2015 All-MPSF Men's Volleyball
April 23, 2015 2015 All-MPSF Men's Volleyball Selections
2015 MPSF Player of the Year
ZACK LA CAVERA - #17 - SENIOR - OPPOSITE - UC IRVINE
UC Irvine senior opposite Zack La Cavera (Huntington Beach, CA/Mater Dei HS) is a major component to the most prolific offense in the nation. He is hitting .342 this year (394-107-838), while leading the MPSF in total kills (394), points (485.5), and aces (41) entering the postseason, and helping the Anteaters lead the NCAA in hitting percentage (.358) and kills per set (13.92), and the conference in team aces (166). La Cavera has posted 23 double-digit kill performances, including a streak of 10 straight entering the MPSF Tournament. Of those 23 double-digit kill efforts, he hit over .400 in eleven matches and over .300 in six other matches, to help UCI earn the MPSF's No. 1 seed for the third time in its history. Three of his last four matches went for 20-plus kills, with a career tally of 23 at home against Long Beach State (Apr. 3). La Cavera was named MPSF Player of the Week back-to-back in that stretch (Apr. 6 & 13), the first to do so in the conference in nearly two full seasons. During a one month span, he served at least one ace in 10 straight matches, including five at CSUN (Feb. 11). He also ranks No. 2 on UCI in digs (139) and No. 3 in blocks (85). La Cavera becomes the second Anteater all-time to be named MPSF Player of the Year (Jayson Jablonsky, 2006).
2015 MPSF Freshman of the Year
J.T. HATCH - #9 - FRESHMAN - OUTSIDE HITTER - UCLA
UCLA freshman outside hitter J.T. Hatch (Mesa, AZ/Mesa HS) ranks 14th in the MPSF in kill average (2.85 K/S) entering postseason play, and is the only freshman who can be found within the MPSF's top-15 kill list. He hit .291 with a team-high 234 kills through 26 regular season matches, and competed in 82 of UCLA's 94 sets. Hatch also leads UCLA in points (270.5) and is second in digs (133, 1.62 D/S). He had two double-doubles in the regular season, recording 13 kills and 10 digs at UCSB (Mar. 13) and 17 kills and 10 digs vs UC San Diego (Apr. 11). He had 12 double-figure kill matches, including his last four outings to play a critical role towards UCLA earning the MPSF's final postseason bid. A second-team selection, he is one of two freshmen to earn an All-MPSF honor this year. Hatch is the first Bruin to win a major MPSF postseason award (player or freshman of the year) in the rally-scoring era dating back to 2001. He is also just the second Bruin all-time to be named MPSF Freshman of the Year (Brandon Taliaferro, 1997).