Irvine, Calif. – Outside hitter Kevin Tillie and libero Michael Brinkley were named first team All-America by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and middle blocker Collin Mehring was honored as a second team selection.
Tillie was named to the first team for the second consecutive year, while it is Brinkley and Mehring's first All-American nod. Brinkley becomes the second UCI libero to be named to the first team joining Brent Asuka who earned the honor in 2006.
Tillie currently ranks ninth nationally in kills (3.75), 12th in points (4.38), 14th in hitting percentage (.341) and 18th in aces (0.34). Tillie along with BYU's Taylor Sander are the only two repeat first team honorees.
Brinkley is second in the MPSF and 10th in the country in digs with a 2.54 average. He has recorded digs in double-figures 12 times this year, including a career-high 20 digs versus UCLA.
Mehring is ranked sixth in the country in blocks per set with a 1.28 mark. The middle blocker set a school record for most block assists in a match with 14 against BYU (Mar. 1). Mehring is second in the MPSF in hitting percentage (.480)
UC Irvine has collected 27 All-American selections since 1997.
The awards will be presented at the NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship Banquet on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.
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