Ben Braun Award Defensive Player of the Week Week Of 1/19/2026 Sport Men's Volleyball School Long Beach State Year Senior Position Middle Blocker Hometown Rancho Mirage, Calif. High School Palm Desert HS Guarding the net with aplomb in a 3-0 week for Long Beach State, senior Ben Braun has been named Big West Defensive Player of the Week for the first career occasion. Playing in road matches at Goerge Mason and Ohio State, Braun compiled 13 total blocks or 1.86 per set. Braun contributed seven blocks and four kills in the sweeping effort at Mason on Friday. Saturday was highlighted by six blocks coupled with 10 kills on .600 hitting (10-1-15) in a 3-1 win against the Buckeyes. The middle blocker from Rancho Mirage, Calif., is posting 1.462 blocks per set to stand in second in The Big West and seventh nationally.