2023 NAIA Men's Volleyball Players of the Week
Players of the week are evaluated on their performance during the week prior to the announcement. Each player is selected out of a pool of conference and group award winners.
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Attacker of the Week: Kyle Anema, Vanguard (Calif.)
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Kyle Anema pounded a season-high 24 kills in Vanguard's five-set victory over No. 6 Menlo on Senior Day. The outside hitter hit .333 (24-9-45) overall while adding three service aces, two digs and a block assist. He also did not have any reception errors in 23 attempts. |
Nominees: Daniel Galili, Grand View (Iowa); Eduardo Ayala, Lourdes (Ohio); Oskar Krzyzak, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Akeil Williams, Ottawa (Kan.); Mohamed Ilias Lazaar, Westcliff (Calif.); Kyle Anema, Vanguard (Calif.); Caden Donaldson, Rio Grande (Ohio); Victor Pacheco, Reinhardt (Ga.)
Defender of the Week: Alex Sanchez, Reinhardt (Ga.)
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Alex had a total of 81 digs for the week and averaged 5.79 digs per set. He broke the school record for digs in a single game on Wednesday night vs Truett McConnell totaling 23. Then Alex went and broke his own record Friday night vs Carolina totaling 28 digs. He also finished the week with 17 assists and 3 aces |
Nominees: Kyi Jagorin, Cornerstone (Mich.); Alex Sanchez, Reinhardt (Ga.), Cody Watts, Vanguard (Calif.), Michael Olson, Missouri Baptist, James Ballance, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), Bobby Meifert, Rio Grande (Ohio), Jozef Lingenfelter, UC Merced (Calif.), Akeil Williams, Ottawa (Kan.)
Setter of the Week: Pawel Tuz, Westcliff (Calif.)
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Westcliff went 3-0 on the weekend currently on a 9 match win streak. Tuz for the week had an impressive 103 assists in only 3 matches with 3 service aces, 12 digs and 6 total blocks. |
Nominees: Patrick Voloch, Cornerstone (Mich.); David Rudic, Missouri Baptist; Seth Mohr, Rio Grande (Ohio); Bruno Dewes, Reinhardt (Ga.); Tomas Gonzalez, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Pawel Tuz, Westcliff (Calif.); Lucas Larson, Menlo (Calif.); Jacob DePauw, Morningside (Iowa)
Attacker of the Week: Nolan Flexen, The Master's (Calif.)
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In four match wins this week, all against ranked teams, Nolan Flexen hit .530 with 88 kills and nine blocks. Flexen averaged 28.3 kills against the three Top 15 teams, including a career-high 31 against No. 8 William Penn. |
Nominees: Marcos Henrike, Bethel (Ind.); Chris Morikawa, UC Merced (Calif.); Oguzhan Oguz, Jamestown (N.D.); Jan Lopuch, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Sam Kaylor, Rio Grande (Ohio); Nolan Flexen, The Master's (Calif.); Daniel Montero, Warner (Fla.); Miljan Kastratovic, Missouri Baptist
Defender of the Week: Diego Perez, The Master's (Calif.)
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In four match wins against ranked opponents, Diego Perez had 44 digs, an average of 11 per match and 2.75 per set. Against No. 8 William Penn, the All-American from 2022 had a career-high 19 digs. |
Nominees: Gustavo Heidrich, Lawrence Tech (Mich.); Michal Bak, Ottawa (Kan.); Imanol Davila-Morales, Warner (Fla.); Tyler Watts, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.); Caleb Lipscomb, Thomas More (Ky.); Joseph Claffy, Roosevelt (Ill.); Michael Anderson, Missouri Baptist; Diego Perez, The Master's (Calif.)
Setter of the Week: Matthew Hamm, The Master's (Calif.)
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In four match wins against ranked opponents, Matthew Hamm had 168 assists, an average of 10.5 per set. His 57 assists against No. 8 William Penn was a career high. In a four-set win against No. 6 Menlo, Hamm averaged 11.75 assists per set. |
Nominees: Matthew Hamm, The Master's (Calif.); Derek Correa, Jamestown (N.D.); Daxton Tolman, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.); Jason Klein, Saint Xavier (Ill.); David Rudic, Missouri Baptist; Wyatt Bollinger, Goshen (Ohio); Seth Mohr, Rio Grande (Ohio); Matheus Ferreira-Collares, Warner (Fla.)
Attacker of the Week: Joao Friedrich, Park (Mo.)
