Men’s Volleyball | Wed, Apr. 13, 2022
Oskaloosa–Landon Krause (So., Appleton, Wis., Sports Management) made history in his first campaign in the navy and gold by picking up the biggest individual award of the year as the AVCA-NAIA Men’s Volleyball All-America teams were announced Monday.
Krause was not only named a First-Team All-American, but was chosen as the National Player of the Year and the National Newcomer of the Year. He is the first student-athlete in William Penn athletics history (all sports) to achieve the distinction of earning either of the nation’s top awards.
The sophomore had other Statesmen company on the national squads as well with Ike Papes (Jr., Elwood, Ill., Business Management) being tabbed as a Second-Team honoree and Charlie Figy (So., Appleton, Wis., Sports Management) earning an Honorable Mention.
The trio are the first All-Americans in the program’s short three-year history. They have guided the Statesmen (23-7) to their first NAIA National Championship appearance where they will face Campbellsville (Ky.) Wednesday and Vanguard (Calif.) Thursday.
A total of 49 individuals garnered some form of All-America recognition with 12 players on the first and second squads, while 25 were tabbed for honorable mentions.
Entering nationals, Krause has tallied 323 kills (3.55 per set) on a .384 attack clip. He has also recorded 148 digs, 64 blocks (nine solos, 55 assists), 50 aces, and 20 assists.
An NAIA Defender of the Week back in February, he has thus far posted 18 double-digit efforts, headlined by a high of 25 kills vs. Park on March 8. Krause has tallied five double-doubles.
The sophomore ranks in the top 25 nationally in kills, kills per set, aces, and attack percentage (second overall).
Papes has 374 kills (4.11 per set) on a .311 attack mark, while also posting 97 digs, 38 blocks (seven solos, 31 assists), 25 aces, and 10 assists.
He has managed 22 double-digit efforts with a high of 23 kills against Clarke on March 2. The junior currently sits in the top 11 in the NAIA in kills, kills per set, and attack percentage.
Figy currently has 161 kills (1.69 per set) this year with an attack percentage of .383. The sophomore has been dominant at the defensive net with 115 blocks (15 solos, 100 assists), along with 33 digs, 21 aces, and six assists.
He had a high of 13 kills versus Clarke on March 2 and has produced nine matches with at least five blocks (high of eight twice). Figy ranks in the top five nationally in…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at William Penn University – News…