GREENVILLE, S.C. – In an incredible freshman season filled with accolades, MACU volleyball outside hitter Sawyer Franz was selected as an NCCAA Second Team All-American on Monday.
In her inaugural season with the Evangels, Franz received numerous postseason awards, including: NCCAA Central Region Player of the Year, SAC Freshman of the Year, All-SAC First Team selection and the NCCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
The Oklahoma City native wrapped up her freshman campaign with 524 kills, marking the third-most kills in a single season during the NAIA Era (2007-present) while also notching the sixth-most kills per set (3.74). Franz also finished just barely outside MACU's NAIA Era top 10 for attack percentage, finishing the year with a .244 hitting clip, marking the fourth-best attack rate for an outside hitter during that time frame.
Franz was also one of MACU's top players in serve receiving, notching the second-most receptions (596) with a .930 receive percentage to go with 224 digs, averaging 1.60 per set.
At the NCCAA National Championships, Franz saved her best performances of the season for last, as she earned the tournament's prestigious Most Outstanding Player award after recording 84 kills, averaging 4.94 terminations per set and hit for a .379 attack percentage for the tourney.
Franz is just the fourth MACU volleyball player since the program moved to the NCCAA Division I level in 2007 to be named an All-American, joining three-time honoree Hanna Foecker (2019), Maegan Plunk (2020) and two-time honoree Christiane Costa (Smith) (2009-10) while also being the program's first freshman to earn All-America acclaim.
In her first year with the team, Franz helped lead MACU to its second NCCAA National Finalist finish in the last three years, closing out the year with a 25-13 overall record. The 25-win season is just the second time in the NAIA Era that MACU has notched 25 or more victories in a campaign while MACU's 15-5 record and third-place finish in Sooner Athletic Conference play was the team's highest in league play.
