Sarah DeVries, a junior hitter/setter from Calvin College, was named the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Volleyball as announced by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.
DeVries is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DIII Honda Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 43rd year.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this nomination, “said DeVries. “I owe a lot to my teammates and our amazing coaching staff. They have all helped me grow as a person and as a player. I would not be in a position like this without their support."
Most recently, DeVries was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) DIII Player of the Year and earned AVCA first-team All-America honors after landing on the second-team last season. She was also named the MIAA’s Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year and the Great Lakes Region Player of the Year.
DeVries, hailing from Grand Rapids, Mich., doubled as a setter and middle-hitter for the Knights this season and was a multiple-point threat, averaging 3.29 kills, 5.42 assists, 2.16 digs and 1.10 blocks-per-set. She tallied eight triple-doubles on the year which ranked tied for third nationally and finished ranked third nationally with 150 total blocks.
“Sarah has many talents and gifts,” stated head coach Dr. Amber Warner. “She is an outstanding athlete and what makes her so unique is that she is a dominating middle hitter and blocker who also is a setter and plays defense. I am not sure there is another player in the country in any division that can do that. We are very blessed to have her at Calvin and are looking forward to having her for one more year.”
All Honda Sports nominees from DIII and DII become a finalist for the prestigious 2018 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports on June 24, 2019, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Sports nominees are recognized in 11 DIII and DII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.
THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 43 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.1 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.
About Honda
Honda seeks to be a company that society wants to exist, creating products and technologies that improve the lives of people while minimizing the environmental impacts of its products and business operations to ensure a sustainable future.
Honda also is committed to making positive contributions to the communities where it does business, conducting socially responsible business practices and promoting diversity in its workforce. From Honda’s involvement in STEM education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to its support of pediatric brain tumor research and volunteer efforts by Honda associates, including environmental clean-up activities, Honda believes in giving back to the communities where its associates live and work.
Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/