Sophomore Ethan Kuziela of the Illinois Wesleyan University men’s volleyball team has been named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III National Player of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday, February 17. This recognition follows a week in which Kuziela helped lead his team to three consecutive victories and contributed to breaking several program records.
Kuziela’s award marks the first national honor of his career and is only the second in program history. He joins Brenden Reutter, who was recognized with the same accolade on February 11, 2025. The announcement comes one day after Kuziela earned College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Setter of the Week honors for a second consecutive week and third time this season.
During last week’s matches, Kuziela directed Illinois Wesleyan’s offense to a 3-0 record, pushing the team’s overall start to 12-3—the best in program history—and tying its single-season win record. Over those three matches, he achieved two triple-double performances and nearly secured a third. He also matched IWU’s record for assists in a four-set match and led an offense that twice set new school records for team kills in a contest.
For the week, Kuziela tallied 42 kills at an average of 3.23 per set with a .387 hitting percentage, recorded 96 assists averaging 7.38 per set, collected 35 digs at an average of 2.69 per set, added four blocks and served one ace. The Titans’ attack averaged a .257 hitting percentage during these games.
In specific performances, Kuziela posted career highs with 18 kills on a .533 clip along with 14 digs—completing his second career triple-double with 34 assists—in a four-set win over Concordia University Wisconsin on Thursday night, February 12. His assist total tied IWU’s single-match record while leading to a program-record 68 team kills. In another game against Wisconsin Lutheran College on Saturday, February 14, he had another triple-double: “12 kills, 33 assists, and 13 digs,” plus one block as IWU again broke its previous kill record with a total of 76. To finish out the week against Westminster College later that Saturday afternoon, he registered “12 kills, 29 assists, eight digs, and two blocks,” narrowly missing his third straight triple-double as IWU claimed victory.
Kuziela commented on his recent success: “It’s an honor to receive this award after such a great week for our team.”
The Titans will begin conference play at No.3-ranked Carthage College on Thursday night at Tarble Arena.
Illinois Wesleyan Titans Men’s Volleyball competes at the NCAA Division III level as part of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The team is led by head coach Brandon Mueller and hosts home games at Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois. The program features student-athletes from various undergraduate class years.
