River Forest, Ill. – Junior Thomas Hirsch of the Dominican University Men's Volleyball team was named the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Men's Volleyball Defensive Student Athlete of the Week for the third straight week and the week ending of February 8^th.

Hirsch, a Junior Middle from Boise, Idaho played in all three matches this past week for the Stars, and starting in all three matches. In the first match of the week, the Stars hosted Illinois Wesleyan in a 5-set thriller. Hirsch was a huge factor at the net for DU collecting 6 total blocks in the match and 3 of those being solo blocks. Dominican hosted two different schools on Saturday, February 7^th for a doubleheader for the Stars. In match one of the day Wabash College played in the Igini Sports Forum. Thomas added 3 more blocks to his name with one of those blocks being a solo block. DU hosted Mount Union, in the final match of the week for the Stars. The Junior dominated the net against the Purple Raiders. Hirsch earned 9 total blocks in the match putting his name in the Dominican Men's Volleyball Record Book tied for 9^th for single-match blocks. 2 of the 9 blocks were solo blocks.

Overall for the week, Thomas Hirsch collected 18 total blocks in three matches this week, with 6 of those blocks being solo's.

Head Coach Doug Burchett commented on Hirsch's third straight NACC Defensive Player of the Week by saying "Thomas had another great week defensively and continues to be a major presence at the net on the national scale. We are continuing to make progress on our block and Thomas has been a major reason for that success."
 
Hirsch and the Dominican University Men's Volleyball team will be right back in action this week with two matches. The first match will wrap up a 5-match home stand on Thursday, February 12^th for a 7:00 p.m. against North Central College.