Owen Birg Award Freshman of the Week Week Of 3/6/2023 Sport Men's Volleyball School UC Santa Barbara Year Freshman Position Opposite Hitter Hometown Thousand Oaks, Calif. High School Owen Birg was a major factor in UC Santa Barbara’s two come-from-behind 3-1 victories at home, both after dropping the first set, and earned a second Big West Freshman of the Week honor. The redshirt freshman averaged 5.44 points, 5.13 kills and 2.25 digs per set while adding five block assists on defense. The native of Thousand Oaks led the Gauchos in kills on each night. Birg first produced a first collegiate double-double with season highs of a match-best 19 kills and 10 digs in Wednesday’s decision over a game Vanguard squad of the NAIA, hitting .231 (19-10-39) with one set assist and one block assist for 19.5 total points to lead all players. Birg then went for a new season best of another match-high 22 kills, with eight digs, four assisted blocks, a set assist and 24.0 points in the Gauchos’ 2023 conference opener Friday night against UC San Diego, attacking at a .260 (22-9-50) clip. Birg was also The Big West Freshman of the Week on Feb. 6.