SPRINGFIELD, Mass., April 24, 2007 – Springfield College junior libero Brandon Waas (Spencerport, N.Y.), sophomore middle blocker Andy Sipe (New Oxford, Pa.), and freshman outside hitter AJ Nally (Rochester, N.Y.) have all been named 2007 Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Division III First Team All-Stars.

In the same announcement, sophomore opposite Ryan Fredrickson (Manahawkin, N.J.) has been named an EIVA Division III Second Team All-Star. For Fredrickson and Sipe, it marks the second consecutive season that the two have been honored as EIVA Division III All-Stars.

Waas, a resident of Spencerport, N.Y., had a very solid junior campaign for the 19-10 Pride. The libero finished second on the team in total digs with 188, good for an average of 2.27 digs per game. The biggest highlight of his season came on Friday, March 23rd in a 3-1 win over then-No. 4 New York University (NYU), when Waas rose to the occasion with a career-best 16 digs in Blake Arena. Waas finished the season ranked seventh in the EIVA in digs.

Sipe, a native of New Oxford, Pa., has earned EIVA Division III All-Star honors for the second straight year. Earlier in the month, Sipe was named an America Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III First Team All-American and Sports Imports/AVCA Division III National Player of the Week (Apr. 9). A two-time EIVA Hay Division Player of the Week this season, Sipe finished his sophomore year ranked second in the entire EIVA in blocks (163) and eighth in hitting percentage (.415).

Nally, who hails from Rochester, N.Y., burst onto the SC men’s volleyball scene this season, becoming an AVCA Division III Second Team All-American and AVCA Division III Newcomer of the Year award recipient. In the EIVA rankings, Nally finished his rookie campaign ranked fifth in digs with a team-high 236 (2.38/game). The outside hitter also finished second on the Pride in total kills with 290 (2.93/game).

Fredrickson, a native of Manahawkin, N.J., continues to rack up the honors in his sophomore season. Much like Sipe, Fredrickson has now been named a two-time AVCA Division III All-American and a two-time EIVA Division III All-Star. The opposite finished first on the team this season with a total of 318 kills (3.66/game). He also added totals of 122 and 61 in digs (1.40/game) and blocks (0.70/game), respectively.

published: 04/24/2007