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2020 MVB All-Conf

Ames leads Spartans honored on NACC postseason awards

The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) announced the 2020 Men's Volleyball postseason awards and All-Conference Teams on Wednesday.

Aurora University Men's Volleyball led by Head Coach Dan Ames earned high honors when the NACC announced the 2020 men's volleyball All-Conference awards. Ames became the first AU Head Coach to earn NACC Coach of the Year recognition in just the third season of the program. Spartan juniors, middle Emmanuel Chaidez and outside Thomas Kovanic were selected First-Team All-Conference.

Sophomore setter James Karwin and freshman middle Austin Bayner earned Second-Team All-Conference recognition for the Spartans who finished the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season with a 12-4 record.

Ames, in his first season as the program's head coach before the season was ended due to COVID-19, is the NACC Coach of the Year. The Spartans finished with the first winning record in the three seasons of the programs existence while appearing for the first time in the AVCA Top 15 in early February. AU started the season winning 9 of their first 10 matches. The NACC Coach of the Year honor for Ames, adds to his 2020 accolades which included being named the AVCA West Region Coach of the Year.

Chaidez was named First-Team All-Conference in the NACC after he earlier earned All-Region recognition in his first season as a Spartan, averaging 1.75 kills per set while hitting .356 and having 20 service aces. On the defensive side of the net, he had 56 blocks with 29 digs. Kovanic, in his first season as a Spartan, earned NACC First-Team honors  after he averaged 3.35 kills per set while hitting .212 and having nine service aces. On the defensive side of the net, he had 30 blocks with 55 digs.

On the second-team, Karwin averaged 9.21 assists per set while having 21 service aces. On the defensive side of the net, he had 38 blocks with 105 digs. Bayner averaged 1.62 kills per set while hitting .222. On the defensive side of the net, he had 48 blocks with 23 digs.
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