LEXINGTON, Ky. - Less than a week after announcing their All-Region teams, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced their All-American teams with three Falcons earning accolades for the 2021 season.
Mason Nissley and
Matt Knab were named First Team while
Nate Bowman picked up Second Team honors. The three All-American nods are the first ever in Messiah men's volleyball program history.
It's been a busy awards season for Messiah men's volleyball. Prior to the 2021 season, Messiah had claimed just one All-Region accolade, but this year alone the Falcons picked up three more All-Region honors and now three All-American nods as well.
Senior setter
Matt Knab picked up First Team All-Conference and All-Region accolades earlier this season before earning the first All-American honor on Monday afternoon. Knab has facilitated the Falcons' offense all year long, dishing out 702 assists on the season for a 10.32 assists per set average, the fifth highest in the country. On five different occasions, he picked up 50-plus assists in a match, including a career-high 59 in a five-set match against Alvernia on Mar. 24. Knab has shown his versatility throughout his career. In addition to his assists this season, Knab has been lethal on the attack, picking up 62 kills this season with a .407 hitting percentage. Just last week, Knab was named the Most Valuable Player of the MAC Tournament, picking up 94 assists across nine sets. Additionally, he was named the AVCA National Player of the Week.
Sophomore
Mason Nissley joins Knab on the First Team after earning First Team All-Conference, MAC Player of the Year, All-Region, and Regional Player of the Year honors earlier this awards season. During the season, Nissley was twice named the AVCA National Player of the Week on Mar. 2 and Mar. 16. Nissley has put together quite the resume from his outside hitter position, leading the nation in kills per set at 5.75 with a .303 hitting percentage on the season. Nissley has posted nine matches with at least 21 kills on the season and has set the tone for Messiah's offense all year long. With injuries forcing Nissley to play a larger role that the Falcons orginially anticipated, Nissley has stepped up.
Earning Second Team honors is Messiah's middle hitter
Nate Bowman. Just last week, Bowman picked up Second Team All-Conference and All-Region honors. A key piece of the Falcons offense and defense, Bowman is tops on the team and sixth in the country in blocks per set with 1.15. He's also the owner of a .382 hitting percentage with 150 kills on offense and a team leading 77 total blocks on the season. On the year, Bowman has picked up 35 digs on the season and nine service aces, including three against Stevenson in the MAC Championship match.
Bowman, Nissley, Knab, and the rest of the Falcons will be back on the court on Wednesday afternoon when they take on Fontbonne University in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament in Salem, Va. at noon. The National Player of the Year is scheduled to be announced later this week.
