Follow
Lincoln Memorial opposite Justin Sharfenaker is adding a major individual award in his first college season.
Off the Block announced Thursday that Sharfenaker was selected as the 2021 Off the Block Independent Teams Freshman of the Year.
The Independent Teams Freshman of the Year recognizes the best freshman during the regular season from NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams that are competing without a conference affiliation. The eight independent teams this season were Alderson Broaddus, Daemen, D’Youville, Limestone, Lincoln Memorial, St. Francis Brooklyn, Tusculum and Queens.
Sharfenaker led Lincoln Memorial and was among the national leaders with a 3.22 kills per game average and had double-digit kills in 13 matches. Among his top performances of the season included a team-high 15 kills and a season-high five aces in a regular-season finale sweep against Queens.
The outside attacker also had 14 kills and set a single-match program record with a .650 attack percentage in a sweep against Tusculum in March.
Along with winning this award, Sharfenaker during his freshman season won the Off the Block/Frisco Mo National Player of the Month in March and was named the Independent Teams Player of the Week in March.
Head coaches from the independent NCAA Division I-II men’s volleyball teams and volleyball media members comprised the voting committee for the Independent Teams Freshman of the Year.
This is the fourth year that Off the Block has presented Independent Teams Freshman of the Year.
Along with the Independent Teams Freshman of the Year, Off the Block presents the All-Independent Team and the Independent Teams Player of the Year. The college men’s volleyball website also presents the Independent Teams Player of the Week throughout the regular season.
Off the Block is a national award winning website that started in 2011 and is the nation’s leader in college men’s volleyball coverage.