Follow
Off the Block announced on Monday the recipients of the National Position Player of the Week Awards.
The National Position Player of the Week Awards recognize the libero, middle attacker, opposite, outside attacker and setter who had the best performances in NCAA men’s volleyball during the week.
The Off the Block staff determines each award recipient. The winners are announced every week during the regular season on the Off the Block website, offtheblockblog.com.
While there are other weekly national awards in college men’s volleyball, these are the only position-based weekly awards.
Off the Block at the end of the season presents the Lloy Ball Award to the nation’s top setter, Bryan Ivie Award to the nation’s top opposite, the Karch Kiraly Award to the nation’s top outside attacker, the Ryan Millar Award to the nation’s top middle attacker and the Erik Shoji Award to the nation’s top libero.
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.
Off the Block Weekly National Award recipients
National Setter of the Week: Nicholas Slight, Grand Canyon
National Opposite of the Week: Dimitrios Mouchlias, Hawai’i
National Outside Attacker of the Week: Lachlan Bray, Charleston
National Co-Middle Attacker of the Week: Toby Ezeonu, Penn State
National Co-Middle Attacker of the Week: Merrick McHenry, UCLA
National Libero of the Week: Ryan Merk, Penn State
Nicholas Slight, Grand Canyon
Slight had 45 assists and guided the offense to a .511 attack percentage as No. 5/5 Grand Canyon swept No. 11 Ball State on Wednesday.
Dimitrios Mouchlias, Hawai’i
Mouchlias led all players with a season-high 22 kills on a .390 attack percentage in a four-game victory against No. 2/2 UCLA on Saturday. The opposite finished the Outrigger Invitational with a combined 52 kills, including 14 kills on a .462 in a sweep against Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday.
Lachlan Bray, Charleston
Bray finished with both a season-high 23 kills on .400 attack percentage and eight digs in a five-game victory against Mount Olive on Friday. The outside attacker also contributed 12 kills and three in a three-game victory against the Trojans on Saturday to complete the two-match series sweep.
Toby Ezeonu, Penn State
Ezeonu had 10 kills on a .533 attack percentage and five blocks as No. 3/3 Penn State defeated No. 1/1 Hawai’i in four games on Friday. The middle attacker had at least five kills and hit at least .425 in all three matches at the Outrigger Invitational.
Merrick McHenry, UCLA
McHenry had both a match-high seven blocks and three aces along with nine kills on a .615 attack percentage in a five-game victory against No. 3/3 Penn State on Thursday. The middle attacker also had 11 kills on a .647 attack percentage and five blocks in a four-game loss to No. 1/1 Hawai’i on Saturday.
Ryan Merk, Penn State
Merk led No. 3/3 Penn State with 80 service receptions and had a 93.8 percent successful passing rating in three matches at the Outrigger Invitational. The libero in those matches also had a combined 23 digs en route to helping the Nittany Lions win the Outrigger Invitational championship.