‘Eaters earn honors

On the eve of UC Irvine’s first trip to the NCAA men’s volleyball semifinals, the Anteaters were rewarded for their performance on the trip there.

Outside hitter Jayson Jablonsky was named the National Player of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. at the NCAA championship banquet on Wednesday night. Earlier in the day, libero Brent Asuka was tabbed as the National Newcomer of the Year by the AVCA.

Both also were chosen to the AVCA’s All-America first team, marking the first time the Anteaters have had two first-team All-Americans. UCI setter Brian Thornton and opposite hitter Matt Weber were second-team selections.

Jablonsky is averaging 4.17 kills for UCI this season, with a .356 hitting percentage. The junior is 12th in the nation in service aces (38) and 17th in kills per game. He has been the national player of the week twice this season and was chosen as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation’s Player of the Year last week.

His 38 service aces this season are second-most in school history.

Asuka is third in the nation in digs with 3.08 per game. The freshman has reached double-figures in digs 19 times this season in 31 matches. He was picked as the MPSF’s Newcomer of the Year last week.

Webber leads UCI with 4.69 kills per game, reaching double-figures in kills 27 times this season. Thornton is the national leader in assists with 13.76 per game, and also averages 1.57 digs.

The Anteaters’ last All-American was Jimmy Pelzel in 2003.dpt-volley04.IMGGraphicInfo0G1QJUSK200605040G1QJUSKNo Caption