The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced on Monday (April 29) that Lewis University’s Ryan Coenen (Franklin, WI/Franklin), Tyler Mitchem (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook HS), Michael Simmons (Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley) and Matt Yoshimoto (Ventura, CA/Adolfo Camarillo) were named to the AVCA All-American team. Coenen, Mitchem and Yoshimoto earned second team honors while Simmons was named to the honorable mention team.
Bolingbrook graduate Tyler Mitchem and three other Flyers are All-Americans. (Photo by Steve Woltmann/Lewis University)
“I’m really proud of these guys and this team,” Lewis head men’s volleyball coach Dan Friend said. “All four of these guys had a tremendous year and worked hard to help us achieve the success we’ve had.”
Coenen, a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association First Team selection and two-time AVCA Second Team All-American in 2017 and 2018, 3.15 kills-per-set and led the team in kills (312). He joins BJ Boldog as the only player in program history to be named an All-American three times. Coenen recorded double-digit kills in 18 of 30 matches and matched his career-high with 23 kills at Ball State on March 23.
“Coenen continued to dominate opponents for a third straight year,” Friend said.
Mitchem earns his first AVCA Second Team All-American honor after being named to the All-MIVA First Team. He currently leads the nation in hitting percentage at .505 and is third on the team in kills (229) and kills-per-set (2.16). Mitchem is 10th in the nation in blocks per set with 1.113 per set.
“Tyler evolved into a beast at the net this year for us,” Friend said.
Simmons earns his third straight AVCA Honorable Mention All-America award after being named to the All-MIVA First Team.
He has 191 digs and averaged 2.17 digs-per-set which is currently third in the conference and 13th nationally. Simmons has reached double figures in digs five times this season highlighted by a pair of 17-dig performances against Pepperdine (Jan. 19) and at Ball State (March 23).
“Simmons is once again one of the best passers/liberos in the country,” Friend said.
Yoshimoto earns his first AVCA Secon Team All-American honor after being an honorable mention selection in 2017 and 2018.
He was named to the All-MIVA First Team and was the MIVA Player of the Year.
Yoshimoto leads the nation in aces per set with 0.66 and is eighth nationally in assists per set with 9.95.
He has recorded at least 40 assists in a match nine times this season and had a career-high six aces at King (Jan. 11).
“Yoshi had his best year in all facets of his game,” Friend said.