First Heart Men’s Volleyball Weekly Awards of 2024 Announced

The Heart of America Athletic Conference announced its first Heart Men's Volleyball Weekly Awards of the 2024 season on Monday.

Samuel Essilfie of (RV) Missouri Valley College captured the first Heart Attacker of the Week award, while Marko Jovanovic of No. 12 ranked Missouri Baptist was selected the Heart Defender of the Week and Matt Helmick of No. 10 William Penn is the Heart Setter of the Week.

Essilfie and the Vikings went 4-0 last week and the sophomore had an incredible performance against Dordt with 23 kills in the 3-0 victory, averaging 7.67 kills per set. For the week he had 36 total kills.

Helmick and the Statesmen had two Top 15 victories last week, as they defeated No. 14 ranked Lourdes, 3-0 and No. 8 ranked Menlo (Calif.), 3-1.

Helmick had 32 assists against Lourdes and 41 against Menlo, averaging 10.43 assists per set.

Jovanovic and the Spartans picked up a big win over NCAA Division I Maryville University on February 6, 3-1.

He led MBU With 22 digs in the victory.