Press Release courtesy of Ohio State Athletics
Nicolas Szerszen has been named the 2018 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Player of the Year, becoming the first student-athlete in conference history to earn three MIVA Player of the Year designations. Szerszen was also the conference’s top player in 2016 and 2017. He is joined on the All-MIVA First Team by teammates Maxime Hervoir and Sanil Thomas. Two more Buckeyes, Jake Hanes and Blake Leeson, were tabbed as All-MIVA Second Team members.
The MIVA has been presenting its Player of the Year award since 1961. A total of 62 yearly honors have been awarded (accounting for ‘co’ players of the year), and Ohio State has picked up the honor 37 percent of the time (23 of 62). Eighteen different Buckeyes have earned the nod.
Szerszen is one of just 10 men all-time to be a multiple MIVA Player of the Year, and as mentioned above, he is now the first three-time winner. This also marks the third consecutive season in which five or more Buckeyes were voted to the All-MIVA Teams. In addition, Hanes was selected to the MIVA All-Freshman Team as well.
Player of the Year: Nicolas Szerszen (Ohio State)
Coach of The Year: Mark Hulse (Loyola)
Freshman of the Year: Garrett Zolg (Loyola)
2018 All–MIVA First Team
Nicolas Szerszen, Ohio St. – Sr. – OH
Sanil Thomas, Ohio St. – Jr. – S
Maxime Hervoir, Ohio St. – Sr. – OH
Garrett Zolg, Loyola – Fr. – S
Ricky Gevis, Loyola – Sr. – Opp
Collin Mahan, Loyola – Jr. – OH
Jeff Jendryk, Loyola – Sr. – MB
Matt Walsh, Ball St. – Sr. – MB
Michael Simmons, Lewis – Jr. – L
Ryan Coenen, Lewis – So. – OH
Pelegrin Vargas, Fort Wayne – So. – OH
Brendan Schmidt, McKendree – Sr. – MB
2018 All–MIVA Second Team
Blake Leeson, Ohio St. – Jr. – MB
Jake Hanes, Ohio St. – Fr. – RS
Mitch Weiler, Ball St. – Sr. – OH
Jake Romano, Ball St. – So. – S
Mitch Perinar, Lewis – Jr. – RS
Matt Yoshimoto, Lewis – Jr. – S
Tyler Mitchem, Lewis – Fr. – MB
Michael Keegan, Fort Wayne – Jr. – S
Tomas Gago, Fort Wayne – Fr. – MB
Nolan Rueter, McKendree – Sr. – OH
Ryan Vorderer, Lindenwood – Sr. – L
Adam Brewster, Lindenwood – Jr. – S
2018 All-Freshman Team
Jake Hanes, Ohio St. – RS
Garrett Zolg, Loyola – S
Ben Chinnici, Ball St. – OH
TJ Murray, Lewis – MB
Tyler Mitchem, Lewis – MB
Tomas Gago, Fort Wayne – MB
Patrick Ross, McKendree – OH
The ’18 MIVA Tournament begins Saturday (April 14) across the conference with the higher seeds hosting each of the four quarterfinal matches. Top-seeded Ohio State welcome in No. 8-seed Quincy at 7 p.m. ET inside St. John Arena.
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