SPRINGFIELD, Mass., April 9, 2007 – Springfield College sophomore middle blocker Andy Sipe (New Oxford, Pa.) has been named the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Men’s Volleyball National Player of the Week, as announced late Monday afternoon, April 9th.

Sipe, a native of New Oxford, Pa., and graduate of New Oxford High School, is the first men’s volleyball player at Springfield College to earn this honor since Brandon Mueller garnered the award back on February 2nd, 2004. Overall, it is the 13th time that a member of the Pride has been named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division III Men’s National Player of the Week.

Racking up the honors this week, Sipe has also been named the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Hay Division Player of the Week.

On Saturday afternoon (Apr. 7) in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Division III Championship at Juniata College, Sipe came up huge for the fourth-ranked Pride. In a 3-0 (30-25, 38-36, 30-25) victory over the No. 2 Eagles, the 6-6 middle blocker totaled a team-best 15.0 points on 11 kills and a team-high six blocks. Sipe’s 11 kills came on 17 swings with just two errors for an impressive .529 hitting percentage, as he also chipped in with three digs.

Heading into this weekend’s (Apr. 13-14) Molten Division III Invitational Championship at Juniata College in which SC will have its sights set on a fifth national championship, Sipe leads the squad in blocking on the season with a total of 145 (1.67/game). The sophomore is also hitting a team-best .425 on the year, with 190 kills in 369 attempts and just 33 errors. In the EIVA rankings, Sipe is currently ranked second in blocks and sixth in hitting percentage for the 18-8 Pride. Earlier this season, Sipe was honored as the EIVA Hay Division Player of the Week back on February 21st.

published: 04/09/2007