KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (Ind.) senior middle hitter Yammiel Martinez was named Men’s Volleyball Defender of the Week after delivering a dominant presence at the net in two key conference wins. The Bayamon, Puerto Rico native anchored the Pomeroys’ front-row defense as SMWC earned 3-1 victories over Indiana East on March 17 and Rio Grande on March 20, consistently turning opponents’ best swings into points the other way.
Across eight sets on the week, Martinez piled up 16 total blocks, averaging 2 blocks per set. His biggest statement came against Indiana East, where he posted a massive 13-block performance over four sets, a disruptive effort that altered the entire rhythm of the match. Martinez combined three solo blocks with 10 block assists in that contest, repeatedly closing seams and taking away angles, forcing Indiana East attackers into tougher shots and helping Saint Mary-of-the-Woods control long stretches of play.
Martinez backed up his defensive impact with efficient offense. He recorded 16 kills on just 21 total attempts for a .667 hitting percentage, committing only two errors all week. Against Indiana East, he posted 11 kills while hitting .714, and he followed with five kills on .571 hitting in the win over Rio Grande (Ohio).
