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Off the Block announced on Monday the recipients of the National Position Player of the Week Awards and the National Freshman of the Week.
The National Position Player of the Week 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 week. In addition, the National Player of the Week is presented to the top freshman from the week in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball.
The Off the Block staff determines each award recipient. The winners are announced every Monday during the regular season on the Off the Block website, offtheblockblog.com.
While there are other weekly national awards in college men’s volleyball, these are the only position-based and freshman-based weekly awards.
Off the Block at the end of the season 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. It also presents the Freshmen All-American Team at the end of the regular season.
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.
Off the Block Weekly National Award recipients
National Setter of the Week: Roque Nido, NJIT
National Opposite of the Week: Calvin Mende, Penn State
National Outside Attacker of the Week: Wyatt Harrison, UC San Diego
National Middle Attacker of the Week: Felipe de Brito Ferreira, BYU
National Libero of the Week: Edwin Montaruli, Barton
National Freshman of the Week: Cole Ketrzynski, UCLA
Felipe de Brito Ferreira, BYU
Ferreira finished with a combined 18 kills on a .552 attack percentage in a two-match series sweep of No. 5/5 UC Irvine, including having 10 kills and zero attack errors in the series finale on Friday. The middle attacker also contributed a match-high seven blocks to help the Cougars beat the Anteaters in the series finale.
Wyatt Harrison, UC San Diego
Harrison had a combined 50 kills in three victories at the Lindenwood Invitational and was named to the All-Tournament Team. The outside attacker led all players with a season-high 27 kills on a .553 attack percentage in a five-game victory against McKendree on Saturday. He also had 14 kills to help UC San Diego beat Lindenwood in five games on Thursday.
Cole Ketrzynski, UCLA
Ketrzynski finished with 17 kills while hitting .400 as No.6/6 UCLA defeated Ohio State in four games on Sunday. He also had 10 kills on a .300 attack percentage and added five digs in a three-game loss to No. 10/9 Penn State on Friday.
Calvin Mende, Penn State
Mende had a match-high 15 kills while hitting .591 as No. 10/9 Penn State swept No. 6/6 UCLA on Friday for the program’s first win against the Bruins since 2008. In addition, Mende finished with 17 kills on a .452 attack percentage along with having both a team-high three blocks and seven digs in a five-game victory against USC.
Edwin Montaruli, Barton
Montaruli ended the season opener with a match-high 16 digs as Barton rallied to beat Queens in five games on Wednesday. The libero also had a combined 15 digs in Barton’s conference victories against Emmanuel and Erskine during the weekend.
Roque Nido, NJIT
Nido had 36 assists and guided the offense to a .452 attack percentage as NJIT swept No. 11 Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday. The setter also led the offense to hit .425 and contributed five digs in a sweep against Ball State on Saturday.