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Six players based on your votes have an opportunity to win a college men’s volleyball national award for their outstanding performances in March
McKendree’s Francisco Comas, Lincoln Memorial’s Evan Cory, Barton’s Oscar Fiorentino, George Mason’s Jack Reese, Grand Canyon’s Cole Udall and Purdue Fort Wayne’s Pelegrin Vargas all advanced to the championship round of the Off the Block National Player of the Month.
The Off the Block National Player of the Month recognizes the best individual performances from NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball players during the month. In addition, it gives volleyball fans from around the world the chance to determine who was the best player through online voting on the Off the Block website.
The National Player of the Month is a two-round event with the opening round consisting of finalists being placed into one of five ballots based on their position. The five winners on the position ballots advanced to the championship round, along with the runner-up who received the most votes.
Cory, Fiorentino, Reese, Udall and Vargas all won their opening-round ballots to reach the finals, while Comas received the most votes among the runner-ups on all the ballots.
Online voting for the championship round is underway, and the polls will close at 10 p.m. (CST) Wednesday. The individual receiving the most votes will be the National Player of the Month for March.
While there are several weekly awards in college men’s volleyball, this is the only monthly national award presented in the sport.
Check out the finalists below for the National Player of the Month in March. Individuals can vote using at the poll below or by visiting offtheblockblog.com/playerofmonth.
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Francisco Comas, McKendree
Comas had double-digit digs in two upset victories for the Bearcats in March. The freshman libero had a match-high 13 digs as McKendree beat Ohio State in five games on March 3. He also led all players with 11 digs in a four-game road upset of BYU on March 22.
Evan Cory, Lincoln Memorial
Cory had double-digit kills in eight straight March matches, including a season-high 26 kills on a .512 attack percentage in a five-game victory against Emmanuel on March 6. He also had double-digit digs in three matches and had a combined 17 aces as the Railsplitters won eight of their nine matches during the month.
Oscar Fiorentino, Barton
Fiorentino guided the offense to more than a .350 attack percentage in eight matches during the month as Barton went undefeated in March and extended its winning streak to 14 matches. The setter also had a season-high 10 digs in a four-game non-conference victory against Harvard on March 18.
Jack Reese, George Mason
Reese had double-digit blocks in two March matches, including a season-high 12 blocks against Grand Canyon on March 15. The middle attacker also had at least five kills in all five matches that he played during the month. His top offensive performance featured five kills and zero errors on a .625 attack percentage in a sweep of Grand Canyon on March 16.
Cole Udall, Grand Canyon
Udall had double-digit digs in four matches during the month highlighted by a match-high 15 digs in a four-game home victory against USC on March 14. The libero also led all players with 15 digs as Grand Canyon upset Loyola in five games on March 8.
Pelegrin Vargas, Purdue Fort Wayne
Vargas had three matches with 20 kills as part of a seven-match double-digit kill streak in March. In addition, Vargas had a season-high four aces and led the team with 21 kills as Purdue Fort Wayne beat Lindenwood in five games on Saturday to clinch home court for the MIVA Tournament quarterfinals.