RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- No. 1 California Baptist University topped off its eighth NAIA title with a host of postseason awards handed out by the AVCA and NAIA Tuesday.
Levi Cabral was named the NAIA/AVCA Player of the Year, Along with his All-American nod. Last year’s NAIA/AVCA Player of the Year, Blair Penner, and Ricky Brazee were also named to the NAIA All-America Team.
Cabral guided CBU to a 26-5 record in 2011 and propelled CBU to its second consecutive and eighth overall NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Invitational title. The Lancers entered the tournament as the No. 1-overall seed, sweeping their way through all four matches to finally defeat host St. Ambrose in the championship match. As a result of his efforts at the event, Cabral was named the NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Invitational Most Valuable Player. CBU also chalked up eight victories over NCAA Division I teams this season, including wins over the past two NCAA Division I-II National Champions, Stanford University and UC Irvine.
The junior from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil smashed 414 kills in 2011, for an average of 3.91 kills per set, while hitting .378. In addition, he led the team in service aces with 50, while also totaling 129 digs and 47 blocks on the year.
During his time with the Lancers program, CBU has put together a 74-24 record. In that time, Cabral has compiled career totals of 1.479 kills, 136 service aces, 394 digs and 196 blocks, while becoming only one of two players in CBU history to net over 500 kills in a single season.
Penner earns his second-straight All-American award to go along with his NAIA Invitational All-Tournament team nod this season. Penner led the Lancers with 978 assists, becoming CBU’s career assist leader with 4,065 in his four years as a Lancer. He is the only player in CBU history to eclipse the 4,000 assist mark. Penner also notched 36 service aces, 50 total blocks and 103 digs.
Brazee earns his first All-America nod, after leading CBU in total blocks with 89. CBU’s senior middle blocker posted a .393 attack percentage on his 152 kills (1.60 per set) this season. Brazee’s hitting percentage is the highest on the team among players with at least 250 total attempts. He finishes his career ninth in program history in blocks (224) and tied for fourth in hitting percentage (.377).
CBU was the only team with three players named to the All-America team. National runner-up St. Ambrose earned two nods.
Levi Cabral was named the NAIA/AVCA Player of the Year, Along with his All-American nod. Last year’s NAIA/AVCA Player of the Year, Blair Penner, and Ricky Brazee were also named to the NAIA All-America Team.
Cabral guided CBU to a 26-5 record in 2011 and propelled CBU to its second consecutive and eighth overall NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Invitational title. The Lancers entered the tournament as the No. 1-overall seed, sweeping their way through all four matches to finally defeat host St. Ambrose in the championship match. As a result of his efforts at the event, Cabral was named the NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Invitational Most Valuable Player. CBU also chalked up eight victories over NCAA Division I teams this season, including wins over the past two NCAA Division I-II National Champions, Stanford University and UC Irvine.
The junior from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil smashed 414 kills in 2011, for an average of 3.91 kills per set, while hitting .378. In addition, he led the team in service aces with 50, while also totaling 129 digs and 47 blocks on the year.
During his time with the Lancers program, CBU has put together a 74-24 record. In that time, Cabral has compiled career totals of 1.479 kills, 136 service aces, 394 digs and 196 blocks, while becoming only one of two players in CBU history to net over 500 kills in a single season.
Penner earns his second-straight All-American award to go along with his NAIA Invitational All-Tournament team nod this season. Penner led the Lancers with 978 assists, becoming CBU’s career assist leader with 4,065 in his four years as a Lancer. He is the only player in CBU history to eclipse the 4,000 assist mark. Penner also notched 36 service aces, 50 total blocks and 103 digs.
Brazee earns his first All-America nod, after leading CBU in total blocks with 89. CBU’s senior middle blocker posted a .393 attack percentage on his 152 kills (1.60 per set) this season. Brazee’s hitting percentage is the highest on the team among players with at least 250 total attempts. He finishes his career ninth in program history in blocks (224) and tied for fourth in hitting percentage (.377).
CBU was the only team with three players named to the All-America team. National runner-up St. Ambrose earned two nods.
