Senior setter Kawika Shoji was named Division I-II National Player of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) yesterday at the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship Banquet.
“I was surprised,” Shoji told GoStanford.com. “I haven’t been too focused on individual awards. We’re just focused on Ohio State. The whole year we’ve been talking about our team goals. To be honest, that is all that matters. I thought about this for 30 seconds and it’s already on to my assignments for Ohio State.”
Shoji was a leader on the Stanford men’s volleyball team, which improved from a 3-25 finish in his freshman season to the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament this year. He averaged 13.78 assists and 2.46 digs per set, which were both among the nation’s best. As a setter, Shoji was instrumental in helping the Cardinal lead the nation in hitting at .352 for the season.
“It’s a great, great honor,” he said. “I am very proud. I have to thank my coaches and especially my teammates. It’s a team game, and individual awards come with team accolades. I’m just excited they pass me the ball, and I deliver the ball to other players. They make plays too. Without our team, this award would not have happened.”
Over his four years at Stanford, Shoji was an All-American three times and All-MPSF all four years. He has totaled 4,376 assists, 796 digs, 452 kills and 104 aces in his career so far.
Shoji was given the award by former Stanford All-American and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Kevin Hansen, who is also a setter.
“He’s been the leader of this team,” Hansen said. “And to see [the team] rise to achieve what it has says a lot about his character. He’s obviously one of the best setters to come out of this program. And he’s got a lot of volleyball left to play.”
Shoji is the second National Player of the Year from Stanford and the first since Canyon Ceman in 1993.
“It’s an honor for the program,” said head coach John Kosty. “I look at Kawika winning as, he’s the setter and our team captain and leader, but he also represents our team. It is a team award. There are a lot of people who have helped him achieve what he’s achieved.”
This weekend, Shoji and his teammates will look to capture the one award that has eluded them thus far, a national championship.