Clark MPSF’s top frosh, Ammerman on first team

UC Irvine senior setter Ryan Ammerman and freshman opposite Carson Clark have been named first-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in men’s volleyball. Clark is also the conference’s Freshman of the Year.

Sophomore middle blocker Kevin Wynne was a second-team honoree, while sophomore outside hitter Jordan DuFault was a third-team pick.

Clark leads the No. 1-ranked Anteaters (24-4), who won the MPSF regular-season crown with a 19-3 record, in kills (3.9 per set) and points (4.52), ranking No. 8 among MPSF players in both categories. In 16 starts, the 6-foot-5 standout averaged 4.73 kills, 5.48 points 1.55 digs, 0.82 blocks and 0.32 aces per set. His .344 hitting percentage ranks No. 26 nationally. He has led UCI in kills in 11 of the matches in which he has started, 13 times overall.

Clark, joins current senior libero Brent Asuka as the only two UCI players to earn first-team all-conference distinction as freshmen.

The 6-9 Ammerman, in his first full season as the starter, triggered a UCI attack that hit .315 as a team, No. 4 in the nation. The Anteaters hit better than .350 in 10 matches, including a season-best .517 against UC San Diego.

Ammerman is averaging 12.37 assists (No. 13 nationally) and is also contributing 1.07 blocks per set. He also leads the team with 25 aces.

He was named national Player of the Week earlier this season.

Wynne’s .479 hitting percentage led the conference in all matches and he hit .485 against MPSF foes. The 6-7 second-year starter averaged 1.42 blocks in conference play, fourth-best in the MPSF, and his 1.36 blocks-per-set average in all matches ranks No. 14 nationally.

DuFault averages 3.27 kills and 3.99 points per set and shared national Player of the Week honors on Feb. 2.

Senior outside hitter Taylor Wilson received honorable mention in the All-MPSF voting.

Coach John Speraw’s Anteaters play host to No. 9-ranked UCLA (14-15) in the quarterfinals of the MPSF Tournament Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Bren Events Center.

— From staff reports