UC Santa Barbara, Ball State outsides named Co-National Freshman of Week

Photo courtesy of UC Santa Barbara athletics

Two freshmen who helped led their teams to non-conference victories during the weekend are now earning a share of a national award.

Off the Block announced Monday that Ball State outside attacker Kaleb Jenness and UC Santa Barbara outside attacker Ryan Wilcox were selected as the Off the Block Co-National Freshman of the Week.

Jenness led No. 11 Ball State with 17 kills on a .519 attack percentage and added 11 digs in a five-game road victory against Harvard on Friday. He also had 13 kills and a match-high 11 digs as Ball State beat Sacred Heart in four games on Saturday.

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Wilcox had 14 kills and zero attack errors while hitting .667 along with seven digs in a three-game victory against No. 3/3 BYU on Saturday to complete a two-match series sweep. He also finished with four aces in No. 9/9 UC Santa Barbara’s sweep against BYU on Friday to open the series.

This is the first time this season that Jenness or Wilcox have earned National Freshman of the Week honors.

The National Freshman of the Week is presented each week during the regular season to the NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball freshman who had the most outstanding performance. The winner is selected by the Off the Block staff and is announced every Monday during the regular season on the Off the Block website, offtheblockblog.com.

Along with the National Freshman of the Week, Off the Block will present 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.