LEXINGTON, Ky. – Seniors Michael Saeta and Tamir Hershko were named second team All-America, while Dillon Hoffman, Thomas Hodges and Scott Stadick were honorable mention selections announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Monday.
Saeta ranks third nationally in aces with a 0.59 average and set a new UCI single season ace record with 63. The setter ends his career ranked second in aces (161) and seventh in set assists (2,641). He ranked second in aces, seventh in assists (9.50) and 12th in hitting percentage (.406) among MPSF players this season. His career-high 65 set assists at Pepperdine are the most in a four-set match in the country this year. The senior was named AVCA Player of the Week on Mar. 15, 2017 after UCI's upset over Ohio State. He recorded two double-doubles in 2017, which included a season-high 21 kills versus USC. It is his first All-America recognition after also earning first team MPSF this season.
Hershko averaged 3.20 kills, 3.67 points and 1.07 digs per set in 2017. The outside hitter led the team in kills on 11 occasions and recorded kills in double figures 15 times this season, recording 20 or more three times. He was named AVCA and MPSF Player of the Week after wins over UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. This is his second All-America recognition after a first team nod in 2015.
Hoffman is currently tied for the most digs in the MPSF with 248. The libero ranks third in the conference and 10th nationally with a 2.38 dig average. The senior recorded double-digit digs 11 times, including tying his career-high with 19 digs versus Pepperdine. Hoffman earns his first All-America selection and was named All-MPSF honorable mention as well.
Hodges was third on the team with a 2.89 kill average and second with 25 aces. The outside hitter also averaged 3.37 points and 0.92 digs. The 2017 MPSF second team honoree had double-digit kills 16 times, including eight of the last 10 matches. The senior, who was named MPSF Player of the Week Mar. 13, set career-high highs in every statistical category this year including 21 kills versus Hawaii and six blocks against CSUN.
Stadick has made an impact in his initial campaign at UCI being named MPSF Freshman of the Year. He ranks fifth in the country in blocks with a 1.19 average and sixth in hitting percentage at .421. The middle blocker set a UCI single season record for solo blocks in the rally-scoring era with 25. He recorded a career-high 12 total blocks against Stanford which is tied for most in the country this season. He ranked fourth on the team with a 1.88 kill average.
The Anteaters finished the year 20-7 overall and No. 5 nationally.
