Mountain Pacific Sports Federation

All-MPSF Men's Volleyball Selections Announced

4/21/2021 5:00:49 PM

Photo: Two-Time MPSF Player of the Year, BYU's Gabi Garcia Fernandez (Photo Courtesy: BYU Athletics)

2021 MPSF Men's Volleyball All-Conference Selections (PDF)
   
BYU senior opposite Gabi Garcia Fernandez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) repeats the MPSF Player of the Year award, and is the fifth all-time to go back-to-back (David Wieczorek-Pepperdine, 2018-19; Taylor Sander-BYU, 2012-13; George Roumain-Pepperdine, 1998-99; Jeff Nygaard-UCLA, 1994-95). He is a four-time All-MPSF First-Team selection, the third all-time to achieve the feat (Sander, 2011-14; Carson Clark-UCI, 2009-12). Garcia Fernandez helped the second-ranked Cougars to a 17-3 (.850) regular season and No. 1 seed in the MPSF Tournament. He has recorded the MPSF’s top-two single-match hitting percentages this year (12-kill minimum), in back-to-back matches which resulted in MPSF Offensive Player of the Week recognition following both efforts. He attacked for an errorless .833 clip with 15 kills against Pepperdine (Feb. 12) and an errorless .800 clip with 12 kills against UCLA (Feb. 6). In the MPSF’s regular season, he compiled the most kills (254), most points (317.5), and served the most aces (33). His 33 aces are the fourth-most across the country, while he ranks ninth in the NCAA in points per set (4.67). Garcia Fernandez recorded 14 double-digit kill matches, while hitting at least .300 in 12 of BYU’s 20 matches. His 172 career aces entering the postseason are within four of the MPSF’s all-time top-10. Garcia Fernandez represents BYU’s sixth MPSF Player of the Year (Garcia Fernandez-2021, ‘20; Taylor Sander-2014, ‘13; Carlos Moreno-2004; Ryan Millar-1997).
   
Grand Canyon redshirt freshman outside hitter Camden Gianni (Carlsbad, CA/La Costa Canyon HS) finished the regular season in the MPSF’s top-three in kills per set (3.76, T-3rd), points per set (4.71, 3rd), and aces per set (0.65, 1st) to help the Antelopes to a fourth-place finish. Each of those averages lead the MPSF Freshman class, while he completed his first two regular seasons in the top-five in each category. Gianni also ranks third in the nation in ace average and eighth in point average. On March 17, Gianni served an MPSF season-high seven aces in a straight-set home win over USC. On February 25, Gianni hit .567 with 19 kills (6.33 K/S) in a 3-0 home outcome over then top-ranked BYU, helping Grand Canyon to its first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked team. Against the Cougars on February 20 in Provo, Gianni totaled 32 points and 24 kills, the second and third-highest single-match totals in the conference this year. A two-time all-conference selection, he is the only freshman on this year’s first-team list. Gianni, who returned to the team in 2020 after a life-threatening medical emergency in the first practice of 2019, is Grand Canyon’s only MPSF major award winner in the four years in the conference. Gianni repeats the MPSF Freshman of the Year honor, receiving the year back after the shortened 2020 season.