Maxim Grigoriev

  • Award
    Defensive Player of the Week
  • Week Of
    2/17/2025
  • Sport
    Men's Volleyball
  • School
    UC Irvine
  • Year
    Junior
  • Position
    Middle Blocker
  • Hometown
    Walnut Creek, Calif.
  • High School
    Northgate

  • UC Irvine’s Maxim Grigoriev was big on the block as the No. 2 Anteaters downed No. 5 USC in two matches as the junior claimed Big West Defensive Player of the Week. This is Grigoriev’s first career defensive honor after picking up three freshman awards during the 2023 season.  

  • In Wednesday’s five-set win against the Trojans, Grigoriev had a career-high 12 total blocks - including two solo stuffs - the most by a player in the country this season. The 12 blocks are the most by a UCI student-athlete since 2021 when Scott Stadick had 12 (1 solo/11 assisted) against UC San Diego on March 11. As a team, the Anteaters finished with a season-high 17.5 total blocks. 

  • In the Valentine’s Day sweep at USC, Grigoriev totaled four total blocks (1 solo) with four digs, two kills and an ace to set the weekly averages at 2.00 blocks and 0.88 digs per set.  

  • Grigoriev is fifth in The Big West and 25th nationally in blocking average at 1.000 per set.