Palumbo Tabbed 2008 AVCA Division III Newcomer of the Year; Sipe Garners All-American Honors For Third-Straight Year
Complete All-America SelectionsLEXINGTON, Ky. - April 7, 2008 - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is proud to announce its 5th Annual AVCA Division III Men's All-America Teams.
The University of California, Santa Cruz leads the way with three student-athletes on the AVCA Division III Men’s First-Team All-America. Vassar College also had three student-athletes honored, placing two players on the First-Team and one on the Second-Team. This year’s First-Team features only two seniors, the fewest in the five years of the program.
Cal Palumbo of Springfield College was recognized as the 2008 AVCA Division III Newcomer of the Year after a sensational freshman year.
Matt Werle of Juniata College, the 2007 AVCA Division III Men’s National Player of the Year, is making his second consecutive appearance on the AVCA Division III Men’s First-Team All-America Team, earning his third All-American honor overall. Andy Sipe of Springfield College is the only other player making at least his third appearance on an AVCA Division III Men’s All-America Team, having garnered First-Team honors in 2007 and Second-Team honors in 2006.
The selections were made by the AVCA Division III Men's Volleyball All-America Committee: chairperson Charlie Sullivan (Springfield College); Tim Byram (Endicott College); Jonah Carson (University of California, Santa Cruz); Patrick Dorywalski (Stevens Institute of Technology); and Keith Koch (Medaille College).
In just his first season on Alden Street, Cal Palumbo established himself as one of the top players in the country. Palumbo becomes the second-straight Newcomer of the Year that head coach Charlie Sullivan has had. AJ Nally picked up the award in 2007. A 6-5 middle blocker, Palumbo was also named to the the AVCA Division III Men's All-American First Team as he currently ranks third in Division III in hitting percentage, while also being among the nation's leaders in blocks per game.
Cal Palumbo and Keynote Speaker Aldis Berzins, a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Volleyball gold-medal team
Sipe continued to make his mark on the squad this season with his third-consecutive honor to an All-America team. An AVCA Division III Men's Second Team All-American, the 6-8 middle blocker is hitting .392, racking up 1.77 kills per game. Helping lead the Pride to the 2008 EIVA Hay Conference Championship, Sipe is ranked in the top five of the EIVA in blocks per game (1.27).
Team Links
- 2010 Schedule
- 2010 Roster
- 2009 Statistics
- 2008 Recruiting Brochure (.pdf)
- EIVA Website
- Bison/AVCA Division III Men's Coaches Top 15 Poll
- Live Stats
- Team Archive
Head Coach Charlie Sullivan
With four national championships to his credit, Charlie Sullivan will enter his 12th season as head coach of the men's volleyball team in 2010. In 11 previous years at the helm, Sullivan owns an overall record of 153-124 for a .552 winning percentage. Read more.