MCVL Announces Postseason Awards

MCVL Announces Postseason Awards

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (MCVL.org) - The Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League announced on Wednesday its selections for Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year.

Offensive Player of the Year - Quin Krisik (MSOE)
A native of Itasca, Ill., Krisik led the Raiders to the MCVL Tournament for the second consecutive season in 2017. Krisik ranked in the nation's top-50 in three categories nationally including assists per set (3rd - 10.61), digs per set (33rd - 2.5) and service aces per set (43rd - .42). In a five-set loss to Carthage, Krisik recorded his first career triple-double, posting 49 assists, 14 digs and 10 kills. As the primary setter for MSOE, Krisik reached double-digit kills on two separate occasions and had at least 20 assists in all but one match. The junior earned his third First Team All-MCVL honor this season and his resume includes the MCVL Rookie of the Year Award back in 2015. That season, Krisik led the nation in assists per set at 10.7. In the history of the MCVL, Krisik is the only representative from MSOE to earn first team honors with the Raiders boasting six second team selections over the last three seasons.

Defensive Player of the Year - Cullen Liberski (Marian)
A Second Team All-MCVL selection in 2017, Liberski anchored the back court for Marian in the program's second season. Liberski finished the season in the top-10 for digs per set for the second consecutive season, totaling 372 digs for an average of 3.80 per set, which ranks second in Division III. In a four-set win over Wittenberg, Liberski recorded a season-high 23 digs and posted 20-or-more digs in four matches. His second team selection is the first in his career and along with teammate Jon Smallpage, Liberski becomes the first All-MCVL honoree in Marian's history.

Rookie of the Year - Manuel Benitez (Greenville)
There weren't many in Division III that matched Benitez's season, let alone any in their freshman season. The dominant outside for the Panthers torched opponents all season long, averaging 10.12 attacks per set, 5.1 points per set and a national-best 4.63 kills per set. In MCVL play, Benitez elevated his play to the tune of 4.77 kills per set, which set a league record in the process. His 426 kills this season also set a MCVL record. Benitez became the first First Team All-MCVL pick in school history.

Coach of the Year - Dan Ames (Dominican)
Four years ago, Ames embarked upon the journey to create the first NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball program in the state of Illinois and 71 wins later, has his team competing in the NCAA Tournament. After a 26-2 record this season, the Stars earned a first round bye in the NCAA Tournament and will face the winner of Endicott and No. 7 Stevens. The 2017 season marked the first 20-win season for Dominican and staked claim to its first regular season and conference tournament titles. Dominican opened the season at No. 13 in the AVCA National Poll and entering the NCAA Tournament the Stars are ranked No. 6, the highest in school history.