ROMEOVILLE, Ill. --- Lewis University junior Ian Karbiener (Orlando, Fla./Olympia) (Orlando, Fla./Olympia) has been named the recipient of the Elite 89 award for the 2012 NCAA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship.

Karbiener, a business administration major, currently carries a 3.907 GPA. Karbiener was presented with the award at the tournament banquet on Wednesday (May 2) evening in Los Angeles, Calif. on the campus of Southern California.

The Elite 89, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 89 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.

“Ian has been an integral part of our team since he arrived on campus and earned conference freshman of the year honors,” Lewis men's volleyball head coach Dan Friend said. “This honor shows how much effort and hard work he puts in on the court and in the classroom.”

Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.

Karbiener is second on the Flyers in kills with 217. He's added 115 digs and 51 blocks. On Feb. 13 of this season Karbiener was named the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Offensive Player of the Week.

Last week Karbiener was one of a league-best 15 Flyers to earn Academic All-MIVA honors. Karbiener has been named Academic All-MIVA each of his three seasons at Lewis.

“Ian is an extremely bright and talented young man who I've had the privilege to work with for three years,” Friend said. “I couldn't be happier for him.”

Karbiener is the first Lewis student-athlete to win the Elite 89 Award since the NCAA created the honor in 2009-10.

Karbiener and the seventh ranked Flyers play No. 1 USC on Thursday (May 3) at 8 p.m. PT/10 p.m. CT in the National Semifinals. A Lewis victory would advance the Flyers to the National Championship on Saturday (May 5) at 7 p.m. PT/9 p.m. CT.

For more information on the Elite 89 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite89.