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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. 27 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. 27
Andrew Sato, Long Beach State (2013-17)
Awards and honors: 2013 All-MPSF Freshman Team, 2014 All-MPSF Honorable Mention, 2016 All-American Honorable Mention, 2016 All-MPSF Honorable Mention, 2017 Erik Shoji Award, 2017 First-Team All-American, 2017 Second-Team All-MPSF
Player bio: Sato set program records with both 979 career digs and had 44 career matches with double-digit digs. The libero finished his senior season eighth in the nation with a 2.44 digs per game average as he helped Long Beach State win the MPSF championship and for the second straight year advance to the NCAA Tournament semifinals. Sato in 2014 also set a single-season program record and was third in the nation with a 2.80 digs per game average.
Best players to wear No. 27 by conference
Big West: N/A
ConfCarolinas: Costan Tolentino, King
EIVA: John Carr, Saint Francis
MIVA: Nicholas Olson, Loyola
MPSF: Andrew Sato, Long Beach State
Independents: Brain Failinger, Concordia-Irvine
Honorable mentions: Scott Fifter, Lewis; Ian Karbiener, Lewis