The American Volleyball Coaches Association has selected four University of Hawai'i volleyball players as All-Americans, The Advertiser has learned.

Setter Brian Beckwith and opposite attacker Lauri Hakala were named to the 2006 first team. Outside hitter Matt Carere and libero Alfee Reft were selected to the second team.

Those are the most All-America honors for the UH men's volleyball team since the NCAA implemented the rally-scoring system in 2001.

As part of the NCAA final four festivities, the AVCA will formally introduce the All-America teams at a dinner in State College, Pa.

Last Monday, Beckwith, a 6-foot-6 junior from Pacific Palisades, Calif., and Hakala, a 6-foot-1 junior from Finland, were named to the All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation first team.

With Beckwith's guidance, the Warriors led the nation in hitting percentage (.347) during the regular season, according to rankings provided by the AVCA. Beckwith also was second nationally in assists with 13.58 per game.

On the second day of training camp, Hakala replaced opposite attacker Johnny Matt Bender, who suffered torn ligaments in his left ankle. Bender would miss six weeks of matches.

Hakala emerged as a prolific (3.96 kills per game during the regular season) and accurate (.373) attacker, as well as stable passer. He led the Warriors with 441.5 points, a total that combines kills, blocks and aces.

Reft, a 5-foot-10 senior from Oxnard, Calif., led the MPSF in digs with 3.18. This week, he was named winner of the Jack Bonham Award as UH's top male student-athlete. He will train with the U.S. national team this summer.

Carere, a 6-4 senior from Victoria, British Columbia, averaged 3.60 kills and 1.65 digs per game during the regular season. He was the floor captain.

Reft, Carere and UH's three other seniors — Bender, outside hitter José José Delgado and middle blocker Mauli'a LaBarre — will receive their bachelor's degrees next month.

Meanwhile, the Warriors are preparing for next season. UH coach Mike Wilton said at least 33 players have been invited to fall training.

The list will "probably grow, and then there will be some attrition among the tryout guys," Wilton said.

UH is close to finalizing commitments from two foreign players who will compete at outside hitter. Wilton only would hint "they're from Planet Earth."

The Warriors return nine players who were on the active roster — setters Beckwith and Sean Carney; Hakala; middle blockers Dio Dante, Jake Schkud and Kyle Klinger; and outside hitters Eric Kalima, Jim Clar and Mark Ribeiro. Wilton said Kalima might compete at libero. He added that 6-8 Matt "Dragon" Rawson was impressive as a middle blocker.

"I think we're returning a very good core that had a wonderful season," Wilton said.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.