CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Senior All-Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League middle hitter Colby Whiteside (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) has been named the MCVL Defensive Player of the Week for a career first.
 
Whiteside combined for 10 total blocks in the two games last week for No. 18 BW against Wabash (Ind.) and No. 14 Wentworth (Mass.). In a 2-3 loss to Wabash (Ind.), he had two blocks, two digs, and even contributed offensively with a team-leading three service aces. He also made 10 kills for an efficient .533 hitting percentage. Against No. 14 Wentworth (Mass.), he had a season-best eight total blocks to average 1.6 blocks per set in the 3-2 victory. Whiteside was also efficient offensively with eight kills on 16 attempts for a .438 hitting percentage.
 
This season, Whiteside is the team leader in blocks with 52.0 total blocks, which is also the third most in the MCVL. He averages .75 blocks per set in 2026. Last season, Whiteside was named All-MCVL second team while being second in the MCVL with a career-best 95 total blocks. He has also been named Academic All-MCVL in his career.
 
Whiteside is the fifth Yellow Jacket to receive MCVL weekly recognition in 2026. The middle hitter is the third to be named Defensive Player of the Week, alongside teammates Ethan Gundrum (Cincinnati/McNicholas) and Bobby Mayberry (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair). The Offensive Player of the Week recipients were junior outside hitter Owen Huynh (Loveland) and junior right-side hitter Jacob Esteves (Wickliffe/St. Edward).
 
Up Next

• Men's volleyball will travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan for an MCVL matchup against Calvin (Mich.) University in Van Noord Arena on Friday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m.