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Friedrich led Park with 35 kills in two wins over No. 9 William Penn and Graceland to seal the 2023 Heart Regular Season Championship. He averaged 4.38 kills per set for the week and had a season-high 25 kills against the Statesmen. He had 10 service aces in one match, which is one shy of tying an NAIA record and had 11 service aces for the week. That match against Graceland gave Friedrich a double double in kills and service aces at 10 apiece. He hit .338 and added six digs and four total blocks to his numbers as well. |
Nominees: Hasan Hadzic, Goshen (Ohio); Gabriel Pizza, Westcliff (Calif.); Daniel Montero, Warner (Fla.); Chris Beck, Arizona Christian (Ariz..); Jake Ostema, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Luka Ilic, Cumberland (Tenn.); Joao Friedrich, Park (Mo.)
Defender of the Week: Caleb Ginnings, Cumberland (Tenn.)
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Caleb averaged 3.27 digs per set. He had a week-high 17 digs in a 3-0 win over Simpson College. |
Nominees: Nick Fox, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Hasan Hadzic, Goshen (Ohio); Leonardo Cirqueira, St. Andrews (N.C.); Ryan Jew, Vanguard (Calif.); Nikos Kalagasidis, Simpson (Calif.); Tiago Almeida, Mount Mercy (Iowa); Caleb Ginnings, Cumberland (Tenn.)
Setter of the Week: Matheus Ferreira-Collares, Warner (Fla.)
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Matheus averaged 11.5 assists per set, including 37 helpers in a sweep over Truett-McConnell. |
Nominees: Jordan Pierce, Cumberland (Tenn.); Carson Mott, Ottawa (Ariz.); Jaysen Matsumoto, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio); Jake Evanish, Cardinal Stritch (Wis.); Pawel Tuz, Westcliff (Calif.); Matheus Ferreira-Collares, Warner (Fla.); Rafael Vieyra, Mount Mercy (Iowa)
Attacker of the Week: Jeremy Torres, Warner (Fla.)
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Averaged 6.8 kills per set, leading Warner to a pair of wins against Reinhardt and Life. |
Nominees: Ike Papes, William Penn (Iowa); Jeremy Torres, Warner (Fla.); JT Kuderca, Pacific Union (Calif.); Caden Donaldson, Rio Grande (Ohio); Caleb Kulesza, Dordt (Iowa); Nolan Flexen, The Master's (Calif.); David Galanes, Cornerstone (Mich.); Jan Lopuch, Saint Xavier (Ill.)
Defender of the Week: Cody Watts, Vanguard (Calif.)
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Cody Watts averaged 1.50 blocks per set over three matches to help the Lions finish 2-1 for the week. Watts had an impressive effort against NCAA foe UC Santa Barbara with nine kills, five digs and eight block assists, as he helped the Lions outblock the Gauchos 17.5-4.5. He added five block assists in a four-set win over Arizona Christian. Watts continued to contribute offensively as well with six kills on .500 hitting. In the four-set win over OUAZ, he posted eight kills on .429 hitting, adding a digs and five blocks (one solo). |
Nominees: Cody Watts, Vanguard (Calif.); Jake Ostema, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Akeil Williams, Ottawa (Kan.); Tyler Yu, Park- Gilbert (Ariz.); Alex Sanchez, Reinhardt (Ga.); Gustavo Heidrich, Lawrence Tech; Fernand Morales, Campbellsville (Ky.); Daniel Isernhagen, Park (Mo.)
Setter of the Week: Matt Helmick, William Penn (Iowa)
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Had at least 34 assists in all three matches, leading William Penn to a 3-0 week. Averaged 12.6 assists per set. |
Nominees: Bryce Jones, The Master's (Calif.); Jason Klein, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Daxton Tolman, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.); Matt Helmick, William Penn (Iowa); Seth Mohr, Rio Grande (Ohio); Matheus Ferreira-Collares, Warner (Fla.); Simon Phillip, Lawrence Tech; Lukas Van groningen, Dordt (Iowa)
Attacker of the Week: Landon Krause, William Penn (Iowa)
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Krause had a huge week, highlighted by 18 kills (6.00 per set) in a sweep over Missouri Baptist. |
Nominees: Jeremy Torres, Warner (Fla.); Hasan Hadzic, Goshen (Ohio); Caden Donaldson, Rio Grande (Ohio); Gabriel Pizza, Westcliff (Calif); Landon Krause, William Penn (Iowa); Kyle Anema, Vanguard (Calif.); Thoralf Schmelzer, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Oguzhan Oguz, Jamestown (N.D.)
