IRVINE, Calif. – Men's volleyball players Hilir Henno and Maxim Grigoriev have been named to the Big West Coaches' Preseason Team.

Henno, the reigning AVCA National Player of the Year, returns to complete his collegiate career after leading the country in points (5.52) and was second nationally in kills (4.76), eighth in hitting percentage (.373) and 18th in aces (.419) last season. The 2024 Big West Player of the Year is a three-time All-American as well as a three-time first-team All-Big West honoree. He is the Big West career leader in aces and is two aces shy of becoming the UCI all-time record holder with 181. The outside hitter earned Big West Offensive Player of the Week four times last season and was named National Player of the Week on Feb. 20, 2024.

Grigoriev was a first team All-Big West honoree and was named honorable mention All-American a year ago.  The middle blocker was sixth in the Big West in hitting percentage (.335), eighth in blocks (0.89), 12th in points (2.98) and 16th in kills (2.17). Against Big West opponents, he led the league in hitting percentage with a .500 mark (59-10-98). He was second on the team in aces with 36. The junior recorded double-digit kills 10 times, including a career-best 17 in a win over USC. Grigoriev hit over .500 eight times, including an .818 performance versus UC Santa Barbara (9-0-11).

The Anteaters were selected second in the Coaches' Preseason Poll, tallying 21 points and picking up two first-place votes.   UCI is coming off a NCAA semifinal appearance with a 20-11 record a year ago.