Omar Sanchez Named Heart Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year

Marshall, Mo., (March 29, 2021)- Missouri Valley College Men's Volleyball Head Coach Omar Sanchez has been recognized as the 2021 Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

Sanchez earned the Heart Coach of the Year award after guiding the team to a 17-4 overall record this season, along with a 15-3 record in the Heart. The men's volleyball team earned the No. 2 seed in the Heart Postseason Championship, and reached No. 3 in the NAIA Men's Volleyball Coaches' Top 15 Poll earlier this season, the highest ranking for the program since the NAIA poll was created in 2017.

Five student-athletes were named to the 2021 Heart Men's Volleyball All-Conference Team, led by Defender of the Year Sophomore Joao Vitor Bonanoni (Itajai, Brazil). Also named to the all-conference first team were Junior Outside Hitter Simon Joly (Montpelier, France) and Senior Opposite Maxim Condurachi (Vinaros, Spain). Freshman Middle Blocker Thomas Fanic (Narbonne, France) and Senior Setter Lucas Ledur (Novo Hamburgo, Brazil) were honorable mention selections.

Sanchez is in his third season as head coach for the Viking men's volleyball program. He has compiled an overall record of 43-29, with a 24-14 record in the Heart.

Missouri Valley will host Park (Mo.) in the semifinal round of the Heart Postseason Championship, Wednesday at 7 p.m., inside the Burns Athletic Complex.

About Missouri Valley College

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and 13 sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.