BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

Six area stars collect

All-American honors

Four seniors who led the UC Irvine men’s volleyball team to the program’s first national championship have been named Asics/ Volleyball Magazine All-Americans.

The magazine’s July edition also recognized high school All-Americans Phil Bannan of Corona del Mar High (first team) and Newport Harbor’s Kyle Caldwell (second team).

UCI’s Jayson Jablonsky, a 6-foot-5 outside hitter, and David Smith, a 6-7 middle blocker, were first-team honorees.

Anteaters setter Brian Thornton and 6-6 opposite Matt Webber were named to the second team.

Smith, named first-team All-American this season by the American Volleyball Coaches Assn., led the nation with a .560 hitting percentage. That total set a school single-season record and Smith also ranks No. 1 in UCI career annals in total blocks (510) and block assists (461).

Jablonsky, the AVCA and Volleyball Magazine National Player of the Year in 2006, was also a second-team AVCA All-American as a senior. His 1,528 career kills rank second at UCI, where his 128 career aces are No. 1.

Webber, a second-team AVCA All-American the last two seasons, was named Most Valuable Player at the 2007 NCAA Final Four. He has 1,382 career kills.

Thornton, a second-team AVCA All-American the last two seasons, holds school career (4,662) and season (1,645) assists records.

Webber, Thornton and Jablonsky were named to the All-Tournament team in Columbus.

Bannan, the CIF Southern Section Division II Player of the Year after leading the Sea Kings (33-2) to the Division II section title, is a 6-1 setter bound for UC San Diego. Bannan was twice named to the All-Newport-Mesa Dream Team.

Caldwell, a 6-8 junior setter last spring for the Sailors, earned third-team All-CIF Division I recognition. He was also an All-Newport-Mesa performer.

— Barry Faulkner