Defender of the Week: Gabriel Vianna, Lourdes (Ohio)
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Had double figure dig totals in all three matches with just two total reception errors ... 20 digs against Mount Vernon Nazarene was a season high. |
Nominees: Alex Sanchez, Reinhardt (Ga.); Valesis Vaisuai, Vanguard (Calif.); Erick Villar Cordero, Grand View (Iowa); Jacob Saechao, Simpson (Calif.); Gabriel Vianna, Lourdes (Ohio); JoVeaun Banks, Campbellsville (Ky.); Jackson Otto, Judson (Ill.); Owen Anderson, Morningside (Iowa)
Setter of the Week: Zeo Meyer, Grand View (Iowa)
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139 total assists, 5 errors |
Nominees: Tomas Gonzalez, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Zeo Meyer, Grand View (Iowa); Nefty Vigo, Life (Ga.); Jacob DePauw, Morningside (Iowa); George Tsogtbaatar, Lourdes (Ohio); Jordan Pierce, Cumberland (Tenn.); Daxton Tolman, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.); Ryan Smith, Vanguard (Calif.)
Attacker of the Week: Will Anderson, Vanguard (Calif.)
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Will Anderson had a monster week in a pair of sweeps against Hope International and No. 1 The Master's. The opposite hit .652 (35-5-46) while averaging 5.83 kills, 1.67 digs and 1.33 blocks per set. He connected at a .684 clip with 15 kills and just two errors in 19 swings. He totaled seven block assists as the Lions rolled to the 25-16, 25-7, 25-11 victory. Anderson dominated against the top-ranked Mustangs. He had 20 kills, eight digs and two service aces in the 25-21, 25-17, 25-21 triumph. It was his second 20-kill match of the season and he hit .630 (20-3-27) against the formidable TMU block which featured two 6-10 players at the net. |
Nominees: Chris Morikawa, UC Merced (Calif.); Christian Lester, Cumberland (Tenn.); Rodolfo Biegelmeyer, Reinhardt (Ga.); Julian Armendano, Aquinas (Mich.); Will Anderson, Vanguard (Calif.); Joao Friedrich, Park (Mo.); Caleb Kulesza, Dordt (Iowa); Oskar Krzyzak, Saint Xavier (Ill.)
Defender of the Week: Mihailo Ivanovic, Park (Mo.)
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Ivanovic had excellent defensive performances in sweeps against No. 4 Grand View and No. 11 Missouri Baptist. He had 12 total blocks for the week, averaging 2.00 per set. He had a breakout game with nine total blocks in the match against Grand View. |
Nominees: Landon Ewers, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio); Valesis Vaisuai, Vanguard (Calif.); Andres Laboy, Campbellsville (Ky.); Mihailo Ivanovic, Park (Mo.); Andres Velez, Saint Xavier (Ill.); John Dawson, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.); Alex Sanchez, Reinhardt (Ga.); Ever Cancel, Jamestown (N.D.)
Setter of the Week: Lucas Larson, Menlo (Calif.)
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55 assists against #2 OUAZ for the 3-1 upset on Friday night and 51 assists vs ACU for the 3-1 victory on Saturday |
Nominees: Tomas Gonzalez, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Toby Miller, UC Merced (Calif.); Lucas Larson, Menlo (Calif.); Matt Helmick, William Penn (Iowa); Bruno Dewes, Reinhardt (Ga.); Lukas Van groningen, Dordt (Iowa); Jordan Pierce, Cumberland (Tenn.); Patrick Voloch, Cornerstone (Mich.)
Attacker of the Week: Akeel Oxley, Mount Mercy (Iowa)
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Oxley led the Mustangs to a pair of wins over ranked opponents. He had 18 kills in a road sweep at fifth-ranked William Penn on Tuesday, then set a school record with 32 kills in another road victory over 11th-ranked Missouri Baptist. |
Nominees: Akeel Oxley, Mount Mercy (Iowa); Rodolfo Biegelmeyer, Reinhardt (Ga.); Francis Hauze, Calumet (Ind.); Dapre Rogers, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.); Ryan Gunn, Georgetown (Ky.); Nolan Flexen, The Master's (Calif.); Caleb Kulesza, Dordt (Iowa); Eduardo Ayala, Lourdes (Ohio)
Defender of the Week: Caleb Lipscomb, Thomas More (Ky.)
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Averaged 1.71 blocks per set, including eight blocks against Campbellsville (Ky.) |
Nominees: Kyi Jagorin, Cornerstone (Mich.); Andres Velez, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Diego Perez, The Master's (Calif.); Caleb Lipscomb, Thomas More (Ky.); Alex Sanchez, Reinhardt (Ga.); Max Niederberger, UC Merced (Calif.); Robert Piekarz, Dordt (Iowa); Erick Villar Cordero, Grand View (Iowa)
Setter of the Week: Derek Correa, Jamestown (N.D.)
