Off the Block announces finalists for 2021 College Men’s Volleyball National Awards

Off the Block unveiled Friday the finalists for all 11 of the NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball national awards that it annually presents.

A nationwide voting committee of more than 25 NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball coaches and volleyball media determined the finalists and winners. The top three vote-getters for each award were named finalists, and the individual receiving the most votes will be named the award winner.

Check out all the awards and the players selected as finalists.

The award winners will be announced on Wednesday as part of Off the Block’s College Men’s Volleyball National Awards Presentation.

LLOY BALL AWARD

The Lloy Ball Award is given to the nation’s best setter in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball during the regular season. The annual award is named after the former U.S. Olympic gold medalist and IPFW All-American setter Lloy Ball and is selected by a nationwide voting committee of college men’s volleyball coaches and media members.

2021 Lloy Ball Award finalists:
Kevin Kauling, Lewis
Casey McGarry, UC Santa Barbara
Wil Stanley, BYU
Jakob Thelle, Hawai’i

BRYAN IVIE AWARD

The Bryan Ivie Award is given to the nation’s best opposite in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball during the regular season. The annual award is named after the former U.S. Olympian and USC All-American opposite Bryan Ivie and is selected by a nationwide voting committee of college men’s volleyball coaches and media members.

2021 Bryan Ivie Award finalists:
Randy DeWeese, UC Santa Barbara
Gabi Garcia Fernandez, BYU
Rado Parapunov, Hawai’i

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KARCH KIRALY AWARD

The Karch Kiraly Award is given to the nation’s best outside attacker in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball during the regular season. The annual award is named after the former U.S. Olympic gold medalist and UCLA All-American outside attacker and is selected by a nationwide voting committee of college men’s volleyball coaches and media members.

2021 Karch Kiraly Award finalists:
Tobi Azeez, Mount Olive
Ryan Coenen, Lewis
Davide Gardini, BYU

RYAN MILLAR AWARD

The Ryan Millar Award is given to the nation’s best middle attacker in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball during the regular season. The annual award is named after former BYU All-American and U.S. Olympian Ryan Millar and is selected by a nationwide voting committee of college men’s volleyball coaches and media members.

2021 Ryan Millar Award finalists:
Patrick Gasman, Hawai’i
Tyler Mitchem, Lewis
Keenan Sanders, UC Santa Barbara

ERIK SHOJI AWARD

The Erik Shoji Award is given to the nation’s best libero in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball during the regular season. The annual award is named after the current U.S. starting libero and former Stanford All-American libero Erik Shoji and is selected by a nationwide voting committee of college men’s volleyball coaches and media members.

2021 Erik Shoji Award finalists:
Mason Briggs, Long Beach State
Michal Podgorzak, Limestone
Gage Worsley, Hawai’i

DIVISION II NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The Division II National Player of the year is given to the nation’s best player on a NCAA Division II men’s volleyball team during the regular season. A nationwide voting committee of coaches and media members select the winner of the award.

2021 Division II National Player of the Year finalists:
Tobi Azeez, Mount Olive
Ryan Coenen, Lewis
Tyler Mitchem, Lewis

NICOLAS SZERSZEN AWARD

The Nicolas Szerszen Award is presented to the best non-U.S. born player in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball during the regular season. The annual award is named after the former Ohio State All-American outside attacker. It is selected by a nationwide voting committee of college men’s volleyball coaches and media members.

2021 Nicolas Szerszen Award finalists:
Tobi Azeez, Mount Olive
Rado Parapunov, Hawai’i
Sotiris Siapanis, Ohio State

STEVE SHONDELL AWARD

The Steve Shondell Award recognizes the best passer in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball during the regular season. The annual national award is named after the Hall of Fame coach and former Ball State setter and is determined by a nationwide voting committee of college men’s volleyball coaches and media members.

2021 Steve Shondell Award finalists:
Mason Briggs, Long Beach State
Colton Cowell, Hawai’i
Gage Worsley, Hawai’i
Michal Podgorzak, Limestone

DAIN BLANTON DIVERSITY AWARD

The Dain Blanton Diversity Award recognizes the top NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball player during the regular season of a minority ethnicity. The annual national award is named after former Pepperdine outside attacker and Olympic gold medalist Dain Blanton and is determined by a nationwide voting committee of college men’s volleyball coaches and media members.

2021 Dain Blanton Diversity Award finalists:
Tobi Azeez, Mount Olive
Gabi Garcia Fernandez, BYU
Tyler Mitchem, Lewis

NATIONAL BLOCKER OF THE YEAR

The National Blocker of the Year is annually awarded to the NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball player with the best front-row defensive performance during the regular season. This was the first national award organized by Off the Block and each year is selected by a nationwide voting committee of college men’s volleyball coaches and media members.

2021 National Blocker of the Year finalists:
Simon Andersen, Long Beach State
Lucas Galifos, McKendree
Patrick Gasman, Hawai’i

NATIONAL SERVER OF THE YEAR

The National Server of the Year recognizes the top individual serving performance from a NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball player during the regular season. The annual award is selected by a nationwide voting committee of college men’s volleyball coaches and media members.

2021 National Server of the Year finalists:
Camden Gianni, Grand Canyon
Gabi Garcia Fernandez, BYU
Cal Fisher, Penn State