UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State’s Owen Rose was named the EIVA Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, earning the award after leading No. 15 Penn State to a pair of five-set wins at Sacred Heart. The graduate middle blocker earned the award for the third time this season and the seventh time of his career.
Rose averaged 1.80 blocks/set over the two wins while helping hold Sacred Heart to .213 hitting. He added six digs and contributed offensively with 1.30 kills/set on .370 hitting. He had 11 blocks in Friday’s win, marking the third time this season in which he reached double-digits in the category. He currently leads the nation in blocks/set (1.48).
Penn State has won eight weekly awards from the EIVA this season. In addition to the three by Rose, Sean Harvey is a three-time Offensive Player of the Week, while Ryan Merk is a two-time Defensive Player of the Week.
The two wins over Sacred Heart moved Penn State to a perfect 10-0 in the EIVA. The Nittany Lions wrap up the regular season with matches against second-place George Mason on Friday and Saturday. They clinch the regular season title and hosting rights for the conference tournament with one win, while the Patriots can do so with wins in both matches.