BYU sweeps MPSF weekly honors

WOODLAND, Calif. – Junior opposite hitter Gabi Garcia Fernandez collected MPSF Offensive Player of the Week recognition and sophomore outside hitter Davide Gardini received MPSF Defensive Player of the Week honors the conference announced on Monday.

After helping No. 3 BYU men’s volleyball to victories over No. 6 Lewis and No. 11 Loyola Chicago, the two players also received Off the Block National Position Player of the Week awards. Garcia Fernandez was named the National Opposite of the Week while Gardini received National Outside Attacker of the Week.

Garcia Fernandez led the Cougars with a match-high 22 kills on a .415 clip while also adding four aces, five digs and two blocks to open the season against the 11th-ranked Ramblers. He continued his dominance from the service line, recording a career-high seven aces against the sixth-ranked Flyers the following night, including four-straight aces to finish the second set. It marked just the fourth time in the rally era that a BYU player has finished a match with seven or more aces. The opposite hitter also recorded 16 kills while leading the team with nine digs and six blocks.

While dominant offensively in both matches, Gardini had back-to-back solid defensive performances. Gardini led the Cougars with nine digs (zero receiving errors) and four blocks against No. 11 Loyola Chicago while also contributing 21 kills on a .424 hitting percentage. The next night, the outside hitter recorded six digs and four blocks while also adding a match-high 19 kills on a .400 clip against No. 6 Lewis.