UCLA men's volleyball player Ethan Champlin has been named as a semi-finalist for the 94th AAU James E. Sullivan Award, presented annually to the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the United States.

Champlin led UCLA to the 2023 NCAA Men's Collegiate Volleyball Championship last May. It marked the 20th NCAA men's volleyball title in program history. Champlin was a 2023 first-team All-America selection and a finalist for the Karch Kiraly Award as the nation's top collegiate outside attacker. The senior also represented the United States in the 2023 NORCECA Pan American Cup and was named the tournament's second-best spiker as the U.S. won gold at the 2023 Pan Am Cup Final Six event.

The AAU James E Sullivan Award was established in 1930 in honor of the organization's founder and past president, James Sullivan. Based on leadership, character, and sportsmanship, the AAU Sullivan Award goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those with strong moral character. Finalists are selected from public nominations following a review by the AAU Sullivan Award Executive Committee. The eventual winner is determined by votes from various members of the nationwide news media, former winners, and AAU personnel.