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Dished out 11.5 assists per set, including 40 against UC Merced. Recorded at least 28 assists in all four matches. |
Nominees: Matheus Ferreira-Collares, Warner (Fla.); Elijah Wrobel, Judson (Ill.); Rafael Vieyra, Mount Mercy (Iowa); Lucas Larson, Menlo (Calif.); Daxton Tolman, Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.); Derek Correa, Jamestown (Ky.); Finn Heinemann, Georgetown (Ky.); Leo-Paul Rousseau, Aquinas (Mich.)
Attacker of the Week: Konrad Stoklosinski, Menlo (Calif.)
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Beat #6 Georgetown, RV Lourdes University, and #7 Indiana Tech all in one weekend! |
Nominees: Jeremiah Cook, Saint Katherine (Ky.); Konrad Stoklosinski, Menlo (Calif.); Miljan Kastratovic, Missouri Baptist; Jeremy Torres, Warner (Fla.); Ishmail Bangura, Goshen (Ohio); Oskar Krzyzak, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Ryan Gunn, Georgetown (Ky.); Downey Huynh, Jamestown (N.D.)
Defender of the Week: Miguel Vega, Georgetown (Ky.)
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Miguel Vega averaged 1.73 blocks per set and tallied 19 total blocks (9 solo) in 11 sets over the weekend. He also added 3 digs. |
Nominees: Jozef Lingenfelter, UC Merced (Calif.); Robert Piekarz, Dordt (Iowa); Valesis Vaisuai, Vanguard (Calif.); Michael Anderson, Missouri Baptist; Jackson Otto, Judson (Ill.); Leonardo Cirqueira, St. Andrews (N.C.); Miguel Vega, Georgetown (Ky.); Kyi Jagorin, Cornerstone (Mich.)
Setter of the Week: Lucas Larson, Menlo (Calif.)
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Beat #6 Georgetown, RV Lourdes University and #7 Indiana Tech all in the same weekend. Lucas dished out 127 assists on the weekend! |
Nominees: Lucas Larson, Menlo (Calif.); Patrick Voloch, Cornerstone (Mich.); Matheus Ferreira-Collares, Warner (Fla.); Derek Correa, Jamestown (N.D.); Kacper Dobrowolski, Georgetown (Ky.); Eduardo Faquin, Park (Mo.); Elijah Wrobel, Judson (Ill.)
Attacker of the Week: Nolan Flexen, The Master's (Calif.)
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In the Mustangs three-set win over No. 1 Grand View (IA) Friday, Nolan recorded 15 kills and committed only two hitting errors on his way to a .500 hitting percentage. Then on Saturday in another three-set win over No. 5 William Penn (IA), Nolan had another 15 kills, committing NO ERRORS, and hit .714 for the match. |
Nominees: Joey Boujaoude, Midway (Ky.); Nolan Flexen, The Master's (Calif.); Joao Friedrich, Park (Mo.); Alex Costa, Trinity Christian (Ill.); Caleb Kulesza, Dordt (Iowa); Julian Armendano, Aquinas (Mich.)
Defender of the Week: Akeil Williams, Ottawa (Kan.)
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For the first time his he collegiate career, Williams played all six rotations, doing so in the matches against Westcliff and Missouri Baptist. He finished the week with 20 digs and 17 blocks. Williams averaged 6.6 digs per match and 1.8 digs per set. He had 5.6 blocks per match and 1.5 blocks per set. In OU's 3-2 win over Westcliff, he had 13 digs and seven blocks to go along with 21 kills. |
Nominees: Will Avera, The Master's (Calif.); Zon-Keith Mendiola, St. Mary-Woods (Ind.); Akeil Williams, Ottawa (Kan.); Mihailo Ivanovic, Park (Mo.); Tyree Wesley, Georgetown (Ky.); Mike Hay, Trinity Christian (Ill.)
Setter of the Week: Matthew Hamm, The Master's (Calif.)
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Matthew had had 36 assists (12.0/set average) in The Master's three-set win over No. 1 Grand View (IA). His setting enabled the team to hit .479 against the two-time defending NAIA champions. The next day, against No. 5 William Penn (IA), Matthew totaled 29 assists and guided the team to a .459 hitting percentage in another three-set win for the Mustangs. For the two matches played in Des Moines, Iowa, Matthew averaged nearly 11 assists per set. |
Nominees: Daniel Cogo, Midway (Ky.); Zeo Meyer, Grand View (Iowa); Ryan Schmidt, Trinity Christian (Ill.); Derek Correa, Jamestown (N.D.); Jaysen Matsumoto, Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio); Matthew Hamm, The Master's (Calif.)
