University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Three Bruins Named AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalists
April 08, 2026 | Men's Volleyball
LOS ANGELES โ UCLA student-athletes Sean Kelly, Zach Rama, and Andrew Rowan have all been named as semifinalists for the AVCA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Player of the Year, the AVCA announced on Wednesday.ย
Of the eight players on the shortlist, UCLA has the most with three student-athletes on the list.
Kelly, a sophomore outside hitter from Manhattan Beach, California, has totaled 281 kills on the season, good for 3.60 points per set, and a .404 hitting percentage. His hitting percentage is eighth nationally, and he has the second-most kills out of any of the top 15 players in hitting percentage. Kelly has recorded a team-high in kills eight times, and has totaled 10 or more kills in 17 matches so far in 2026.ย The sophomore tallied 21 kills in a five-set win at USC, and a career-high 22 kills in a five-set loss at Pepperdine.ย
Rama, a senior outside hitter from Phoenix, Arizona, leads the team in kills with 286. He has hit .348 on the year, totaled 3.81 kills per set, and 4.21 points per set. His 286 ranks 15th nationally, and his hitting percentage of .348 is the third-highest hitting percentage of any player with at least 265 kills. Rama has tallied 15 or more kills in 10 matches so far in 2026 and has recorded double-digit kills in 17 of UCLA's 22 matches in 2026.
Rowan, a senior setter from Trabuco Canyon, California, is already a three-time AVCA first team All-American and has led the Bruins to the top-ranked hitting percentage in the country in 2026 at .386. He has also led the Bruins to the highest assists per set total at 12.92, and UCLA currently sits second in kills per set at 13.67. Rowan, who also became the second Bruin in the rally scoring era to surpass 4,00 career assists earlier this year, has recorded at least 40 assists in 12 matches. The senior has also recorded 43 aces in 2026, which is tied for second nationally in the category.
The Bruins return to action this Thursday when the 21-1 Bruins play at UC Merced. First serve is scheduled for 6 pm PT, and the match will be broadcast on B1G+.
AVCA National Collegiate Player of the Year Semifinalists
Cole Hartke, Pepperdine
Sean Kelly, UCLA
Dillon Klein, USC
Zach Rama, UCLA
Patrick Rogers, Ball State
Andrew Rowan, UCLA
Tread Rosenthal, Hawai'i
Skyler Varga, Long Beach State
ย
Of the eight players on the shortlist, UCLA has the most with three student-athletes on the list.
Kelly, a sophomore outside hitter from Manhattan Beach, California, has totaled 281 kills on the season, good for 3.60 points per set, and a .404 hitting percentage. His hitting percentage is eighth nationally, and he has the second-most kills out of any of the top 15 players in hitting percentage. Kelly has recorded a team-high in kills eight times, and has totaled 10 or more kills in 17 matches so far in 2026.ย The sophomore tallied 21 kills in a five-set win at USC, and a career-high 22 kills in a five-set loss at Pepperdine.ย
Rama, a senior outside hitter from Phoenix, Arizona, leads the team in kills with 286. He has hit .348 on the year, totaled 3.81 kills per set, and 4.21 points per set. His 286 ranks 15th nationally, and his hitting percentage of .348 is the third-highest hitting percentage of any player with at least 265 kills. Rama has tallied 15 or more kills in 10 matches so far in 2026 and has recorded double-digit kills in 17 of UCLA's 22 matches in 2026.
Rowan, a senior setter from Trabuco Canyon, California, is already a three-time AVCA first team All-American and has led the Bruins to the top-ranked hitting percentage in the country in 2026 at .386. He has also led the Bruins to the highest assists per set total at 12.92, and UCLA currently sits second in kills per set at 13.67. Rowan, who also became the second Bruin in the rally scoring era to surpass 4,00 career assists earlier this year, has recorded at least 40 assists in 12 matches. The senior has also recorded 43 aces in 2026, which is tied for second nationally in the category.
The Bruins return to action this Thursday when the 21-1 Bruins play at UC Merced. First serve is scheduled for 6 pm PT, and the match will be broadcast on B1G+.
AVCA National Collegiate Player of the Year Semifinalists
Cole Hartke, Pepperdine
Sean Kelly, UCLA
Dillon Klein, USC
Zach Rama, UCLA
Patrick Rogers, Ball State
Andrew Rowan, UCLA
Tread Rosenthal, Hawai'i
Skyler Varga, Long Beach State
ย
Players Mentioned
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