IRVINE, Calif. – For the second time in 17 days, Chaminade University guard
Grant Dressler is the Pacific West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week, based on games played on Dec. 17 to 19.
The senior from Las Vegas earned Most Valuable Player honors after helping the No. 20 Silverswords capture the Hoops in Hawai'i D2 Power Invitational crown by averaging 17 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals and a block in their final two games. The Sacramento State transfer and Palo Verde High School alum also made six 3-pointers to help keep Chaminade unbeaten at 10-0, the program's best start since opening the 1978-79 season with 11 straight wins.
In Monday's win against a previously-ranked Dallas Baptist squad, Dressler had 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals while hitting three triples. He followed with another 17-point outing over No. 7 UC San Diego in Tuesday's championship game along with six rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal. He made 6 of 12 shots from the floor including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Capturing the Power Invitational title capped an arduous stretch for the 'Swords who had played four consecutive days (Saturday through Tuesday), a rarity during a college basketball regular season.
It's Dressler's second player of the week award after earning it on Dec. 3 and the second straight week a 'Sword has been recognized (
Erik Scheive on Dec. 17). It's also his third weekly conference honor after being named Defender of the Week on Monday.
The other PacWest weekly winners were Azusa Pacific's Selom Mawuge (Defender) and Hawai'i Hilo's Jalen Thompson (Freshman).
The Silverswords are off for the Christmas holiday and will resume PacWest action on Monday, Dec. 31 when they open a five-game trip to northern California and the Central Valley at Fresno Pacific.
