Meet The Newcomers
September 23, 2011 | Men's Volleyball
Irvine, Calif. -- UC Irvine will participate in the Irvine International Volleyball Tournament beginning next Monday (Sept. 26) with a match against Beijing BAIC Motor from China at 7:00 p.m. in Crawford Court.
Six new faces appear on the Anteater roster and the Irvine International Tournament is the first chance to see the new talent.
Before you see them in person, here is an introduction to the newcomers.
3
Chris Austin
6-3, Setter, Junior
Henderson, Nevada
Long Beach City College
2011: Averaged 10.5 assists per game…helped Long Beach City captured the 2011 Western State Conference championship before losing to Grossmont in the 2011 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Men's Volleyball State Championship…Long Beach also won the 2010 western conference championship.
Coronado High School
Named first team all-conference twice…team went to the 2008 and 2009 state championships after winning the Sunrise Region Championships.
USA Volleyball
Participated in the 2011 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch Junior (under-21) World Championships where he finished 19th.
Club
Played for the Las Vegas' Premiere Boys Volleyball Club.
Extras
Public health policy major.
15
Kyle Russell
6-8, OH, Freshman
Loomis, Calif.
Del Oro High School
2010-11 AVCA First-Team Boy's High School Senior All-American…2011 Co-MVP of the Sierra Foothill League as well as a three-time first team honoree…awarded Varsity team Player of the Year…2011 All-Metro Boys Player of the Year and All-City Team…selected to 2011 Sacramento Optimist All-Star team …named to Volleyball Magazine 2011 Fab 50 and second team All-American… named 2011 High School Boy Athlete of the Year…had career-highs of kills versus Rocklin and blocks against Granite Bay…named to Volleyball Magazine's 2010 Top 25 Underclassmen…named team co-MVP in 2010… All-Tournament team selection at Bellarmine Invitational and Chico Tournament as well as MVP of the Del Oro Invitational… also played varsity basketball where he earned two-time second team all-league honors…member of the Del Oro basketball team that played in the 2008 DIII League Championships held at Arco Arena.
USA
Volleyball
Served as an alternate for the USAV Youth National Team in 2011 and 2010…selected to the 2009 USAV HP Boys' Select A1 team in 2009 (named captain).
Northern California Volleyball Club
Participated in 2011 and 2010 (Open) and (2009) Club Jr. Nationals…team was 2010 18U Power League Regional Champions…finished third in 17-Open Division at the 2009 No Dinx Jr. National Qualifier.
Extras
Undeclared major.
8
Michael Brinkley
5-10, Libero, Freshman
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Edison High School
Three-time first team All-Sunset League selection…All-CIF…named Best Defensive Player three times… 2009 ASB Sportsmanship Award.
Club
Played for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club …Junior Olympics Gold Medalist in 15s, 16s and 18s…All-Tournament Team honoree.
USA VOLLEYBALL
2011 Junior National Team alternate.
Extras
Undeclared major…served as an assistant coach for Edison High School Girl's Varsity team in 2009 and 2010…has a AA Men's Rating Beach Player and won the U18s AAU Southern Pacific Championships in 2009.
17
Zack La Cavera
6-4, Opposite, Freshman
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Mater Dei High School
Named OCVarsity.com/Orange County Register Player of the Year in 2011…also CIF Player of the Year…All-Trinity League, All-CIF and All-County choice…OC Varsity Player of Week, …recorded a career-best 33-kill performance in a five-set upset victory of top-seeded Mira Costa…team captured the CIF title in 2011…Volleyball Magazine first team All-American…named to the All-Redondo Tournament Team in 2010…Fab 50 selection.
Club
Played for Balboa Bay Volleyball Club…gold medalist at the 2011 Junior National Championships…named to the All-Tournament Team in 2011 and 2010.
USA Volleyball
Member of the Junior National A2 team in 2010.
Extras
Undeclared major…owns a AA Beach Volleyball Ranking,
19
Jason Agopian
6-7, MB, Freshman
Antioch, Calif.
Deer Valley High School
2010-11 AVCA First-Team Boy's High School Senior All-America…two-time Bay Valley Athletic League MVP…East Bay Volleyball Player of the Year in 2011…Volleyball Magazine All-American special mention…four-time All-league honoree…Deer Valley won four Bay Valley Athletic League championships and went undefeated in his prep career…Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 choice…Wolverines also made a trip to the North Coast Section Division I semifinals.
Club
Diablo Valley Volleyball Club…finished 13th at the Junior Olympics in 2010.
Extras
Undeclared major…enjoys long walks on the beach and watching the sunset.
7
Kevin Tillie
6-6, Outside Hitter, Sophomore
Cagnus-sur-Mer, France
Thompson Rivers University
Named second-team All-Canadian as well as Canada West Athletic Association first all-star team…was second in Canada West with 4.41 kills per set and 4.88 points per set, and also was 10th in digs with 2.04…ranked third in the nation in points per game.
France Volleyball
Member of the French Junior National Team.
Tillie is not eligible to play in the fall after transferring from Thompson Rivers.
Visit the Irvine International Volleyball Tournament website at iivbt.com
