April 28, 2008

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Three Long Beach State men's volleyball players earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America honors as the 18th Annual AVCA Division I-II Men's All-America Teams were announced. Senior Paul Lotman and sophomore Dan Alexander earned first team honors, while sophomore Dean Bittner was a second team All-America selection.

Lotman, who was named the 2008 MPSF Player of the Year, earned All-America status for the first time in his career. Lotman leads the 49ers at 5.46 kills per game while hitting an impressive .330 on the season. He ranks amongst the nation's leaders in kills, points and aces per game. Alexander averages 2.65 kills and a team-high 1.48 blocks per game while hitting .505. He's second in the country in hitting percentage and fourth in blocking. He was a first team All-MPSF selection, along with Lotman. Bittner, a second team all-league pick, is averaging 4.86 kills and 1.12 digs per game. He ranks in the top five nationally in kills and points per game.

Pepperdine setter Jonathan Winder was selected to an AVCA All-America Team for the fourth consecutive season, becoming only the eighth player in the history of the AVCA Men's program to achieve that feat. Penn State had five players honored, while Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge were represented by three players apiece.

AVCA FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Dan Alexander, Long Beach State, MB, Sophomore
Matt Anderson, Penn State, OH, Junior
Paul Carroll, Pepperdine, OPP, Junior
Russell Holmes, BYU, MB, Senior
Max Holt, Penn State, MB, Junior
Tony Ker, UCLA, L, Senior
Paul Lotman, Long Beach State, OH, Senior
Daniel Mathews, Ohio State, S, Senior
Eric Vance, CS Northidge, OH, Junior
Jonathan Winder, Pepperdine, S, Senior

AVCA SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICANS
Dean Bittner, Long Beach State, OPP, Sophomore
Dennis Del Valle, Penn State, L, Freshman
Kyle Gramit, George Mason, OPP, Junior
Isaac Kneubuhl, CS Northridge, OH, Senior
Max Lipsitz, Penn State, MB, Sophomore
Cody Loe, CS Northridge, MB, Freshman
Luke Murray, Penn State, S, Senior
Ivan Perez, BYU, OH, Senior
Kawika Shoji, Stanford, S, Sophomore
Jon Steller, UC Irvine, OPP, Junior

AVCA Newcomer of the Year: Cody Loe, CS Northridge
AVCA National Player of the Year: Will be announced on April 30 at the NCAA Championship Banquet