Make it back-to-back Division II National Player of the Year honors for McKendree setter Nate Flayter
Off the Block announced Sunday that a nationwide voting committee for the second consecutive year selected Flayter as the Division II National Player of the Year.
The Division II National Player of the Year is awarded to the nation’s best player on a NCAA Division II men’s volleyball team during the regular season. While Division I and Division II schools compete for the same national championship and individual awards, this award is the only national player of the year solely for Division II players.
Flayter was seventh in the nation with a 10.10 assists per game average and guided the McKendree offense to a .287 attack percentage. The setter also was second in the MIVA and in the nation’s top 25 with a 2.12 digs per game average as McKendree advanced to the MIVA Tournament semifinals.
A voting committee of men’s volleyball coaches and volleyball media members from around the nation determined the winner of the Division II National Player of the Year. The top four vote-getters were named finalists for the national honor.
Flayter earned 16 votes to beat-out the runner-up Lewis outside attacker Daniel Haber by seven votes. Missouri S&T outside attacker Nate Meyer finished in third place with eight votes, Fort Valley State outside attacker Isaiah Fedd ended in fourth place with six votes.
This is the 10th year that Off the Block has presented the Division II National Player of the Year.
Off the Block is a national award winning website that launched in 2011 and is the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage.
2026 Division II National Player of the Year voting results
1. Nate Flayter, McKendree – 16 votes
2. Daniel Haber, Lewis – 9 votes
3. Nate Meyer, Missouri S&T – 8 votes
4. Isaiah Fedd, Fort Valley State – 6 votes
5. Caden Day, Belmont Abbey – 4 votes
T-6. Nico Paula, Lewis – 3 votes
T-6. Jarbirel Elhaddad, Belmont Abbey – 3 votes
T-6. Joseph Morris, Belmont Abbey – 3 votes
9. Tyler Zippay, Rockhurst – 2 votes
10. Shawn Baggs, Lewis – 1 vote