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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: Jose Gallardo, Fort Valley State
National Opposite of the Week: Jon Diedrich, Purdue Fort Wayne
Co-National Outside Attacker of the Week: Luke Benson, BYU
Co-National Outside Attacker of the Week: Kyle Hobus, CSUN
National Middle Attacker of the Week: Cole Young, Ohio State
National Libero of the Week: Peyton Blain, Saint Francis
Jose Gallardo, Fort Valley State
Gallardo guided the offense to a .361 attack percentage and had a match-high seven digs as Fort Valley State swept Edward Waters on Saturday to move into sole possession of first place on the SIAC. Th setter also led the offense to a season-high .429 attack percentage in a sweep against Benedict on Friday
Jon Diedrich, Purdue Fort Wayne
Diedrich set a single-match school record during the 25-point rally scoring era with 37 kills in a five-game loss to No. 12/10 Ball State on Saturday. The pin-hitter also finished with a .452 attack percentage on 73 attempts – the most attack attempts from any player in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball this season.
Luke Benson, BYU
Benson led all players with a career-high 26 kills on a .512 attack percentage as No. 7/6 BYU defeated No. 8/8 Pepperdine in five games on Saturday. The outside attacker also had a team-high 21 kills on a .318 attack percentage in a five-game victory against No. 8/8 Pepperdine on Friday.
Kyle Hobus, CSUN
Hobus had 11 kills on a .346 attack percentage and a season-high six blocks in a four-game upset victory against No. 2/3 Hawai’i on Saturday. The outside attacker also finished with a team-high 21 kills and hit .395 in a four-game loss to the Rainbow Warriors on Friday.
Cole Young, Ohio State
Young finished with a match-high five blocks in a road sweep against No. 12/10 Ball State on Thursday. The middle attacker also had six kills and zero errors on a .667 attack percentage in the victory.
Peyton Blain, Saint Francis
Blain led all players with a season-high 17 digs in a four-game victory against Daemen on Friday that moved Saint Francis into first place in the NEC. The libero also had a team-high 15 digs and did not commit a reception error in another four-game victory against Daemen on Saturday.