MERCED, Calif. – Three members of the University of California, Merced men's volleyball team were selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District At-Large Team for their performances in competition and in the classroom.
Jozef Lingenfelter, Toby Miller, and Brennan Taylor received the honors for the second time in their careers.
Lingenfelter was one of the NAIA's most dynamic players and the outside hitter was one of just two players in the country with at least 180 kills, 140 digs, and 19 solo blocks in 2025. His 19 solo blocks ranked 25th in the country and he broke the Bobcats single-season solo blocks record after notching three in the final match of NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship Pool Play. Lingenfelter finished the campaign averaging 2.4 K/S, 1.8 D/S, and 0.4 B/S. He earned All-Cal Pac Second Team honors. Lingenfelter graduated cum laude in May with a degree in management and business economics. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Miller quarterbacked the Bobcats offense with 7.8 assists per set and put himself on his own list as the only player in the NAIA to average at least 7.8 A/S, 1.5 D/S, 0.7 K/S, and 0.4 B/S. Miller, who is currently ranked second in program history with 1,813 career assists, was selected as the Cal Pac Setter of the Year. He had 615 assists in 2025 in a season that saw him perform his best when the lights were the brightest, averaging 9.0 A/S in the postseason. Miller graduated in May with a psychology degree and is eligible to return in 2026. The Fresno, Calif., native advances to the CSC Academic All-America ballot.
Taylor is the first NAIA player in five years to register at least 16 solo blocks in 48 sets or less. He tallied 34 blocks overall, averaging 0.71 B/S. Taylor also averaged 1.1 K/S on a .229 hitting percentage. He finished his career with one of his most impressive outings, smacking a career-high ten kills on a .412 hitting percentage to go along with five blocks against No. 5 seed St. Thomas in NAIA Men's Volleyball National Championship Pool Play. Taylor was the program's first ever Academic All-American in 2023 and graduated magna cum laude a month ago with a degree in civil engineering.
To be eligible for the CSC Academic All-District Team, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher while playing in at least 90% of the matches or starting 66% of the matches.
