UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State’s Owen Rose was named the EIVA Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, earning the honor after a record-breaking performance during the two-match series against Harvard over the weekend.
Rose helped the Nittany Lions post a pair of wins over the Crimson, including a sweep on Friday in which he set a school record with 14 blocks. His total included 10 block assists and four solo blocks, topping the previous mark of 13 set three different times in the history of Penn State men’s volleyball. The redshirt senior middle blocker added four more blocks in a four-set win on Saturday.
Over the two matches combined, Rose hit .471 with 1.29 kills and 2.57 blocks per set. He added five digs and three aces.
Rose earned the defensive honor for the fifth time in his career and the first time this season. Penn State has now picked up five weekly awards from the EIVA this season. Ryan Merk won two defensive accolades, while Sean Harvey totaled two on the offensive side.
Penn State improved to 10-4 overall and 4-0 in the EIVA as it upped its winning streak to six straight matches. The Nittany Lions host Merrimack for a non-conference match on Friday at 7 p.m.