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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. 5 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. 5
Micah Christenson, USC (2012-15)
Awards and honors: First-Team All-Decade, 2012 National Newcomer of the Year, 2012 MPSF Freshman of the Year, 2012 Second-Team All-MPSF, 2012 Second-Team All-American, 2013 National Server of the Year finalist, 2013 Second-Team All-MPSF, 2014 Lloy Ball Award, 2014 First-Team All-American, 2014 First-Team All-MPSF, 2015 Co-Lloy Ball Award winner, 2015 First-Team All-American, 2015 First-Team All-MPSF
Player bio: Christenson as a four-year starter finished with 4,105 career assists and a 10.58 career assists per game average. In his freshman season, the setter guided the offense to the nation’s eighth-best attack percentage at .297 as the Trojans advanced to the NCAA Tournament finals. Christenson also had 121 career aces, including being fifth in the nation with a 0.45 aces per game in 2013. Even before graduating from USC, Christenson had already established himself as the starting setter for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Christenson during the offseason heading into his senior year led the United States to a gold medal in the 2014 FIVB World League.
Best players to wear No. 5 by conference
Big West: Kyle Ensing, Long Beach State
ConfCarolinas: Jeff Sprayberry, King
EIVA: Cody Kessel, Princeton
MIVA: Christy Blough, Ohio State
MPSF: Micah Christenson, USC
Independents: AJ Risavy, Lincoln Memorial
Honorable mentions: Brian Cook, Stanford; Gabi Garcia Fernandez, BYU; Graham McIlvaine, Ball State; Michael Saeta, UC Irvine; Keenan Sanders, UC Santa Barbara