Men’s Volleyball: UCI duo gain All-American status

UC Irvine junior libero Michael Brinkley and senior middle blocker Scott Kevorken have been named All-Americans by the American Volleyball Coaches Assn.

Brinkley was named first-team All-American for the second consecutive year. He becomes the third Anteater to earn first-team accolades twice in a career, joining Carson Clark (2010, 2012) and Kevin Tillie (2012, 2013). The libero averaged 2.52 digs per set and recorded double-figure digs 13 times this season, including a season-high 18 in a three-set win over Long Beach State on March 28. Brinkley, the only UCI player to play in every set this year, ranks second all-time in UCI digs.

Kevorken was named second-team All-American after earning first-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honors. The 6-foot-9 Kevorken ranked second in hitting percentage against MPSF opponents with a .480 mark. He hit better than .600 eight times this season, including an .875 performance against UC San Diego on April 4. Kevorken averaged 1.81 kills and 0.90 blocks per set overall. He recorded a season-high seven block assists in the MPSF quarterfinals against Stanford and is ranked fifth in UCI career solo blocks and seventh in block assists and total blocks.

The awards were presented at the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship Banquet on the campus of Loyola-Chicago on Wednesday.

— From staff reports