No.13 McKendree University men's volleyball team had four players named All-Conference and Head Coach Nickie Sanlin was named Coach of the Year by the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) for the 2021 season. Setter Ryan Serrano was the lone Bearcat to earn First Team honors, while middle blocker Lucas Galifos, outside hitter Patrick Ross, and opposite Zach Schnittker collected Second Team honors.

*portions of this release were provided by the MIVA official release

Nickie Sanlin was named MIVA Coach of the Year following the team's most successful season in program history. Sanlin's leadership propelled her team to a historic season, ending the regular season 10-5 (9-5 in MIVA). The Bearcats opened the season on an 8-0 winning streak, made their first-ever appearance on the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I-II Coaches Poll at the No.14 spot on Feb. 15, then reaching as high as No.6. This is Sanlin's second Coach of the Year honor, her first came in 2019.



In the games played this regular season, Serrano recorded 494 assists, 28 kills, nine service aces, 98 digs, and 46.0 total blocks. He matched his career high 48 assists against Ball State on Apr.3. Serrano is second on the team in both digs and total blocks on the season. This honor marks Serrano's third All-Conference accolade, his first being named First Team, in the three seasons he's played with the Bearcats.

Galifos was named Second Team All-MIVA with 98 kills, seven service aces, 12 digs, and 80.0 total blocks. He matched his career high 13 kills against Quincy on Feb. 19, and set a career high 11 blocks at Purdue Fort Wayne on Mar. 28. Galifos is the team leader in total blocks on the season, leading the MIVA with 1.51 blocks per set, and ranked No.2 in the country in blocks per set. This is Galifos' first All-Conference accolade.

Ross was named Second Team All-MIVA with 152 kills, 17 service aces, 10 assists, 88 digs, and 39.0 total blocks. He matched his career high 15 digs against Ball State on Apr. 3. Ross is the team leader in points per set (3.72), total kills, kills per set (2.98), and service aces on the season. This honor marks Ross' first All-Conference accolade.

Schnittker was named Second Team All-MIVA with 118 kills, a .156 hitting percentage, four assists, 13 service aces, 85 digs, and 33.0 total blocks. He is third on the team in kills and second on the team in service aces this season. This is Schnittker's second Second Team All-MIVA honor of his career after collecting the accolade in 2019.
 
MIVA End of Season Awards:
2021 MIVA Player of the Year: Ryan Coenen, Lewis
2020 Newcomer of the Year: Sotiris Siapanis, Ohio State
2021 Coach of the Year: Nickie Sanlin, McKendree
 
All-MIVA First Team (listed alphabetically by school)
Quinn Isaacson, Ball State, Setter, Sr.
Kaleb Jenness, Ball State, Outside Hitter, Jr.
Ryan Coenen, Lewis, Outside Hitter, Sr.
Kevin Kauling, Lewis, Setter, So.
Tyler Mitchem, Lewis, Middle Blocker, R-Sr.
Luke Denton, Loyola Chicago, Opposite, Fr.
Cole Schlothauer, Loyola Chicago, Outside Hitter, R-So.
Garrett Zolg, Loyola Chicago, Setter, Sr.
Ryan Serrano, McKendree, Setter, R-Jr.
Sotiris Siapanis, Ohio State, Outside Hitter, Fr.
Troy Gooch, Purdue Fort Wayne, Libero, Jr.
Pelegrin Vargas, Purdue Fort Wayne, Outside Hitter, Gr.
 
All-MIVA Second Team (listed alphabetically by school)
Felix Egharevba, Ball State, Middle Blocker, Jr.
Blake Reardon, Ball State, Outside Hitter, Gr.
Kyle Bugee, Lewis, Outside Hitter, Sr.
TJ Murray, Lewis, Middle Blocker, R-Sr.
AJ Lewis, Lindenwood, Outside Hitter, So.
Diego Negron, Lindenwood, Outside Hitter, R-Jr.
Lucas Galifos, McKendree, Middle Blocker, Gr.
Patrick Ross, McKendree, Outside Hitter, Sr.
Zach Schnittker, McKendree, Opposite, Gr.
Martin Lallemand, Ohio State, Outside Hitter, Sr.
Vicente Ibarra, Purdue Fort Wayne, Outside Hitter, Fr.
Noam Hannoun, Quincy, Libero, Jr.