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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. 23 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. 23
Gonzalo Quiroga, UCLA (2011-14)
Awards and honors: 2011 Second-Team All-MPSF, 2012 Second-Team All-MPSF, 2013 First-Team All-American, 2013 National Server of the Year finalist, 2013 First Team All-MPSF, 2014 First-Team All-American, 2014 National Server of the Year finalist, 2014 First-Team All-MPSF
Player bio: Quiroga finished his college career setting the UCLA all-time program record with 194 career aces. He also had back-to-back seasons in the nation’s top five for aces, including leading the MPSF and having a career-best 0.50 aces per game average during his senior season. Along with his serving performance, Quiroga remains sixth all-time in program history with 1,387 career kills. The outside attacker for two straight seasons was in the nation’s top 20 for kills — highlighted by being 13th in the country with a 3.68 kills per game average in 2013.
Best players to wear No. 23 by conference
Big West: Spencer Fredrick, UC Santa Barbara
ConfCarolinas: Dalton Johnson, King
EIVA: Ryan Thomas, NJIT
MIVA: Colin Hackworth, Lindenwood
MPSF: Gonzalo Quiroga, UCLA
Independents: Nicholas Bauer, Concordia-Irvine
Honorable mentions: Andy Benesh, USC; Michael Hatch, BYU; Jordan Hoppe, Concordia-Irvine; Jaylen Jasper, Stanford; Paul Narup, Loyola