The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association announced that McKendree’s Nate Flayter and Lewis’ Nico Paula collected the MIVA’s eighth Player of the Week awards for the 2025 season.

From the setter position, Flayter led McKendree to a pair of wins over ranked teams: No. 15 Ohio State and No. 8 Ball State. The sophomore dished out 47 assists against the Buckeyes and 52 against the Cardinals, averaging 11.0 per set for the week. The Bearcats hit .311 as a team thanks to Flayter’s setting. In addition to dishing out, Flayter swung a bit too, finishing the week with eight kills on .350 hitting. This is Flayter’s third Player of the Week award of his career, first of the offensive variety.

In his third Defensive Player of the Week award of the season, Paula led Lewis to a 2-0 week with wins over Quincy and Purdue Fort Wayne, both five-setters. The junior libero had 22 digs against the Hawks, then followed it up with 15 more against the Mastodons. He did not have a single reception error against Purdue Fort Wayne.

2025 MIVA Players of the Week
Offensive
1/7 - Patrick Rogers, Ball State
1/14 - Daniel Fabikovic, Loyola Chicago
1/21 - Parker Van Buren, Loyola Chicago
1/28 - Max Roquet, Lewis
2/4 - Parker Van Buren, Loyola Chicago
2/11 - Parker Van Buren, Loyola Chicago
2/18 - Shane Wetzel, Ohio State
2/25 - Nate Flayter, McKendree

Defensive
1/7 - Thomas Leahey, Ohio State
1/14 - Lincoln Geist, Lindenwood
1/21 - Nico Paula, Lewis
1/28 - JP Candrian, Purdue Fort Wayne
2/4 - Nate Flayter, McKendree
2/11 - Nico Paula, Lewis
2/18 - Yadiel Diaz, McKendree
2/25 - Nico Paula, Lewis

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