WATERTOWN, Wis. - Three Sabercat standouts have received the 2016 NCCAA North Region Player of the Year Award, marking the first time in school history that the feat has been achieved.

As voted by the various regional coaching committees, Alison Renz (Volleyball), Audrey Risma (Women's Soccer) and Wira Wama (Men's Soccer) all received the recognitions, which were announced at the regional banquets last night.

Alison Renz, a senior middle blocker from Lake Mills, Wisconsin, is the reigning NCCAA DII Player of the Year after she helped lead the Sabercats to their first NCCAA title in over 20 years in the 2015 season. Renz has shown that she is not resting on her laurels, as she continued her dominance this season to help the Sabercats to a 19-5 regular-season record.

At the regional tournament, Renz showcased her skills in the championship match by registering a career-best 27 kills to lift the Sabercats to a thrilling five-set win over their rivals, the Pilots of Providence University College.

Renz tallied 386 kills with a .364 hitting percentage; 239 digs, and 116 total blocks on the year.

Renz – a two-time NCCAA all-american – received the honor of NCCAA Midwest Regional player of the year during the 2015 season.

Audrey Risma is in her fourth year in Sabercat colors, and joined Renz in 2015 on the prestigious list of NCCAA DII national players of the year. Last year, Risma played at the heart of the Sabercat midfield, and her consistent possession and tactical play earned her the superlative honor. This year, Risma has followed up her junior year by upping her points tally, as she has scored at least one goal in each of the last five games.

In the NCCAA Regional Championship game, Risma shone as she assisted twice from set pieces and scored from 30 yards out to help the Sabercats to the regional title.

During the 2016 season, Risma has registered six goals and six assists and has been a mainstay in the Sabercat midfield. The two-time NCCAA All-American has now received the Regionl accolade in each of the last three seasons.

Wira Wama continued his brilliance in the Sabercat midfield for his final season and ended his four-year MBU career on a high note.

After recording the second-highest career goals tally (43) in MBU Men's Soccer history with a sensational game-winner in the opening game of the 2016 NCCAA North Regional tournament, Wama nearly upped his own tally to tie the Sabercats' semifinal against North Central, but his 87th-minute effort was turned away by the post as the Sabercats' season ended with a 1-0 loss to the Rams.

Wama has thrice been named an NCCAA All-American (2^nd Team in 2013), and has recorded 43 career goals and 17 career assists.

Wama's other NCCAA accolades include All-Regional selection (four years), 2014 National Tournament Offensive MVP and 2014 National Tournament Overall MVP. 

The three players simultaneously received NCCAA North Region All-Regional Selection honors for the 2016 season.

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More about MBU Athletics: The mission of the Athletic Department of Maranatha Baptist University is to develop leadership skills in the student-athlete through skilled training, godly mentoring, and intercollegiate competition.

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