Posted By Managing Editor Christine Jinbo

Torrance, Calif. -- The 2008 StudentSportsVolleyball.com All-American Boys Volleyball Team comprises some of the most talented, competitive and driven volleyball players at the high school level. The athletes who improve the level of play of those around them are given special consideration for this award. 

This year's team honors athletes who excel at the high school level and is made up of athletes who spurred their teams on to achieve success. Choosing the All-American team is no easy task and the most difficult part is not who makes the team but choosing who gets cut. The amount of talented boys volleyball players across the country has grown tremendously and the parity among high school programs makes the selection that much tougher.

StudentSportsVolleyball.com is the only publication that covered boys high school volleyball teams from across the country and it makes sense that it is our All-American Team that will truly represent players who honor the game and better their team with the way they compete.

The choices for the National Player of the Year and the National Junior Player of the Year are the top players in their class with the ability to shape the game. The 2008 National Players of the Year are not only the top players in their class, they are athletes whose work ethic, team spirit, and character clearly separate them. Brad Lawson of Iolani is our 2008 National Player of the Year for his tremendous talent and his ability to dominate the court. Coaches, teammates and competitors alike recognize the 6-foot-7 powerhouse as the best in the game and many liken him to AVP star and Hawaiian native Mike Lambert.

Myles Muagututia tops the list of juniors and is our selection for the National Junior Player of the Year. With two CIF San Diego Section titles and a USA Beach J.O. Championship 18-and-Under title, and a finals appearance at the USAV J.O. Championships this junior setter/libero finds a way to win. Muagututia also maintained a high grade point average and is a three sport varsity performer.

The editors of Student Sports, who have named All-American teams and compiled national rankings in numerous sports for over 20 years. The format for the team calls for it not to be selected until all teams have finished their seasons, which makes the National All-American honors more reflective of players who led their teams to state championships.

Brad Lawson (Iolani, Honolulu, Hawaii) 6-7, Sr., Outside Hitter
Lawson's consistent dominance earned him ILH Player of the Year honors for two straight years and that solidified his selection as the 2008 National Player of the Year for StudentSportsVolleyball.com. The 6-foot-7 outside overcame back and knee trouble and claimed reparations for past losses to rival Punahou as his Raiders' team toppled the BuffanBlu in the finals of the Hawaii State Championships. He single-handedly took over the match when teammate Nick Christman left the game due to injury and racked up fourteen of his 25 kills in the final game. Lawson was selected to the twelve-man USA Volleyball Youth National Team that competed in the Dominican Republic and will head to Stanford next year where he will join fellow islanders Spencer McLachlin, Kawika Shoji and Erik Shoji. Lawson honors the game with the way he plays and coaches and competitors alike commend Lawson for his work ethic and sportsmanship.

Jim Baughman (Valencia, Calif.) 6-7, Sr., Middle Blocker
Baughman improved dramatically throughout this spring season after he made the transition from the gridiron. The 6-foot-7 middle blocker started his high school career as a quarterback and made the transition to volleyball his junior year. He had 202 kills in the middle this season and led his team to a CIF SS Div. II title, as the Vikings defeated Santa Barbara in the finals. This fall Baughman will start his college career at Long Beach State.

Kyle Caldwell (Newport Harbor, Newport Beach, Calif.) 6-8, Sr., Setter
Caldwell was a spectacle to watch this year as he commanded a 5-1 offense and fed Newport's arsenal of hitters. The only thing missing from the lineup of hitters he delivered the ball to was himself. The lefty setter attacked on two and kept the defense guessing. He was named Orange County Register Player of the Year and was a finalist for StudentSportsVolleyball.com National Player of the Year. Caldwell led the Sailors to the CIF SS Div. I title game where they fell just short to Mira Costa in an exciting five game match. The 6-foot-8 Caldwell was recruited by UCLA as an opposite, but will hopefully not lose his setting touch as he truly dominated the prep scene this year with his multi-talented arsenal.

Eric Hardek (Wheaton Warrenville South, Wheaton, Ill.) 6-4, Sr., Opposite Hitter
This two-year captain and four year varsity letterman has a record three state championship titles to his name. He is the first boys volleyball player in IHSA history to achieve this unique triple. Hardek earned MVP honors at the Tiger Classic and led a team with only one other senior to its fifth state title in seven years. With close to 800 career kills and nearly 300 this spring, Hardek earned first team All-State honors. A driven athlete, Hardek plays club for Sports Performance and next spring will play at Indiana University-Purdue University-Ft. Wayne (IPFW). 

