LEXINGTON, Ky. – Cal Lutheran men's volleyball standouts
Braden Gonzales and
Brendan Hom have been named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) First Team All-Americans, the organization announced Monday.
The selections mark a historic milestone for the Kingsmen, as Gonzales and Hom become just the second and third First Teamers in program history. They join 2024 honoree Taylor Marks, along with two-time Second Team and Honorable Mention selections
Michael Stahl and
Jordan Cooper.
The duo has been instrumental in leading Cal Lutheran to another successful season. The Kingsmen enter the NCAA Final Four with a 23-6 overall record, having secured their third consecutive NCAA Regional Championship and continuing a dominant run on the national stage.
A senior Libero from Thousand Oaks, California, Gonzales has anchored the Kingsmen defense all season with record-setting consistency. He is averaging 2.89 digs per set, and has already surpassed his own single-season benchmark with over 300 digs in 2026.
Gonzales delivered a postseason-defining performance during the NCAA Regional, including a 15-dig effort in the championship match against MIT. He enters the national semifinals on the verge of becoming Cal Lutheran's all-time career digs leader, further solidifying one of the most decorated defensive careers in program history. This marks his first career All-America selection.
On the offensive side, Hom has established himself as one of the premier hitters in Division III. The junior outside from Torrance, California leads the Kingsmen with 3.24 kills per set while hitting an efficient .301, and has been a consistent force from the service line with a team-high 39 aces.
Hom has delivered in key moments throughout the postseason, including double-digit kill performances in both NCAA Regional matches. His ability to terminate in high-pressure situations has been a driving force behind Cal Lutheran's run to the Final Four. Like Gonzales, this is his first career All-America honor.
This recognition continues a surge of national success for the Kingsmen program, which has now produced multiple First Team All-Americans in the same season for the first time in school history.
Cal Lutheran will look to carry that momentum into the NCAA Semifinals, where the Kingsmen are set to face No. 1 seed and host Springfield College on Thursday, April 23 at 2 p.m. PT.
