Nusterer, Rosenthal Honored By Big West

IRVINE, Calif. – University of Hawai’i middle blocker Kurt Nusterer and setter Tread Rosenthal received Big West weekly awards after helping lead the Rainbow Warriors to an OUTRIGGER Invitational championship over the weekend.
 
Nusterer was named Defensive Player of the Week – a first for the redshirt sophomore – while Rosenthal was selected Freshman of the Week for the sixth time this season and third consecutive week.
 
Nusterer posted a team-best 18 blocks in Hawai’i’s three wins, averaging 1.64 blocks per set. The Indianapolis, Ind., native also averaged 0.82 kills per set  and had five aces in the tournament. He had a career-high nine blocks against UC Irvine in the championship match and six blocks in a sweep of previously No. 1 Grand Canyon. The redshirt sophomore also added three blocks in the tourney-opening win over Lewis.
 
Rosenthal averaged 9.64 assists per set and led UH to a team hitting percentage of .348 in the tournament. The Manhattan Beach, Calif., native also averaged 1.09 blocks per set and had four service aces and nine digs. In the tourney opener against Lewis, he posted 28 assists, three aces and two blocks and led UH to a .458 clip and followed that performance with 37 assists, one ace, and three blocks while setting the team to a .449 clip in a sweep of No. 1 Grand Canyon. He finished the weekend with 41 assists and season-highs of four kills and seven blocks against UC Irvine. 
 
Player of the Week honors went to UCI’s Hilir Henno, who recorded 89 kills in the OUTRIGGER Invitational and was named to the all-tournament team.
 
UH, which ascended to the No. 1 ranking in this week’s AVCA poll, begins Big West play with a two-match series at No. 2 Long Beach State, Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16 in Long Beach, Calif.
 
 

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