Follow
MSOE libero Danny Martens is earning another national accolade in a season that included a conference title and reaching the NCAA Tournament.
Off the Block announced Saturday that a nationwide voting committee selected Martens as the Off the Block/Molten Division III National Libero of the Year.
The Division III National Libero of the Year is an annual award presented by Off the Block that recognizes the top libero in NCAA Division III men’s volleyball during the season.
Martens finished the season in the nation’s top 10 with a 3.07 digs per game average and set the MSOE single-season record with 341 digs. The two-time All-American also had four matches with more than 20 kills, including a match-high 21 digs in a NCAA Tournament opening-round loss to Fontbonne.
MSOE earned its first beth in program history to the NCAA Tournament after winning the NACCA Tournament championship. In addition, the Raiders ended the season ranked No. 14 in the national coaches poll.
The voting committee for this national award was comprised of about 20 NCAA Division III men’s volleyball coaches from around the nation. The top-three vote-getters were named finalists and the student-athlete receiving the most votes was named the award winner.
Martens received 25 votes to edge out the runner up Springfield libero Johjan Mussa Robles by 10 votes. Marian libero Cullen Liberski, who led the nation with a 4.04 digs per game average, finished in third place with 14 votes.
The National Libero of the Year is one of five Division III national awards that Off the Block presents. It also presents the Off the Block/Molten Division III National Setter of the Year, Off the Block/Molten Division III National Opposite of the Year, the Off the Block/Molten Division III National Outside Attacker of the Year and Off the Block/Molten Division III National Middle Attacker of the Year.
Off the Block is a national award winning website and is the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage. Molten is the official volleyball supplier of NCAA Division III men’s volleyball and is the 2019 sponsor of the NCAA Division III Men’s Volleyball National Awards.