Ohio State’s Eliel Salva-Torres and Lewis’ Nico Paula were selected as the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association’s Players of the Week, the MIVA announced on Tuesday (Feb. 24).

Salva-Torres earned the Offensive Player of the Week award thanks to a pair of special performances from the middle blocker position. He was a perfect 9-for-9 against Ball State and a stout 10-for-12 against Purdue Fort Wayne, finishing the week with 19 kills on 21 errorless swings for a .905 clip. The junior middle averaged 3.17 kills per set in the two 3-0 victories for the Buckeyes. This is his first Player of the Week award.

Paula led Lewis to two wins at Queens to earn the Defensive Player of the Week award. In the Flyers’ 3-0 win in Charlotte, Paula dig out 14 attempts with 11 in the first set. Two days later, the senior libero had eight more digs to bring his week average to 2.75 digs per set. He helped Lewis hold Queens to a combined .189 hitting percentage en route to his ninth Player of the Week award and first of 2026.

2026 MIVA Players of the Week
Offensive
1/13 - Diego Estrada, Lewis
1/20 - Zach Solomon, Lindenwood
1/27 - Patrick Rogers, Ball State & Sam Hoskin, McKendree
2/3 - Josh Schellinger, Loyola Chicago
2/10 - Zach Solomon, Lindenwood
2/17 - Casey Maas, Queens
2/24 - Eliel Salva-Torres, Ohio State

Defensive
1/13 - Daniel Haber, Lewis
1/20 - Tyler Tripp, McKendree
1/27 - Tyler Tripp, McKendree
2/3 - Lucas Machado, Ball State
2/10 - Kaden Fosdick, Purdue Fort Wayne
2/17 - Victor Scherer, Ball State
2/24 - Nico Paula, Lewis

#MIVAvb