LEXINGTON, Ky. – Baldwin Wallace University men's volleyball junior All-Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League outside hitter Michael Beard (Hilliard/Darby) and freshman libero Aiden Kim (Bothell, Wash./North Creek) were named the MCVL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week. 

Beard and Kim helped the Yellow Jackets to a win over Trine (Ind.) University last week, improving the Yellow Jackets to a record of 24-7 overall and 7-1 in the MCVL, clinching a share of the MCVL Regular Season Championship. BW defeated the Thunder in straight sets by final scores of 25-23, 25-18, and 27-25.

Beard, who earns his third weekly accolade this season, hit .348 in the contest, totaling a match-high 20 kills. He also added six digs and an ace. Beard could not be stopped in the third set against the Thunder, notching 11 kills on one error.

This season, Beard leads the MCVL in total kills (370) and service aces (53), is second in kills per set (3.78) and service aces per set (.54). He has tallied 370 kills, 167 digs, 53 aces, 30 assists, and 33 total blocks this year.

In his career, Beard leads the three-year program with 823 kills, 414 digs, 90 aces, 76 total blocks, and 57 assists. He was previously awarded MCVL Offensive Player of the Week on March 21, 2023 and was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Week on February 7, 2023.

Kim, who earns his first weekly honor in his career, posted a match-high 16 digs and added an assist in his performance against Trine. He averaged 5.33 digs per set in the match, and in the third set he totaled eight digs. 

This season in the MCVL, Kim ranks third in total digs (227) and fourth in digs per set (2.55). He has also tallied 45 assists and two aces. 

BW is back in action on Friday, April 14 as the team travels to Alliance to compete in the MCVL Tournament Semifinal matchup, hosted by first-seeded University of Mount Union. The second-seeded Yellow Jackets will take on third-seeded Wittenberg University at 4:00 p.m. inside of the Timken Gymnasium.