LEXINGTON, Ky. – Cal Lutheran men's volleyball standouts
Braden Gonzales and
Brendan Hom have been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Region Team, the organization announced Monday.
The duo played a pivotal role in leading the Kingsmen to a 21-6 regular season record, including an impressive 9-3 mark against AVCA-ranked opponents.
A senior Libero from Thousand Oaks, California, Gonzales has been the backbone of Cal Lutheran's defensive unit all season. Averaging a program-record 2.97 digs per set, he has totaled 279 digs and continues to build on his historic career.
Gonzales set the program's single-season digs record in 2025 with 300 and is on the verge of breaking his own mark once again. In the regular season finale against UC Santa Cruz, he delivered a match- and season-high 21 digs, further cementing his role as a defensive anchor heading into postseason play. This recognition marks the first All-Region honor of his career.
On the offensive side, Hom has emerged as a go-to weapon for the Kingsmen. The junior outside hitter from Torrance, California leads the team with 297 kills, averaging 3.26 per set while hitting an efficient .307. He has also made his presence felt from the service line, pacing the team with 36 aces.
Hom turned in one of his top performances of the season in a four-set win over Kean, recording a season-high 21 kills and 26 points. This is also the first All-Region selection of his career.
This season marks just the third time in program history—and the third consecutive year—that multiple Kingsmen have earned AVCA All-Region honors.
Cal Lutheran has now advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season and will look to continue its postseason success as back-to-back Regional Champions and the 2024 National Champions.
The Kingsmen travel to Hoboken, New Jersey, for the Stevens Regional this weekend, where they will face the winner of the play-in match between Endicott and Lancaster Bible. First serve is set for Friday, April 17 at 3:30 p.m. PT.
