IRVINE, Calif. – Middle blocker Maxim Grigoriev claimed one of the conference's three big awards, earning Big West Freshman of the Year.
 
Grigoriev joins Joel Schneidmiller (2018) being named Big West Freshman of the Year and becomes the fifth conference Newcomer of the Year in program history. (Carson Clark, Brent Asuka, Scott Stadick).

He was named to the All-Big West Freshman Team and collected Big West Freshman of the Week honors three times in 2023.

The middle blocker averaged 1.03 kills and 1.02 blocks over 60 sets. He was ranked fourth among Big West players in blocking and recorded at least one block in all but one match he played in. The Walnut Creek native totaled a career-high seven block assists versus BYU then had a season-best eight total blocks with one solo and seven assisted in Big West Championship match against Hawaii.

Offensively, Grigoriev had a career-best 10 kills at Concordia and hit a season-best .727, going errorless with eight kills on 11 swings at UC San Diego. He hit an efficient .463 (62-12-108) in his first collegiate season.