[Men's Volleyball] SAU crowns three players of the year; four on all-CCAC First Team

The Bees were well represented as the CCAC announced its postseason men's volleyball awards today as part of the conference tournament.  

Austin Royer won his third straight Setter of the Year Award, Riley Anderson was voted the conference's Libero of the Year and Jaylen Clark was tabbed as the Freshman of the Year. The three were joined on the all-CCAC First Team by Scott MacGillis.

Royer continued a run of Bees claiming top setter honors as a St. Ambrose player has claimed conference setter of the year accolades in seven of the last eight years, dating back to when SAU competed in the Midwest Collegiate Conference.

A senior from Mokena, Ill., Royer entered the CCAC Tournament second in the league and third nationally with 913 total assists. His average of 9.71 assists per set is the eighth-best mark in the NAIA and second in the CCAC.

A five-time CCAC Setter of the Week award recipient, he has recorded at least 40 assists in 12 matches this season, including six matches of 50 or more assists. Royer posted a season-high 60 assists in a five-set win at then-No. 6 Cardinal Stritch on Feb. 1.

With 3,196 career assists already to his name, he is fourth in program history in the category.

This season, Royer is currently eighth in the country with a team-leading 36 aces. He has also collected 64 kills, 139 digs and 44 total blocks.

Anderson, who earned second team all-conference honors last season as an outside hitter, has made a successful transition to libero this season.

The senior from Madison, Wis., ranks fifth in the country with 289 total digs. A three-time conference libero of the week, he has picked up double-digit digs 14 times and topped 20 twice, including a 23-dig effort in a five-set match against Briar Cliff on Feb. 17.

Anderson has also contributed 108 kills, a .302 hitting percentage, 17 aces and 15 total blocks this season.