PROVO -- At the Annual 2004 Y Awards sponsored by the Cougar Club, the No. 1 men's volleyball team was honored as the Male's Team of the Year. The awards ceremony honored BYU's best student athletes voted on by their peers.
Senior outside hitter Fernando Pessoa and setter Carlos Moreno also received recognition, even though the team was traveling to UCLA on the day of the Y Awards.
After advancing to the NCAA Final Four for the third time in five years, the men's volleyball team beat out the men's swimming and diving team that won the MWC Championship and the indoor and outdoor track and field teams that won the MWC Championship.
As BYU's kill leader and two-time AVCA National Player of the Week, senior outside hitter Fernando Pessoa earned the Ed Stein Outstanding Senior Male Athlete Award. After playing the libero position for three years, Pessoa has switched to an outside hitter and records more than 4.00 kills per game in his senior year.
For the Male Crowd Pleaser award, junior All-American Carlos Moreno was named for his enthusiasm and flare on the volleyball court. He once kicked the ball back over the net to keep the ball in play, and the team won the point after a Cougar block. He helped BYU to a NCAA Runner-Up finish last season and has helped the Cougars to a first-place ranking in 2004.
Other Cougars who were also nominated for awards include: senior Shawn Olmstead (Dale McCann Spirit of Sport Award), Tom Peterson (Coach of the Year), Jon Alleman (Male Athlete of the Year) and Moreno for his kick against Long Beach State last year was nominated for Play of the Year.