Ball State's Tommy Rouse Named MIVA Defensive Player of the Week

   Tommy Rouse, a sophomore libero for the Ball State men's volleyball team (3-2), has been named the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Defensive Player of the Week.

   Rouse, who earns MIVA Defensive Player of the Week accolades for the first time this season and the second time in his career, helped guide the Cardinals to a 2-1 record last week by collecting 29 digs for a 2.64 digs-per-set average. He also posted a perfect reception percentage, successfully passing all 49 serves he faced.

   In last Saturday's sweep of St. Francis, Rouse helped the Cardinals become the only MIVA program to sweep the Red Flash this season by recording 11 digs and posting a perfect reception percentage (15-for-15).

   Rouse added a match-high 13 digs in BSU's five-set loss to George Mason Friday, while scoring another perfect mark (16-for-16) in service reception. He logged five digs and went 18-for-18 in reception in Wednesday's sweep of Sacred Heart.

   Rouse maintains a perfect 1.000 reception percentage over BSU's first five matches this season, successfully passing all 111 serves he has faced. He also ranks third in the league with a 2.38 digs-per-set average.