Rob Cordero is the only freshman on this year's AVCA Men's Volleyball All-America team.

PARKVILLE, Mo. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its second annual NAIA Men’s Volleyball All-America Team on Monday afternoon, the team featured 10 athletes from around the country including Park University’s setter Rob Cordero.

Cordero was the only freshman named to the prestigious list after his stellar first season with the Pirates.

This year's team honors 10 student-athletes: four seniors, three juniors and two sophomores and one freshman.  Four of the distinguished individuals are outside hitters, while three middle blockers, two setters and one right side hitter earned accolades.

California Baptist University placed three athletes on the team, while St. Ambrose University had two individuals honored, and Cardinal Stritch University, Graceland University, Johnson & Wales University, Lindenwood University and Park University each landed one player on the list.

Earning repeat All-America nods were Levi Cabral and Blair Penner from California Baptist, Dan Dowjotas of St. Ambrose and Scott Golden of Cardinal Stritch.

The selections were made by the AVCA NAIA Men's Volleyball All-America Committee: Bill Gleeson (St. Ambrose), Paul Lawson (Alverno College), Chad McDole (Graceland), Ryan McGuyre (California Baptist), David Schmidlin (Cardinal Stritch) and John Yehling (Missouri Baptist University).

Cordero was named the NAIA Setter of the Week six times this season and averaged 10.67 assists per set and was third on the squad in service aces with 25.

The Yaracuy, Venezuela native had 50 or more assists in a match on seven different occasions and had a career high 60 assists against Clarke University in a five set victory on March 19.

He was stellar at the net as well for a setter, collecting 68 kills on the year and had a hitting percentage of .388.

Park ended its year in the national semifinals of the 2011 NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Invitational Tournament in Davenport, Iowa in a tough four set loss to eventual national champion California Baptist. The Pirates were 24-11 on the year and ranked No. 4 in the final National Poll.

2011 AVCA NAIA MEN'S VOLLEYBALL ALL-AMERICA TEAM
  
Player                   Institution            Pos         Yr    Ht    
Ricky Brazee          California Baptist  MB          Sr.   6'7   
Levi Cabral*          California Baptist   OH/Opp. Jr.   6'6    
Rob Cordero          Park University      S           Fr.   6'6    
Dan Dowjotas*       St. Ambrose          OH        Jr.   6'3    
Scott Golden*        Cardinal Stritch      MB        Jr.   6'3     
Blair Penner           California Baptist   S/Opp.  Sr.   6'3    
Anthony Robinson  Graceland             OH        So.  6'2    
Chris Schardt         Johnson & Wales   OH        Sr.   6'3     
Kyle Schwetz          St. Ambrose          MB        So.  6'5    
Michael Warren      Lindenwood           RS/Opp.Sr.   6'9     
    
*Denotes repeat AVCA NAIA Men's All-American
 
AVCA NAIA Men's National Player of the Year: To be announced Tuesday, April 26, 2011

-PARK-