All-Time Weekly Winners >>>

Offensive Player of the Week  George Bruening, UC Santa Barbara | Redshirt Sophomore • Outside Hitter • Newport Beach, Calif.

• Redshirt sophomore George Bruening helped the No. 17 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos to a 3-0 start en route to a first-career nod as Big West Offensive Player of the Week. 

• The outside hitter from Newport Beach, Calif., averaged 4.10 kills, 4.95 points, 1.2 digs and 1.0 blocks per set on the weekend, hitting .357 for the week in wins against Kentucky State, Harvard and Maryville in the Asics Invitational. 

• Bruening’s week was highlighted with 26 kills on .455 hitting in UCSB’s 3-1 win over Harvard to go along with four digs, three blocks and an ace. The 26 kills matches a career high.  

• After the first full week of action across the country, Bruening’s points and kills average ranks second in The Big West. 

Also nominated: Josh Ewert (UC San Diego); Andrej Jokanovic (UC Irvine); Shane Nhem (CSUN); Skyler Varga (Long Beach State) 

Defensive Player of the Week  Jackson Cryst, Long Beach State | Freshman • Middle Blocker • Long Beach, Calif.

• Long Beach State freshman Jackson Cryst opened the collegiate career with a dominant weekend to earn Big West Defensive Player of the Week.  

• Cryst, a local product of Long Beach, Calif., anchored the Beach with 1.50 blocks per set with nine total blocks in two sweeping wins for the defending national champions.  

• Cryst and LBSU limited opponents to a combined .157 on the weekend including a .000 attack percentage for Lindenwood in the season opener for both teams. Cryst denied compiled six total blocks in the match.  

• Additionally, Cryst contributed seven kills on .462 hitting and finished the weekend with 12.5 points (2.08 per set).  

• Cryst’s blocking average is current second in the conference and 10th nationally. 

Also nominated: Mikey Denver (UC Santa Barbara); Trevor Clark (UC Irvine); Leo Wiemelt (UC San Diego) 
 

Setter of the Week  Cole Schobel, UC Santa Barbara | Junior • Setter • Costa Mesa, Calif.

• UC Santa Barbara junior Cole Schobel helped guide the Gauchos to a 3-0 start to the season at the Asics Invitational to earn a first career weekly award as Big West Setter of the Week.  

• Schobel’s highlighted match in the trio came in the weekend finale against Harvard, with 42 assists (10.50 per set) to go along with five kills on .714 hitting, one block and a match-best four service aces.  

• Schobel currently rates second in The Big West in aces per set at .818 and third in assists average.

Also nominated: Owen Douphner (CSUN); John Luers (UC San Diego); Jake Pazanti (Long Beach State); Aidan Rigg (UC Irvine) 
 

Freshman of the Week  Jake Pazanti, Long Beach State | Redshirt Freshman • Setter • Huntington Beach, Calif.

• Redshirt freshman setter Jake Pazanti made an immediate impact in a collegiate debut weekend to earn Big West Freshman of the Week.  

• Pazanti started both sweeps against Lindenwood and McKendree, totaling 58 assists (9.67 per set) while directing the offense to a combined .351 hitting on the weekend.  

• With a strong all-around presence, the native of Huntington Beach, Calif., also contributed 2.67 digs per set with six kills and no errors on eight swings, five total blocks and two service aces.  

• Pazanti’s dig average rates second in the conference and eighth nationally after the first full weekend of action. 

Also nominated: Will Bartelt (UC San Diego); Andrej Jokanovic (UC Irvine); Dylan Pilkvist (UC Santa Barbara)