Mason Briggs, Alex Nikolov Earn Off The Block College Men’s Volleyball National Awards
5/10/2022 10:20:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
Briggs named Nation’s Top Libero and Passer, while Nikolov named Top Outside, Best International Player, and National Server of the Year
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Throughout Monday, Off the Block announced the winners of their 11 National Awards and Long Beach State garnered five of the awards as Mason Briggs took home two, while Alex Nikolov won three. Briggs took home the Erik Shoji Award and the Steve Shondell Award, and Nikolov garnered the Karch Kiraly Award, the Nicolas Szerszen Award, and National Server of the Year.
Briggs concluded his sophomore campaign earning the 2022 Erik Shoji Award, which is named after the former Stanford All-American and U.S. Olympian libero. The award is presented to the nation's best libero in NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball during the regular season. He also garnered the Steve Shondell Award, which is awarded to the nation's best passer. It is named after the Hall of Fame coach and former Ball State setter.
Briggs led the Big West and was fifth in the nation with a 2.51 digs per set average. The Valencia, Calif., native logged 12 double-digit dig performances, and had more than 500 service receptions and a 95.8 percent successful pass rating. Briggs did not commit a reception error in 13 matches, including boasting a streak of five consecutive matches without a reception error.
Nikolov wrapped up an outstanding rookie season with three of the national awards as he was named 2022 National Server of the Year, while also garnering the Karch Kiraly Award, which is named after the former UCLA All-American and Olympian, and presented to the nation's top outside hitter. Lastly, Nikolov picked up the 2022 Nicolas Szerszen Award, which is presented to the best non-U.S. born player in NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball during the regular season. It is named after the former Ohio State All-American outside attacker who led the Buckeyes to back-to-back NCAA Championships.
Nikolov earned all three awards after finishing the regular season second in the nation with 0.58 aces per set. He tallied 59 aces to rank him second in the Long Beach State Single-Season Record Book, and marked the most aces by a freshman in a single-season. Additionally, the Sofia, Bulgaria native ranked third in the country with 4.57 kills per set, while hitting.386. The true freshman tallied 20-plus kills in nine matches.
Briggs concluded his sophomore campaign earning the 2022 Erik Shoji Award, which is named after the former Stanford All-American and U.S. Olympian libero. The award is presented to the nation's best libero in NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball during the regular season. He also garnered the Steve Shondell Award, which is awarded to the nation's best passer. It is named after the Hall of Fame coach and former Ball State setter.
Briggs led the Big West and was fifth in the nation with a 2.51 digs per set average. The Valencia, Calif., native logged 12 double-digit dig performances, and had more than 500 service receptions and a 95.8 percent successful pass rating. Briggs did not commit a reception error in 13 matches, including boasting a streak of five consecutive matches without a reception error.
Nikolov wrapped up an outstanding rookie season with three of the national awards as he was named 2022 National Server of the Year, while also garnering the Karch Kiraly Award, which is named after the former UCLA All-American and Olympian, and presented to the nation's top outside hitter. Lastly, Nikolov picked up the 2022 Nicolas Szerszen Award, which is presented to the best non-U.S. born player in NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball during the regular season. It is named after the former Ohio State All-American outside attacker who led the Buckeyes to back-to-back NCAA Championships.
Nikolov earned all three awards after finishing the regular season second in the nation with 0.58 aces per set. He tallied 59 aces to rank him second in the Long Beach State Single-Season Record Book, and marked the most aces by a freshman in a single-season. Additionally, the Sofia, Bulgaria native ranked third in the country with 4.57 kills per set, while hitting.386. The true freshman tallied 20-plus kills in nine matches.
Players Mentioned
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