Ball State University Athletics
Rogers Named to the Inaugural AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
February 04, 2026 | Men's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers has been named as one of 15 members honored in the first ever watch list for the American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year award.
The inaugural watch list was compiled by the AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Awards committee. Semifinalists for the award are to be announced in early April, and the final four will be named prior to the 2026 National Collegiate Championship May 9-11. The 2026 AVCA Player of the Year is to be revealed during the championship banquet.
Rogers has been a crucial component to the No. 9-ranked Cardinals' 8-1 start to the 2026 campaign, averaging 3.90 kills per set on .495 hitting. His hitting average ranks fifth in the NCAA, while his kill average ranks 11th, as of Feb. 3.
So far in 2026, the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Preseason Player of the Year has posted season-highs of 22.5 points with 18 kills on a .593 clip and four blocks against No. 1 UCLA on Jan. 18. Rogers was awarded as the MIVA Co-Offensive Player of the Year on Jan. 27 after totaling 25 kills and four aces on .564 hitting versus Maryville (Jan. 22) and Charleston (Jan. 23).
2026 Men's National Collegiate Men's Player of the Year Watch List
Ryan Barnett (OH) – Pepperdine
Daniel Fabikovic (OH) – Loyola Chicago
Nathan Flayter (S) – McKendree
Cole Hartke (OH/RS) – Pepperdine
Andrej Jokanovic (OH) – UC Irvine
Dillon Klein (OH) – USC
Oguzhan Oguz (RS) – Lewis
Jalen Phillips (RS) – CSUN
Zach Rama (OH) – UCLA
Patrick Rogers (OH) – Ball State
Tread Rosenthal (S) – Hawai'i
Adrien Roure (OH) – Hawai'i
Andrew Rowan (S) – UCLA
Aleksandar Sosa (RS) – Loyola Chicago
Skyler Varga (OH) – Long Beach State
The inaugural watch list was compiled by the AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Awards committee. Semifinalists for the award are to be announced in early April, and the final four will be named prior to the 2026 National Collegiate Championship May 9-11. The 2026 AVCA Player of the Year is to be revealed during the championship banquet.
Rogers has been a crucial component to the No. 9-ranked Cardinals' 8-1 start to the 2026 campaign, averaging 3.90 kills per set on .495 hitting. His hitting average ranks fifth in the NCAA, while his kill average ranks 11th, as of Feb. 3.
So far in 2026, the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Preseason Player of the Year has posted season-highs of 22.5 points with 18 kills on a .593 clip and four blocks against No. 1 UCLA on Jan. 18. Rogers was awarded as the MIVA Co-Offensive Player of the Year on Jan. 27 after totaling 25 kills and four aces on .564 hitting versus Maryville (Jan. 22) and Charleston (Jan. 23).
2026 Men's National Collegiate Men's Player of the Year Watch List
Ryan Barnett (OH) – Pepperdine
Daniel Fabikovic (OH) – Loyola Chicago
Nathan Flayter (S) – McKendree
Cole Hartke (OH/RS) – Pepperdine
Andrej Jokanovic (OH) – UC Irvine
Dillon Klein (OH) – USC
Oguzhan Oguz (RS) – Lewis
Jalen Phillips (RS) – CSUN
Zach Rama (OH) – UCLA
Patrick Rogers (OH) – Ball State
Tread Rosenthal (S) – Hawai'i
Adrien Roure (OH) – Hawai'i
Andrew Rowan (S) – UCLA
Aleksandar Sosa (RS) – Loyola Chicago
Skyler Varga (OH) – Long Beach State
Players Mentioned
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