Patch named MPSF and AVCA Player of the Week

PROVO, Utah – Freshman Ben Patch has been named the MPSF Player of the Week and the Sports Imports/AVCA Player of the Week for his performance last weekend in No. 2 BYU’s wins over No. 5 Stanford and No. 14 Pacific.

Patch, a true freshman from Provo High School, recorded a career-high 26 kills (.465 hitting), just one kill shy of the 2013 MPSF season-high, in BYU’s 3-2 comeback win over Stanford. One of his kills gave the Cougars set point in the second, another was the set four winner and he wrapped up the win with the match point in the fifth. The victory snapped a six-match losing streak to the Cardinal dating back to 2010.

Patch was also in double figures with 13 kills (.417) in BYU’s sweep vs. Pacific, along with adding one ace and three blocks. Patch averaged 4.88 kills per set with a .441 hitting attack for the week. Patch’s kills were match-highs both nights.

The 6-foot-8 outside hitter is second on the team in kills with 181, behind only All-American Taylor Sander.

This is the first MPSF Player of the Week award for Patch and the first for a BYU men’s volleyball player this season.

This is the 21st time in program history a BYU player has garned Sports Imports/AVCA Player of the Week honors and the first for Patch. Sander was previously honored this year on Jan. 22.

The Cougars are back in action at No. 1 UC Irvine and UC San Diego March 1 and March 2, respectively.