KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) junior middle blocker Travis Kelly has been named Men’s Volleyball Defender of the Week after delivering a strong two-match stretch highlighted by a career-best performance at the net. Kelly anchored the Redhawks’ defense with 1.8 blocks per set last week. 

Kelly’s signature moment came March 31 in a five-set win over OUAZ (Ariz.), when he erupted for a career-high 14 blocks in the 3–2 victory. The total included three solo stuffs and 11 block assists. He also contributed offensively in the win, finishing with six kills on 12 attempts for a .333 hitting percentage.

He followed that performance on April 2 at Arizona Christian with another strong all-around outing, posting 13 kills on 19 swings while hitting an efficient .579 in a tight 3–2 loss. Kelly remained a stabilizing presence at the net, adding four block assists. 

Across the two matches, Kelly totaled 18 blocks, averaging 1.80 per set, and produced 29.5 points at a 3.0 points-per-set clip. With a .484 hitting percentage over the span, he paired elite net defense with efficient scoring. 

This is the final defender of the week award for the 2026 season.