AVCA announces 2013 All-American Teams, Newcomer of the Year

After both being the nation’s top ranked teams for the majority of the season, BYU and UC Irvine have now picked up the most All-American honors.

The Cougars and Anteaters were the only teams to have multiple players selected to the first of two All-American teams, which the AVCA released Thursday morning.

BYU outside attackers Taylor Sander and Ben Patch both were First-Team All-American selections, while middle attacker Russ Lavaja was named a Second-Team All-American. Along with his All-American honor, Patch was named the AVCA Division I-II Men’s Newcomer of the Year — the second BYU player in the last three years to win the award.

The Anteaters similar to the Cougars had two First-Team All-American selections with libero Michael Brinkley and outside attacker Kevin Tillie. In addition, middle attacker Collin Mehring earned a spot on the Second-Team All-American.

BYU, UC Irvine and UCLA led all teams in the nation as each had three All-American selections. The Bruins outside attacker Gonzalo Quiroga was named to the first-team and libero Evan Mottram and middle attacker Spencer Rowe were second-team selections.

Players from the MPSF held 17 of the 20 spots on this year’s All-American teams. The defending-MIVA champions Lews had two All-American selections with setter BJ Boldog and outside attacker Geoff Powell, while the Loyola outside attacker Joseph Smalzer also earned Second-Team All-American honors.

This was also the first time since 2000 that a player from the EIVA did not make an All-American team.

Check out what players earned All-American honors and other individual awards from the AVCA

TOP INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
National Player of the Year: To be announced Wednesday
National Coach of the Year: To be announced following Final Four
Newcomer of the Year: Ben Patch, BYU

FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICA
Setter: Matt West, Pepperdine
Outside attacker: Levi Cabral, Cal Baptist
Outside attacker: Brian Cook, Stanford
Outside attacker: Taylor Crabb, Long Beach State
Outside attacker: Ben Patch, BYU
Outside attacker: Gonzalo Quiroga, UCLA
Outside attacker: Taylor Sander, BYU
Outside attacker: Kevin Tillie, UC Irvine
Middle attacker: Dylan Davis, UC Santa Barbara
Libero: Michael Brinkley, UC Irvine

SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICA
Setter: BJ Boldog, Lewis
Setter: Connor Olbright, Long Beach State
Outside attacker: Steven Irvin, Stanford
Outside attacker: Geoff Powell, Lewis
Outside attacker: Joseph Smalzer, Loyola
Outside attacker: Maurice Torres, Pepperdine
Middle attacker: Russ Lavaja, BYU
Middle attacker: Collin Mehring, UC Irvine
Middle attacker: Spencer Rowe, UCLA
Libero: Evan Mottram, UCLA