SPRINGFIELD, Mass., January 4, 2007 – The Springfield College men’s volleyball program, under the direction of ninth-year Head Coach Charlie Sullivan, has been selected third in the annual Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Hay Division Preseason Poll.

The Pride, which finished third in the Hay Division last season after compiling a 10-15 overall record and 8-4 conference mark, is currently preparing to open up its 2007 campaign at home in Blake Arena on Thursday afternoon, January 11th, against Division II Lewis University beginning at 2:00 p.m.

The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) has been selected first in the Hay Division Preseason Poll, receiving 23 votes. Finishing second is New York University (NYU) with 19 votes, followed by SC with 15 votes, Harvard University (13), the University of New Haven (11), and Sacred Heart University (9).

The Pride welcomes back nine returning players from a 2006 squad that had no one above a junior. SC also welcomes nine different freshmen onto the 2007 squad, as the unit will be headed by American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III All-Americans, Eric Palumbo (Chili, N.Y.), Ryan Fredrickson (Manahawkin, N.J.), and Andy Sipe (New Oxford, Pa.).

Palumbo led the team a year ago in kills with 404 (4.34 per game), as the number was good for a ranking of third individually in the EIVA. Fredrickson finished his rookie season with 340 kills (4.05/game), which was good for eighth overall in the conference. Sipe, a middle blocker, finished with 110 blocks (1.21/game) and an individual ranking of seventh in the EIVA in that category. All three, along with junior setter Chris Shekell (Rochester, N.Y.), were named EIVA All-Stars in 2006.

published: 01/04/2007