Follow
The top offensive player in the MIVA has earned the conference’s top individual honor.
The MIVA announced Thursday that Loyola pin-hitter Parker Van Buren was selected as the 2024 MIVA Player of the Year.
Van Buren finished the regular season leading the conference and sixth in the nation with a 4.11 kills per game average. Among Van Buren’s top performances included a team-high 20 kills on a .410 attack percentage in a road upset victory against No. 3/3 Hawai’i in January and 19 kills while hitting .405 in a road victory against No. 10 Ohio State in March.
The junior also had a career-high .352 attack percentage and hit more than .450 in six of the Ramblers final seven regular season matches.
“Parker is absolutely deserving of this award,” Loyola coach John Hawks said in an interview with Off the Block. “He is a great captain, and he studies film like a professional. The growth in his game over the year has been so incredible. Very proud to coach this young man.”
Van Buren is the first Rambler to win this conference since 2015 – the last time program won the NCAA championship.
No. 12/10 Loyola finished the regular season in second place in the MIVA and will play host to No. 18 McKendree in the MIVA Tournament quarterfinals on Saturday.
Along with the MIVA Player of the Year honors, Loyola outside attacker Daniel Fabikovic was selected as the MIVA Newcomer of Year.
Ball State coach Donan Cruz also was named the MIVA Coach of the Year. No. 12/8 Ball State under Cruz won its third consecutive MIVA Tournament regular season championship and will have home court advantage throughout the conference tournament.
2024 MIVA Awards
MIVA Player of the Year: Parker Van Buren, Loyola
MIVA Newcomer of the Year: Daniel Fabikovic, Loyola
MIVA Coach of the Year: Donan Cruz, Ball State
First Team All-MIVA
Pin-hitter: Jon Diedrich, Purdue Fort Wayne
Opposite: Raje Alleyne, Quincy
Opposite: Parker Van Buren, Loyola
Outside attacker: Daniel Fabikovic, Loyola
Outside attacker: Mark Frazier, Purdue Fort Wayne
Outside attacker: Tinaishe Ndavazocheva, Ball State
Outside attacker: Jacob Pasteur, Ohio State
Outside attacker: Patrick Rogers, Ball State
Outside attacker: Max Roquet, Lewis
Outside attacker: Kevin Schuele, McKendree
Middle attacker: Cole Young, Ohio State
Libero: Nico Paula, Lewis
Second Team All-MIVA
Setter: Lucas Machado, Ball State
Setter: Dan Mangun, Loyola
Setter: Tyler Poulsen, McKendree
Setter: Connor Sheehan, Lindenwood
Setter: Michael Wright, Ohio State
Opposite: Ian Schuller, Lindenwood
Opposite: Shane Wetzel, Ohio State
Outside attacker: AJ Lewis, Lindenwood
Outside attacker: Clay Wieter, Lindenwood
Middle attacker: D’Aaron McCraney, McKendree
Middle attacker: Nicodemus Meyer, Loyola
Libero: Yadiel Diaz, McKendree