Merk, Ryan Penn State

Ryan Merk

  • Award
    Defensive Player of the Week
  • Week Of
    4/14/2025
  • Sport
    Men's Volleyball
  • School
    Penn State University
  • Year
    Junior
  • Position
    Libero
  • Hometown
    Chicago, Ill.
  • High School
    Loyola Academy
Penn State's Ryan Merk is the EIVA Defensive Player of the Week for April 14, 2025. Ryan anchored the defense in a pair of must-win matches to keep the Nittany Lions’ hopes alive in defending their regular-season conference crown. The redshirt junior libero totaled 26 digs and 10 assists while posting a 34-for-36 showing in service receptions in two 3-2 victories at George Mason. He had 14 digs and six assists in the first match and a dozen digs with four assists in the second contest. His work helped the Lion defense hold the Patriots to .219 hitting and 1.0 aces per set on the weekend. George Mason entered the matches hitting .254 and averaging 1.44 aces per set for the year. Merk ranks third in the EIVA with 1.93 digs per set and has double figures in digs in six matches this season. This is the third weekly conference honor this season for Merk and fourth of his career.