UCSB’s Jonah Seif
Sophomore setter Jonah Seif was named the MPSF/Molten Player of the Week after leading the team in a pair of impressive performances – including his second career double-double – against top-five teams last week, the conference announced Monday afternoon.
He is the first Gaucho to garner league Player of the Week honors since Jeff Menzel in April 2011.
“We’re all very proud of Jonah,” said UCSB head coach Rick McLaughlin. “He works extremely hard every day and it’s paying off. He and the rest of the team competed very hard last week.”
Against No. 5 USC last Wednesday, the Thousand Oaks, Calif. native recorded 48 assists, 12 digs, and 10 total blocks in a five set defeat. The triple-double, which was just the second recorded by an MPSF player this season – was the second in his career. His first came against Pacific on Jan. 25, 2013 (54 assists, 11 blocks, 10 digs).
In the ensuing matchup at No. 3 Pepperdine, the 6-8 Seif collected a season-high 53 assists – just two off his career best – and added nine digs to topple the Waves in five games.
The 2013 All-MPSF selection was a threat on the attack all week as well, recording seven kills, including a match-clinching dump against Pepperdine.
Seif is currently enjoying a spectacular sophomore campaign, as he leads all conference setters with 1.16 blocks per set. He is currently averaging 9.79 assists per game, which ranks among the top-10 league-wide.
He and the rest of the Gauchos return home to Rob Gym this week – where they sport a 5-1 record – to host Cal State Northridge on Wednesday and Long Beach State on Friday. Both matches are scheduled for 7:00 p.m. starts.
