SPRINGFIELD, Mass., March 23, 2007 – Springfield College sophomore All-American Ryan Fredrickson (Manahawkin, N.J.) racked up a match-high 20 kills to go along with 10 digs and a team-best 21 points as the fifth-ranked Pride upended the No. 4 New York University (NYU) Violets this evening, 3-1 (30-25, 24-30, 30-24, 30-26), in an Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Hay Division match at Blake Arena.

With the win, SC’s eighth in its past nine matches, the Pride improves to 16-6 overall on the season and an impressive 7-1 in the EIVA Hay. NYU drops to 11-13 overall on the year and 4-3 in the EIVA Hay.

SC junior libero Brandon Waas (Spencerport, N.Y.) led all players in the match with a career-best 22 digs. Three other members tallied double-figures in kills for the Pride, with freshman outside hitter AJ Nally (Rochester, N.Y.) recording 13, junior outside hitter Javier Rosario (San Juan, Puerto Rico) adding 12, and sophomore All-American Andy Sipe (New Oxford, Pa.) chipping in with 10. Sipe also registered a match-best eight blocks (three solo), while Nally had 10 digs to help SC notch its 16th victory of the season.

The Violets were led by sophomore outside hitter Devin Zolnowski with a match-high 20 kills to add to four digs, three blocks and a match-best 22.5 points. Senior middle blocker Brian Vilven had 14 kills, five digs and five blocks, as junior middle blocker Jonathan Wintermeyer and freshman opposite Eric Chakeen each added 10 kills. Junior libero David Tener recorded a team-high 12 digs.

In the assists department, Pride freshman setter Eric Shoemaker (Mount Wolf, Pa.) tallied a match-high 61 assists, as NYU sophomore setter Ilan Goldstein racked up 58 in the loss.

The weekend gets tougher for SC, however, as top-ranked Juniata College comes to Blake Arena tomorrow night (Mar. 24) for a 7:00 p.m. start.

published: 03/23/2007