Follow
Five college men’s volleyball players have earned national awards for being the best at their position.
Loyola’s Avery Aylsworth, Lincoln Memorial’s Evan Cory, UCLA’s Daenen Gyimah, King’s Jeff Sprayberry and Long Beach State’s Josh Tuaniga were selected for the Off the Block/Molten National Position Player of the Conference Postseason Awards.
The National Position Player of the Conference Postseason Awards recognize the libero, middle attacker, opposite, outside attacker and setter who had the best performances in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball during the conference tournaments.
The Off the Block staff determines each award recipient. In addition, Off the Block each week during the regular season presented the Off the Block/Molten National Position Player of the Week Awards.
While each conference presents its own conference tournament awards, these are the only position-based award recognizing the best conference tournament individual performances throughout the nation.
Off the Block at the end of the season also presents the Lloy Ball Award to the nation’s top setter, Bryan Ivie Award to the nation’s top opposite, the Karch Kiraly Award to the nation’s top outside attacker, the Ryan Millar Award to the nation’s top middle attacker and the Erik Shoji Award to the nation’s top libero.
Molten is the official volleyball supplier of the NCAA and is the 2018 sponsor of the National Position Player of the Week Awards.
Off the Block is a national award winning website that launched in 2011 and is the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage.
National Position Player of the Conference Postseason Awards
Off the Block/Molten National Setter of the Conference Postseason: Josh Tuaniga, Long Beach State
Off the Block/Molten National Opposite of the Conference Postseason: Evan Cory, Lincoln Memorial
Off the Block/Molten National Outside Attacker of the Conference Postseason: Jeff Sprayberry, King
Off the Block/Molten National Middle Attacker of the Conference Postseason: Daenen Gyimah, UCLA
Off the Block/Molten National Libero of the Conference Postseason: Avery Aylsworth, Loyola
Off the Block/Molten National Setter of the Conference Postseason: Josh Tuaniga, Long Beach State
Tuaniga had two aces and guided Long Beach State to a .414 attack percentage as it swept CSUN in the Big West Tournament semifinals on Friday. The Big West Tournament Most Outstanding Player also led the 49ers to hit .369 and had three aces in a sweep against Hawai’i to win the inaugural Big West championship on Saturday.
Off the Block/Molten National Opposite of the Conference Postseason: Evan Cory, Lincoln Memorial
Cory led all players with a season-high 26 kills on a .314 attack percentage and added 11 digs as Lincoln Memorial beat Coker in five games to win the IVA Tournament championship for the first time in program history. In addition, Cory had 10 kills and five blocks in a sweep against Queens in the IVA Tournament semifinals.
Off the Block/Molten National Outside Attacker of the Conference Postseason: Jeff Sprayberry, King
Sprayberry finished with a combined 42 kills on a .386 attack percentage in three ConfCarolinas Tournament matches to lead King to its first conference championship in program history. The ConfCarolinas Tournament Most Outstanding Player also had a season-high five aces in a quarterfinals sweep against Lees-McRae and had a match-high 14 kills to help sweep Barton in the finals on Saturday.
Off the Block/Molten National Middle Attacker of the Conference Postseason: Daenen Gyimah, UCLA
Gyimah finished with at least a .500 attack percentage in all three MPSF Tournament matches and had a combined 32 kills. Among his top postseason performances featured both a match-high 16 kills and six blocks in a four-game victory against Concordia-Irvine in the MPSF Tournament semifinals on Thursday.
Off the Block/Molten National Libero of the Conference Postseason: Avery Aylsworth, Loyola
Aylsworth had a combined 33 digs in three MIVA Tournament matches, including a season-high 17 digs in a four-game victory against Ball State in the semifinals on Wednesday. He also had a match-high 10 digs as Loyola lost in three games to Ohio State in the MIVA Tournament finals on Saturday.