FREELAND, Mich. -- Calvin University's Sarah DeVries has been named the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) nominee for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
The NCAA program, established in 1991, recognizes graduating student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. A total of 63 women were nominated by Division III conferences, along with 59 women from Division I and 39 women from Division II.
Out of the 161 conference-level nominees, the selection committee will choose the top 10 honorees in each division. These top 30 honorees will be announced in September and the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced in the fall.
DeVries, a Grand Rapids native, was a standout volleyball player throughout her four years at Calvin. A middle hitter and setter, DeVries was a three-time First Team All-MIAA selection, the MIAA's Most Valuable Player in 2019 and the conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. In 2018 and 2019, she was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association's (AVCA) Division III National Player of the Year and was selected to the AVCA Division III All-America First Team. In 2017, DeVries was named to the AVCA Division III All-America Second Team. As a freshman, she earned a place on the NCAA III Finals All-Tournament Team. DeVries assisted the Knights to four consecutive NCAA III Regional titles and was a two-time NCAA III Regional Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2018 and 2019).
DeVries led Calvin to an overall record of 123-10 during her four years, which included four MIAA regular-season championships, three MIAA Tournament titles, three trips to the national semifinals, two trips to the national final and one national championship. She finished her collegiate career sixth on the Calvin career list in blocks (463), and eighth in both kills (1,493) and assists (1,278).
A nursing major at Calvin, DeVries recently graduated with a 3.84 grade point average. She was named the CoSIDA Division III All-American of the Year in women's volleyball last December and was a two-time First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America selection (2018 and 2019). DeVries was an eight-time member of the Calvin Dean's List and made frequent appearances on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
DeVries was recently named the recipient of the MIAA's Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Female Scholar-Athlete Award. Deemed the highest honor for an MIAA female student-athlete, this accolade recognizes graduating female seniors who have excelled in academics and athletics, as well as displayed outstanding leadership in their respective communities. The award honors former MIAA Commissioner Sheila Wallace Kovalchik, who served from 1991 to 2002.
DeVries was a member of Calvin's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC). She also volunteered as a youth volleyball coach, served as an athlete chaperone with Special Olympics and volunteered in the Ada Bible Church's nursery.
