LEXINGTON, KY -- Four UC Irvine men's volleyball players earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honors, highlighted by first-team selection Hilir Henno.

Henno is the first Anteater to be honored on the first team since 2015 when Zack La Cavera, Tamir Hershko and Michael Brinkley garnered the accolade. Overall, it is the 16^th time a UCI player was named to the first team.

The sophomore leads the nation in ace average (.879), recording 87 aces on the season the second most in NCAA history in a season. The two-time All-Big West first team honoree and 2022 All-American honorable mention choice is tied nationally for most aces in a match with nine, a feat he did three times in 2023. The outside hitter ended the season ranked ninth in the country in points (4.56) and 31^st in kills (3.46).

Francesco Sani was honored as a second team selection after earning honorable mention last year. The two-time first-team All-Big West honoree ranks in the nation's top 15 in points per set (4.72), kills per set (3.9) and aces per set (.444). His 23 kills against CSUN were the second most in the country this season in a three-set match.

Setter Joe Karlous and outside hitter Cole Gillis were selected honorable mention.

Karlous guided UCI to a .400 hitting percentage five times, including a .592 clip versus Concordia, the second best mark in the country and tops for a Big West team this season. The junior averaged 9.30 set assists per set as well as 1.88 digs. He had five double-doubles, including a career-high 16 digs against Penn State. Karlous was named All-Big West honorable mention as well as Big West Defensive Player of the Week Mar. 20, 2023.

Gillis ranked fourth in the Big West and 31st nationally in hitting percentage (.329). The outside hitter owns the top hitting mark in the NCAA with a minimum of 20 attempts, knocking down an .800 (16-0-20) clip at Concordia. He hit over .500 six times this season. Gillis was a solid passer, recording a .937 reception percentage with 285 attempts. The Big West Offensive Player of the Week had a season-high 16 kills against Concordia, recording double-figure kills 13 times in 2023. He was third on the team with 25 aces.