Five Cardinals Earn All-MIVA Honors

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) announced the winners of the 2017 conference awards Thursday morning. Matt Szews, Matt Walsh, Connor Gross, Brendan Surane and Nick Lavanchy all earned their place as members of the 2017 All-MIVA teams.

Szews was named Co-Freshman of the Year due to a tie in voting with Lewis' Ryan Coenen. Szews was also named to the All-MIVA First Team and All-Freshman Team. Szews was third in the league in conference play with 3.57 kills per set. He hit .242 while recording 1.81 digs per set. He recorded 22 double-digit kill matches including a season-high 23 vs. Grand Canyon.

Walsh was also named to the All-MIVA First Team. Walsh sits at second in the conference in hitting percentage (.441) and blocks per set (1.21). Those numbers also place him in the top five nationally. Walsh is second in the country with his .441 hitting percentage and fourth in blocks per set.

Gross was selected to the All-MIVA Second Team as he sits at second in the MIVA with 10.43 assists per set. Gross is sixth in school history (during rally scoring era) in total assists with 1,241 and fifth in the record books in career assists per set with 9.26.

Surane was named All-MIVA Honorable Mention and is second on the team in total kills with 244 this season. He also has 104 digs, 44 total blocks and 12 service aces on the season.

Libero Nick Lavanchy earned his place on the All-Freshman Team. Lavanchy started off the season by being named a member of the Outrigger All-Tournament Team for his performances in the first three matches of the season. He finished the season with 129 digs and 19 assists.

All-MIVA First Team
Matt Szews, Ball State - OH - Fr.
Matt Walsh, Ball State - MH - Jr.
Ryan Coenen, Lewis - OH - R-Fr.
Mitch Perinar, Lewis - OPP - R-So.
Michael Simmons, Lewis - L - R-So.
Matt Yoshimoto, Lewis - S - So.
Jeff Jendryk, Loyola - MH - Jr.
Christy Blough, Ohio State - S - Sr.
Miles Johnson, Ohio State - OPP - Sr.
Nicolas Szerszen, Ohio State - OH - Jr.

All-MIVA Second Team
Connor Gross, Ball State - S - Sr.
Cullen Mosher, Grand Canyon - OH - R-Jr.
Drake Silbernagel, Grand Canyon - MH - Sr.
Ben Plaisted, Loyola - OPP - Jr.
Collin Mahan, Loyola - OH - So.
Wyatt Patterson, McKendree - MH - Sr.
Maalik Walker, McKendree - OPP - Sr.
Gabriel Domecus, Ohio State - L - Sr.
Driss Guessous, Ohio State - MH - R-Sr.
Jarrod Kelso, Quincy - MH - Jr.

All-MIVA Honorable Mention
Brendan Surane, Ball State - OH - Sr.
Pelegrin Vargas, Fort Wayne - OH - Fr.
Sky Engleman, Grand Canyon - L - Jr.
Michael Milstein, Grand Canyon - S - Sr.
Jacob Schmiegelt, Lewis - MH - R-Sr.
Connor Hipelius, Lindenwood - MH - So.
Sam Schindler, Lindenwood - MH - Fr.
Pasquale Fiduccia, McKendree - S - Jr.
Brendan Schmidt, McKendree - MB - R-Jr.
Maxime Hervoir, Ohio State - OH - Jr.

All-Freshmen Team
Matt Szews, Ball State - OH
Nick Lavanchy, Ball State - L
Pelegrin Vargas, Fort Wayne - OH
Ryan Coenen, Lewis - OH
Kyle Bugee, Lewis - OH
Sam Schindler, Lindenwood - MB
Ian Cowen, Loyola - S

For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State men's volleyball team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMVB.

Players Mentioned

Connor Gross

Nick LaVanchy

Brendan Surane

Matt Szews

Matt Walsh