Men's volleyball player AJ Hammer moves on to Concordia

Men's volleyball player AJ Hammer moves on to Concordia

Irvine Valley men's volleyball player AJ Hammer has moved on to NAIA Concordia in Irvine.

Hammer signed with Concordia last month and will play for the Eagles this coming spring.

The freshman outside hitter was named first team all-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference last season for IVC.

He helped Irvine Valley finish with a 13-8 record, take third in conference and reach the CCCAA State Championships semifinals.

Hammer was one of IVC's best all-around players this past spring.

Hammer ranked third on the team in kills with 161, averaging 2.27 per set.

Hammer was second on the team in digs with 77, a 1.08 average, and also finished with 13 aces.

He had eight matches with 10 or more kills, including an important 17 kills in Irvine Valley's straight-set sweep over Golden West at home on April 4.

In the 28-26, 25-22, 25-19 victory, Hammer had his best match of the season. He had the 17 kills in 21 attempts with just one error, hitting .762 on the night. Hammer also chipped in four blocks.

He recorded 14 kills in two other matches.

And Hammer had six matches with at least five digs, including a season-best seven early in the year against Santa Barbara City.

Hammer, who will have three years of eligibility at Concordia, is heading to an Eagle program that finished with a record of 28-8 overall, was 4-1 in NAIA National Conference play and finished second at the national tournament.