Jamey Ker (Valencia, Calif.) 6-2, Sr., Outside Hitter
The third and final Ker, as he was often referred to this season for the Vikings, lived up to the family legacy and earned All-American honors in the process. Ker recorded 309 kills as he helped lead the Vikings to a CIF SS Div. II title and is a talented all-around player. This team leader received the CIF SS Div. II Player of the Year award and will follow in his brothers Tony and Kevin's footsteps at UCLA in the fall. Ker hopes to fill Tony's shoes at the libero position and his explosive style of play will be an added bonus for the Bruins.

Jack Mergenthaler (La Costa Canyon, Carlsbad, Calif.) 6-6, Sr., Opposite/Middle
The agile 6-foot-6 Mergenthaler was clutch for the Mavericks all season and led them to the 2008 CIF San Diego Section Div. I title. Mergenthaler helped lead LCC to a section title in 2006 as a sophomore and was selected for all CIF San Diego Section first team honors for two straight years. The versatile opposite and middle hitter brought firepower from all over the court and caught the eye of Al Scates, who recognized Mergenthaler's athleticism and signed him to play for UCLA.

Steven Mochalski (Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif.) 6-5, Sr., Outside Hitter
Mochalski was a dominant force on the outside for the Mustangs this past season. He led Mira Costa to a CIF SS Div. I title for the first time since 2002 when the Mustangs competed in Div. II. The 6-foot-5 outside finished his senior season with 282 kills, 136 digs and 60 blocks, an impressive number considering he missed six matches early in the year. Growing up in Manhattan Beach helped Mochalski to hone his volleyball skills, but it also runs in the family as father Dave, was the starting middle blocker on UCLA's 1982 NCAA championship team. Younger brother Eric started at middle for the Mustangs this season as a sophomore and is a top prospect in the class of 2010. The CIF SS Div. I Co-Player of the year with teammate Dylan Kordic, Mochalski will continue his volleyball career at USC in the fall.

Myles Muagututia (Francis Parker, San Diego ) 6-2, Jr., Setter
Muagututia is not only a three-sport athlete for the Lancers, but a three-sport star. With starting spots on the football, basketball and volleyball teams, this all around athlete harkens back to the days when multi-sport athletes dominated the prep scene. With his commitment to three varsity sports, it is a great accomplishment to achieve All-American status. Aside from sports at Parker, Muagututia also plays club volleyball with Seaside, a top ranked SCVA team, and was a USA Junior Beach Tour 18-and-Under J.O. Champion in 2007 all while he maintained a 3.8 grade point average. The junior setter and three year starter led the Lancers to their ninth consecutive CIF San Diego Section Div. III title and was named the San Diego Section Player of the Year. One might think this junior will follow his brother Garrett's footsteps and play volleyball at UCLA, but it is football that Myles would like to pursue at the collegiate level. Muagututia is the definition of work ethic and is the StudentSports.com National Junior Player of the Year.

Shawn Sangrey (Hempfield, Landisville, Penn.) 6-6, Sr., Opposite
Sangrey helped Hempfield to back-to-back state championships in 2006 and 2007 and was the go-to guy on his squad this season. The powerful lefty was named Lancaster Lebanon League MVP, PIAA AAA District 3 First Team and PIAA AAA State Tournament Most Outstanding Player for the second year in a row. He led the Black Knights to the Final Four at the PIAA AAA State Championships, where they lost to Central York in the semifinals, 1-3. He finished his season with 846 Kills on 1,730 swings and recorded 92 solo blocks. Sangrey chose to continue his career at The Ohio State over Penn State, which also offered a scholarship. 

Erik Shoji (Punahou, Honolulu, Hawaii) 6-0, Sr., Setter/Libero
Shoji has a gift for sports with a net in the middle, with a No. 1 ranking in the state for tennis doubles going into the state tournament. The all-state setter was a reigning state champion in both volleyball and tennis for Punahou. But it is volleyball, not tennis that courses through the Shoji blood. Dave Shoji, Erik's father, is the University of Hawaii women's coach with over 900 career wins and brother Kawika is the starting setter for Stanford University, where Erik will join his brother in the fall. Erik Shoji was the starting libero for the U.S. Boys' National Team and was named "Best Defender" and "Best Libero" for the 2007 FIVB Boys' Youth World Championship in Tijuana, Mexico, the first time a USA player has ever earned the afore mentioned awards.

Gustiano Tuaniga (West Valley, Hemet, Calif.) 6-3, Sr., Outside Hitter
Before any high school or college knew the name Gus Tuaniga, he was a standout performer and national champion on the AAU Beach Junior Tour. As a junior, Tuaniga's West Valley team surprised playoff contenders and in 2008 the Bulldogs moved up a division and competed in the CIF Southern Section Div. II playoffs. Tuaniga has accepted an offer to play for University of Hawaii next year and also received offers from Long Beach State, Cal State Northridge, USC and Pacific. The big jumper and accurate passer will be a big asset for the Warriors next year.