All-MPSF team 
April 18, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford junior opposite hitter Brian Cook was named to the All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation first team on Thursday, earning the Santa Cruz product his first such honor.
Cook was among three Stanford players to earn All-MPSF honors, joining second-team selection Steven Irvin and freshman setter James Shaw, an honorable mention and All-Freshman choice.
Cook totaled a career-high 403 kills for 3.99 kills per set -- the fourth-highest average in the conference -- and had a .282 hitting percentage. He had six performances of 20 or more kills, including highs of 24 in five-set home victories over Pacific and Pepperdine.
Against Pepperdine, Cook had five fifth-set kills to carry the Cardinal to a 15-13 victory in the final set. It was his second all-conference honor, after earning a second-team selection as a sophomore.
If there was anything that Cook and Irvin proved this season, it was that each could carry the team. Irvin, a junior outside hitter, led the team in digs (1.74 per set) and aces (0.25), and was second in kills (3.24).
Irvin had four 20-kill performances, including a stretch of three consecutive in early February. Irvin had a Stanford season-high 27 kills, with only four errors in 42 attempts, for a .548 hitting percentage in a five-set victory at Hawai'i on Feb. 1. He followed with 22 kills against the Warriors the next night. It was Irvin's second all-conference selection, after earning honorable mention honors last season.
Shaw assumed the starting setter position in his first collegiate match and had a strong season. He already has some signature moves, using his long wingspan and 6-foot-7 frame to reach high over the net for one-handed sets. His two-handed stuff kills and one-handed reverse, no-look sets seem unique to Shaw as well.
Shaw averaged 10.44 assists per set, set the team to a .291 hitting percentage and offered an offensive threat that kept opponents off guard.
All three will be in action Saturday night when the Cardinal (15-12) plays at Long Beach State (22-7) in the first round of the MPSF tournament.