Penn State men’s volleyball star John Kerr picked up honors as the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Player of the Year Tuesday.

Kerr clinched the conference honor alongside head coach Mark Pavlik who was named the EIVA Coach of the Year.

Kerr wrapped up regular season hitting 0.357 heading into the EIVA Tournament. He tallied 356 kills in 3.75 average kills per set through 95 total sets played. He registered a career-high 121 digs and 11 aces in 2024, too.

A Derry, Pennsylvania, native, Kerr helped the Nittany Lions clinch the EIVA regular-season championship before the team searches to secure a second straight EIVA Tournament Championship. Penn State has won the tournament 36 times in EIVA history.

Additionally, Kerr was named to the EIVA first team alongside Owen Rose, Ryan Merk, and Toby Ezeonu, while Michal Kowal and Michael Valenzi earned selection to the second team.

The blue and white will kick off the EIVA Tournament at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, against the winner of NJIT and Harvard at Rec Hall.

About the Author

Keeley Lamm

Keeley was Onward State’s managing editor and social media manager in another life. She was also the host of Onward State’s podcast, Podward State. Hopefully she's sitting on a porch somewhere, and you can reach her at keeleylamm@gmail.com.

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