rival No. 10 Lewis on Tuesday.
Driss Guessous, Ohio State middle attacker — Guessous had a match-high 18 kills as Ohio State lost to Harvard in five games on Tuesday. In addition, Guessous led the Buckeyes with six blocks in a loss to its conference rival Ball State on Sunday.
Nick Bendell, Harvard setter — Bendell finished with a team-high 50 assists and helped guide Harvard’s offense to a .300 attack percentage in a five-game upset victory against Ohio State on Tuesday. The freshman also added seven digs and three blocks in the non-conference match.
Matt Callaway, Penn State middle attacker — Callaway had four kills on zero attack errors and a .571 attack percentage as Penn State beat No. 10 Lewis on the road in four games Saturday. The middle attacker also added a solo block in the non-conference victory.
Chad Stanback Jr., Barton outside attacker — Stanback had a combined 28 kills in two matches last week, including a match-high 17 kills as Barton defeated King on Friday. He also finished with 11 kills to help Barton beat Lees-McRae on Saturday and clinch the team’s first postseason appearance in school history.