TJ DeFalco Wins Off the Block’s 2019 Karch Kiraly Award
5/3/2019 6:45:00 PM | Men's Volleyball
DeFalco takes home the award for the third consecutive year
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State's TJ DeFalco collected the Karch Kiraly Award, which is presented by Off the Block and given to the nation's best outside attacker, for the third straight season.
The two-time AVCA National Player of the Year won the award after entering the NCAA Tournament ranked in the nation's top 25 in both kills per set (3.43) and hitting percentage (.386). The senior from Huntington Beach, Calif., is also fourth in the country averaging 0.54 aces per set and, just the season, became Long Beach State's all-time aces leader.
DeFalco, a four-time AVCA First Team All-America selection, has been a solid all-around player for the Beach all season. In addition to his solid contributions offensively, the 6-foot-4 DeFalco also averages 1.62 digs per set and 0.65 blocks per set. His digs per set average ranks him in the top 10 in the Big West.
The Karch Kiraly Award, which is named for the former UCLA All-American and U.S. Olympian, is presented to the nation's best outside attacker in NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball during the regular season. A nationwide voting committee of coaches and media members determine the award winner.
DeFalco earned 41 points to win the award, while Hawaii's Stijn van Tilburg finished with 39 points, and Pepperdine's David Wieczorek garnered 20 votes.
2019 Karch Kiraly Award Voting Results
1. TJ DeFalco, Long Beach State – 41 points
2. Stijn van Tilburg, Hawaii – 39 points
3. David Wieczorek, Pepperdine – 20 points
4. Michael Fisher, St. Francis – 8 points
5. Corey Chavers, UC Santa Barbara – 5 points
6. Pelegrin Vargas, Purdue Fort Wayne – 3 points
T7. Colton Cowell, Hawaii – 1 point
T7. Jordan Ewert, Stanford – 1 point
T7. Joel Schneidmiller, UC Irvine – 1 point
T7. Jack Wyett, USC – 1 point
Previous Off the Block Karch Kiraly Award Winners
2015 – Aaron Russell, Penn State
2016 – Nicolas Szerszen, Ohio State
2017 – TJ DeFalco, Long Beach State
2018 – TJ DeFalco, Long Beach State
2019 – TJ DeFalco, Long Beach State
The two-time AVCA National Player of the Year won the award after entering the NCAA Tournament ranked in the nation's top 25 in both kills per set (3.43) and hitting percentage (.386). The senior from Huntington Beach, Calif., is also fourth in the country averaging 0.54 aces per set and, just the season, became Long Beach State's all-time aces leader.
DeFalco, a four-time AVCA First Team All-America selection, has been a solid all-around player for the Beach all season. In addition to his solid contributions offensively, the 6-foot-4 DeFalco also averages 1.62 digs per set and 0.65 blocks per set. His digs per set average ranks him in the top 10 in the Big West.
The Karch Kiraly Award, which is named for the former UCLA All-American and U.S. Olympian, is presented to the nation's best outside attacker in NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball during the regular season. A nationwide voting committee of coaches and media members determine the award winner.
DeFalco earned 41 points to win the award, while Hawaii's Stijn van Tilburg finished with 39 points, and Pepperdine's David Wieczorek garnered 20 votes.
2019 Karch Kiraly Award Voting Results
1. TJ DeFalco, Long Beach State – 41 points
2. Stijn van Tilburg, Hawaii – 39 points
3. David Wieczorek, Pepperdine – 20 points
4. Michael Fisher, St. Francis – 8 points
5. Corey Chavers, UC Santa Barbara – 5 points
6. Pelegrin Vargas, Purdue Fort Wayne – 3 points
T7. Colton Cowell, Hawaii – 1 point
T7. Jordan Ewert, Stanford – 1 point
T7. Joel Schneidmiller, UC Irvine – 1 point
T7. Jack Wyett, USC – 1 point
Previous Off the Block Karch Kiraly Award Winners
2015 – Aaron Russell, Penn State
2016 – Nicolas Szerszen, Ohio State
2017 – TJ DeFalco, Long Beach State
2018 – TJ DeFalco, Long Beach State
2019 – TJ DeFalco, Long Beach State
Players Mentioned
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