Courtesy: Jay Young
Courtesy: Jay Young

2025 NAIA Men's Volleyball All-America Teams and Special Awards

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2024 Men's Volleyball All-America Teams, along with Player and Coach of the Year, on Thursday.

The NAIA-MVCA Executive Committee selects the NAIA All-America Volleyball first through third teams. The All-America Selection Committee must select players from a pool of candidates from the All-Conference/Independent Teams.

Tom Ryan was named the 2025 NAIA Coach of the Year in his fifth season as head coach of the Cougars. Ryan saw his team to its best record yet at 31-1 overall and 12-0 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference. His team made its fifth appearance at the NAIA National Championship and advanced to the championship match for the first time. 

Matt Pennala of Saint Xavier (Ill.) was named the 2025 NAIA Player of the Year. Pennala recorded 395 kills on the season, averaging 4.29 per set. The right side hitter also recorded a 0.364 attack percentage. He also added 42 service aces (0.46 per set), 143 digs (1.55 per set) and 71 total blocks (10 solo, 61 assisted; 0.77 per set) to his season stat line. 

Saint Xavier (Ill.) had the largest number of All-Americans, with five total honorees. Lawrence Tech (Mich.), Missouri Valley and St. Thomas (Fla.) garnered their first All-America mentions this year.

There were five All-Americans who received All-America honors in previous years. Landon Fuller of Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) is the only one to receive multiple previous All-America honors. 

 

2025 NAIA Men's Volleyball All-Americans

(Alphabetical order by institution)

First Team

NAME INSTITUTION  POSITION CLASS HOMETOWN
Finn Heinemann Georgetown (Ky.) S Sr Paderborn, Germany
Nestor Addah * Lawrence Tech (Mich.) OH Gr Navrongo, Ghana
David Rudic Missouri Baptist S Sr Gornji Milanovac, Serbia
Michael Olson Missouri Baptist OH Gr Wildwood, Mo.
Samuel Essilfie Missouri Valley OPP Jr Tema, Ghana
Andres Velez Saint Xavier (Ill.) L Jr Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
Matt Pennala Saint Xavier (Ill.) OH Sr Long Beach, Calif.
Braden Van Groningen ^ The Master's (Calif.) OH Sr Ripon, Calif.
Max McCullough The Master's (Calif.) MB Sr San Marcos, Calif.

 

Second Team 

NAME INSTITUTION POSITION CLASS HOMETOWN
Landon Fuller % ` $ Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) OH Gr Tempe, Ariz.
Adam Szewinski Georgetown (Ky.) MB So Czestochowa, Poland
Cole Oliver Hope International (Calif.) OH Jr Bellflower, Calif.
Brendon Down Lawrence Tech (Mich.) OH Sr Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Marko Jovanovic Missouri Baptist OH Jr Belgrade, Serbia
Caydann Cox # Saint Xavier (Ill.) OH So Jamestown, N.D.
Gabriel Negrao St. Thomas (Fla.) OH Fr Sao Paulo, Brazil
Kaelen Ingram St. Thomas (Fla.) RS Sr Belize City, Belize
Britten Beallis William Penn (Iowa) MH Jr Naperville, Ill.

 

Third Team 

NAME INSTITUTION POSITION CLASS HOMETOWN
Dapre Rogers # Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) RS Gr Tempe, Ariz.
Richard Struska Mount Mercy (Iowa) L Fr South Moravia, Czech Repiblic
Nicolas Tenius Park (Mo.) OH Sr Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Cameron Daniels Saint Xavier (Ill.) S So Omaha, Neb.
Drew Ehlers Saint Xavier (Ill.) MB Gr Plainfield, Ill.
Matheus Collares St. Thomas (Fla.) S Gr Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Preston Schmidt The Master's (Calif.) L So Irvine, Calif.
Trace Oswald The Master's (Calif.) OH Fr Cypress, Calif.

 

Previous All-America Mentions Key

* 2024, 1st team

^ 2024, 2nd team

# 2024, 3rd team

% 2023, 1st team

` 2022, 1st team

$ 2021, 1st team

Championship Information

7th ANNUAL
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
April 28 - May 2, 2026
Alliant Energy PowerHouse
Cedar Rapids, Iowa