April 25, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - Brian Cook became the 18th player in Stanford men's volleyball history to be named first-team All-American.
The junior opposite hitter from Santa Cruz, Calif., was joined by teammate Steven Irvin, a second-team selection, on the two 10-player All-America teams announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Thursday. This is the first All-America honor for either player.
The 6-foot-5 Cook ranks fourth in the nation with 4.01 kills per set while totaling 417 kills this season. Cook was a consistent performer with a total of six matches of 20-plus kills, including two season-highs of 24.
Cook becomes the eighth Stanford junior to earn first-team AVCA honors, joining Canyon Ceman (1993), Matt Fuerbringer (1996), Dave Goss (1992), Mike Lambert (1995), Brad Lawson (2011), Erik Shoji (2011), and Kawika Shoji (2009).
Irvin, a 6-5 junior outside hitter from Pacific Palisades, Calif., had 331 kills for a per set average of 3.31. In early February, he had a streak of three consecutive 20-kill performances, including a team 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. Beyond his hitting, Irvin was a versatile player, leading the Cardinal in digs (183, 1.76) and aces (25, 0.24), and was second in kills.
Earlier, Cook received his first All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation first-team honor and Irvin was named to the second team. Together, they helped Stanford to a 15-13 record, a sixth-place MPSF finish, and a No. 6 AVCA ranking.
Stanford extends its streak of first-team honors to five consecutive seasons. Cook joins Lawson (2010-12), Erik Shoji (2009-12), and Kawika Shoji (2009-10) on that list, totaling 10 first-team All-America honors among them.
With the additions of Cook and Irvin, Stanford's all-time All-America list now totals 25 for a program that began varsity play in 1976.
AVCA All-Americans 