Jokanovic Named To AVCA Player Of The Year Watch List
February 03, 2026 | Men's Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Kentucky – UC Irvine outside hitter Andrej Jokanovic has been named to the first-ever American Volleyball Coaches Association Watch List for its National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Player of the Year Award.
The 2026 Watch List includes 15 players from 11 different schools. The award which recognizes the top player in the country has been won twice by a UC Irvine player; Jayson Jablonsky in 2006 and Hilir Henno in 2024.
Jokanovic, the lone freshman on the list, leads the Anteaters and is currently third in the Big West in kills with a 3.31 average. The outside hitter has recorded double-figure kills in all but two matches this year and fired at least one ace in every match this season.
The Watch List was compiled by the AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Awards Committee. More players may be added as the season progresses, and a group of semifinalists will be announced in early April. Then, four finalists will be named shortly before the 2026 National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship with the announcement of the Player of the Year taking place in Los Angeles at an awards banquet during the 2026 Championship.
Name School Pos. Year
Ryan Barnett Pepperdine OH RS-Sr.
Daniel Fabikovic Loyola Chicago OH Jr.
Nathan Flayter McKendree S Jr.
Cole Hartke Pepperdine OH/RS So.
Andrej Jokanovic UC Irvine OH Fr.
Dillon Klein USC OH Sr
Oguzhan Oguz Lewis RS Sr.
Jalen Phillips CSUN RS RS-Jr.
Zach Rama UCLA OH Sr.
Patrick Rogers Ball State OH Sr.
Tread Rosenthal Hawai'i S Jr.
Adrien Roure Hawai'i OH So.
Andrew Rowan UCLA S Sr.
Aleksandar Sosa Loyola Chicago RS Jr.
Skyler Varga Long Beach State OH Sr.
The 2026 Watch List includes 15 players from 11 different schools. The award which recognizes the top player in the country has been won twice by a UC Irvine player; Jayson Jablonsky in 2006 and Hilir Henno in 2024.
Jokanovic, the lone freshman on the list, leads the Anteaters and is currently third in the Big West in kills with a 3.31 average. The outside hitter has recorded double-figure kills in all but two matches this year and fired at least one ace in every match this season.
The Watch List was compiled by the AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Awards Committee. More players may be added as the season progresses, and a group of semifinalists will be announced in early April. Then, four finalists will be named shortly before the 2026 National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship with the announcement of the Player of the Year taking place in Los Angeles at an awards banquet during the 2026 Championship.
Name School Pos. Year
Ryan Barnett Pepperdine OH RS-Sr.
Daniel Fabikovic Loyola Chicago OH Jr.
Nathan Flayter McKendree S Jr.
Cole Hartke Pepperdine OH/RS So.
Andrej Jokanovic UC Irvine OH Fr.
Dillon Klein USC OH Sr
Oguzhan Oguz Lewis RS Sr.
Jalen Phillips CSUN RS RS-Jr.
Zach Rama UCLA OH Sr.
Patrick Rogers Ball State OH Sr.
Tread Rosenthal Hawai'i S Jr.
Adrien Roure Hawai'i OH So.
Andrew Rowan UCLA S Sr.
Aleksandar Sosa Loyola Chicago RS Jr.
Skyler Varga Long Beach State OH Sr.
Players Mentioned
OH
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