2021 Big West Men's Volleyball All-Conference Team

IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West today unveiled the 2021 Men’s Volleyball All-Conference and All-Freshman Teams, featuring 14 first team representatives and eight of the league’s top first year players.

The Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards will be announced in a separate release following the 2021 Outrigger Big West Men’s Volleyball Championship presented by the Hawaiian Islands, which will be played April 22-24 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on the University of Hawai‘i campus. The three major awards will be revealed on Tuesday, April 27.

The 2021 first team has a familiar look as 12 of the 14 honorees also were recognized last season. Hawai‘i and UC Santa Barbara placed four players apiece to lead all conference squads. Long Beach State and UC Irvine each had two recipients, while CSUN and UC San Diego posted one apiece.

Veterans monopolized the list with 12 of the 14 honorees in their senior seasons. Hawai‘i senior middle blocker Patrick Gasman became the conference’s first, four-time recipient of the All-Big West first team award. Gasman ranks No. 1 in the Big West and nationally in hitting percentage (.497). In addition, he is third in the country in blocks per set (1.30).

Four players made the all-conference first team for the third time in their careers.

Reigning Big West Player of the Year Rado Parapunov is included on that list. The Hawai‘i senior opposite leads the Big West and is second nationally in kills per set (4.52). He also ranks in the Big West top 10 in a slew of other categories, including fifth in hitting percentage (.367) and service aces per set (0.33), fourth in blocks per set (0.94) and ninth in digs per set (1.59).

Another three-time first teamer is Hawai‘i senior libero Gage Worsley. He ranks No. 3 in the Big West and No. 10 nationally in digs per set (2.30).

UC Irvine teammates Joel Schneidmiller and Scott Stadick also earned first team all-conference accolades for the third time. Schneidmiller is one of the Big West’s most potent offensive players, averaging 3.73 kills per set to rank fourth league-wide. He also ranks fourth in service aces per game (0.34). Stadick is No. 6 overall in hitting percentage (.359) and No. 7 in blocks per set (0.90).

Seven individuals claimed first team distinction for the second time – CSUN junior middle blocker Daniel Wetter, Hawai‘i senior outside hitter Colton Cowell, Long Beach State senior Simon Andersen, UC San Diego senior outside hitter Kyle McCauley, and the UC Santa Barbara senior trio of opposite Randy DeWeese, setter Casey McGarry and middle blocker Keenan Sanders.

Wetter is hitting .422 this season to rank third in the Big West. Cowell ranks sixth in the conference in kills per set (3.12). Andersen is having a career year at the net as the Beach middle blocker sits No. 2 nationally in blocks per set (1.45). McCauley ranks in the conference top 10 in kills, service aces and digs. DeWeese is the only player besides UH’s Parapunov to average more than four kills per set (4.07), ranking No. 9 nationally. McGarry is the nation’s leader in assists per set (11.07), while Sanders is No. 4 in the country in hitting percentage (.478).

The newest members of the first team include Long Beach State junior outside hitter Spencer Olivier and UC Santa Barbara senior outside hitter Roy McFarland. Olivier owns top 10 statistical marks in kills per set (3.83 - 3rd), blocks per set (0.90 - 6th) and service aces per set (0.33 - 7th).

Five players were named All-Big West Honorable Mention, including UH teammates Chaz Galloway and Jakob Thelle. LBSU sophomore Mason Briggs, UC San Diego junior Shane Benetz and UCSB junior Ryan Wilcox were also recognized.

The All-Freshman Team consisted of four UC Irvine players – Connor Campbell, Cole Gillis, Francesco Sani and Dylan Zhai. Two more hailed from LBSU in Clarke Godbold and Simon Torwie. CSUN setter Kyle Merchen and Hawai‘i outside hitter Spyros Chakas made the list.

The complete 2021 Big West men’s volleyball all-conference team may be viewed clicking the link above.