LEXINGTON, Ky. - Earlier this week, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced their Division III All-Region Awards for the 2022 season. Among the honorees were a pair of Falcons with
Matt Knab and
Mason Nissley each earning their second career All-Region nods of their career. The All-Region laurels come just days after the pair were named First Team All-Conference and
Matt Knab picked up MAC Player of the Year honors.
Last season, both Knab and Nissley were named First Team All-Americans in addition to their All-Region nods.
From the setter position, Knab had a major impact in every match he played for the Falcons. He facilitates an offense that hit .312 (the fifth highest mark in the country) while dishing out 668 assists on the year. His 10.12 assists per set are the highest in the MAC and the fifth-most per set in the country. Knab also has the ability to score points for the Falcons, finishing off 39 kills on the season with a .229 hitting percentage. From the service line, Knab leads the MAC with 0.73 service aces per set, the ninth highest per set rate in the country. Beyond his impact on the court, Knab is a team leader that has been part of the Messiah men's volleyball team since their elevation to varsity status in 2018.
An outside hitter, Nissley earned his second-straight First Team All-Conference honor after another stellar season for the Falcons. Nissley registered 4.87 kills per set this season, tops in the conference and third in the country. Hitting at a .324 clip, Nissley has collected 331 kills across 68 sets played. While his kills are down slightly from last season (370 in 65 sets in 2021), Nissley has hit 24 points higher this season. He also has collected 47 service aces and 81 digs this season. His 0.69 aces per set are the 11th most in the country this season.
The duo will now move forward in the AVCA All-American voting process.
In their five-year program history, Messiah men's volleyball has now claimed six All-Region honors. All six have come in the last three seasons, with Knab and Nissley becoming the program's first ever repeat winners.
