Former Erskine outside Michelau named ConfCarolinas Player of the Decade

Photo courtesy of Erskine athletics

The conference awards still are coming in for outside attacker Mike Michelau four years after graduating from Erskine.

Off the Block announced Monday that a nationwide voting committee selected Michelau as the ConfCarolinas Player of the Decade.

Michelau, a four-time First-Team All-ConfCarolinas selection, finished each of his final three seasons in the nation’s top five averaging more than 4.00 kills per game and two ConfCarolinas championships.

The opposite during his senior season in 2016 had a career-best 4.47 kills per game average on a .324 attack percentage and became the first player from Erskine to earn the ConfCarolinas Player of the Year. He also had more than 20 kills in seven matches as Erskine reached the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years.

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Michelau to go along with his offensive performance that season was seventh in the nation averaging 0.46 aces per game, including having three aces in a ConfCarolinas Tournament finals sweep against Erskine. In addition, Michelau finished with 148 career aces.

As a sophomore, Michelau was third in the nation with a 4.27 kills per game average. Among his top offensive performances that season featured 18 kills and a match-high four aces as Erskine defeated Cal Baptist to become the first ConfCarolinas team to beat a MPSF team.

The voting committee for this ConfCarolinas Player of the Decade was comprised of current and former ConfCarolinas head coaches along with national volleyball media members.

The top-three vote-getters were selected finalists, while the individual with the most votes named the overall award winner.

Michelau received 20 votes and defeated the runner-up Barton opposite Angelos Mandilaris by 12 votes. In addition, Mount Olive outside attacker Angel Dache and Limestone outside attacker Eric Zaun finished tied for third place with three votes.

Off the Block coordinated the ConfCarolinas All-Decade Awards. Along with the ConfCarolinas Player of the Decade, Off the Block presented the ConfCarolinas Coach of the Decade, the ConfCarolinas Team of the Decade and the ConfCarolinas All-Decade Awards.

Off the Block is a national award winning website that was established in 2011 and is the nation’s leader college men’s volleyball coverage.

ConfCarolinas Player of the Decade voting results

1. Mike Michelau, Erskine — 20 votes
2. Angelos Mandilaris, Barton — 8 votes
T-3. Angel Dache, Mount Olive — 3 votes
T-3. Eric Zaun, Limestone — 3 votes
T-5. Vasilis Mandilaris, Barton — 2 votes
T-5. Michael Schneck, Erskine — 2 votes
T-5. David Specian, Pfeiffer — 2 votes
T-5. Jeff Sprayberry, King — 2 votes