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The National Setter of the Year award will be renamed to honor one of the best setters in college men’s volleyball and USA Volleyball history.
Off the Block announced Monday that the new national college men’s volleyball award will be named after former IPFW All-American setter and four-time U.S. Olympian Lloy Ball.
The Lloy Ball Award beginning in the 2014 season will be an annual honor presented to the best setter in NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball during the regular season.
Ball in four seasons with IPFW from 1991-94 was a three-time All-American and was selected as the 1991 National Freshman of the Year. Along with still holding school records for career assists and aces, Ball led the Mastodons to three NCAA Tournament appearance.
After graduating from IPFW, Ball played professional volleyball overseas for almost 20 years and was the starting setter for the U.S. Men’s National Team at the 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics. Ball also helped guide the United States to a gold medal in 2008 — one of three men’s volleyball Olympic gold medals in U.S. history.
The Lloy Ball Award will be presented by Off the Block and is the first national college men’s volleyball award to be named after a former standout player.
The decision to name the national setter of the year after a player was made in an effort to honor and incorporate the history of NCAA volleyball to this award.
In addition, the Lloy Ball award will be first national position-based award in college men’s volleyball. Several volleyball organizations that give out national end-of-year awards each season ranging from All-American Teams to the National Player of the Year, but no national award before this upcoming year was specific to a position.
The inaugural Lloy Ball Award winner will be selected at the end of the 2014 regular season by a nationwide voting committee comprised of coaches and media members.
The top-three vote-getters will be named finalists for the award, while the player receiving the most votes will be the inaugural winner of the Lloy Ball Award.
This is one of three new national awards that Off the Block will present for the upcoming season. The college men’s volleyball website announced during the off-season that it will present the Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. Freshmen All-American Team and the Off the Block/Springbak, Inc. National Freshman of the Week during the 2014 season.
Off the Block is a national award winning website that covers college men’s volleyball and launched in January 2011.
USA men have won 3 Olympic golds: 1984, 1988, 2008.
I think you missed a Gold Medal somewhere.
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Yes! I’m happy for Lloy Ball having the award named after him. He is one of the sweetest, warm , kind person you could want to know. This has made us proud to be his In-laws, he is a good husband & father. Proud of this award being named after you Lloy:)
Being Athletic Director at High School in Woodburn, Indiana for 32 years, Lloy Ball was the greatest athlete we ever had at Woodlan. I always knew he would become a great volleyball player in college and in the United States. We are proud of the recognition he has given to our community and high school. Congratulation to Lloy Ball.