I can’t write a whole lot, as I’m quite literally squeezing this post in between Shanghai Grand Slam matches, but it’s just hit twitter a few minutes ago that Long Beach State junior outside hitter Taylor Crabb, all six-foot-nothin’ of him, has been named AVCA Player of the Year for NCAA Division I/II men’s volleyball.
Much like in women’s season, when Oregon’s Alaina Bergsma won the equivalent award, I find myself disappointed at how little I was able to see the recipient. Long Beach State didn’t play very many matches this year that were webcast, and I know, I got what I paid for either way, but still. I’ve heard far and wide how good this guy is, and the numbers sure do bear it out.
Playing every match and all but three sets this season for the 49ers, Crabb finished third in the nation in kills per set with 4.18, and was 8th in hitting efficiency. Again much like Bergsma, it bears pointing out that the others around and above him on the efficiency list are middles who take considerably fewer swings. Of the top ten, seven of them had fewer than 400 swings on the season. Crabb had over 500 kills on the season. That about paints the picture, don’t it? He also recorded 72 blocks on the season, and not to beleaguer the point, but he’d have to look up were he to talk to Bergsma.
And playing the front-row power game as well as or better than anyone in the nation didn’t hamper his back-row speed game. He tied for second on his team in digs with defence libero Andrew Sato, just seven behind team leader (and All-American setter) Connor Olbright.
Congratulations to Taylor on a fine honour, and I know he and his 49ers will be back with a vengeance next year.
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