(Posted April 24, 2001)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Freshman outside hitter Javier Garcia (San Ignacio/Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) earned a spot on the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Division III First Team, while sophomore middle hitter Chris Jones (Lower Merion/Wayne) and sophomore libero Ryan Jackson (Cochranton/Cochranton) picked up second-team recognition from the same organization. It marked the first all-star honors for all three student-athletes. In addition, sophomore setter Scott Kofmehl (North Allegheny/Pittsburgh) was tabbed as a member of the 2001 EIVA all-academic team. To be selected for the academic honors, a player has to be at least a sophomore with a 3.50 or higher cumulative grade-point average and have competed in 60 percent of the squad's games. Kofmehl was one of 10 players to meet the criteria for the honors.

Garcia ended the year with a team-high 3.33-kill average. In addition, Garcia tallied 336 kills, 111 digs, 66 total blocks, 21 aces and 12 assists for the year. He was tops on the club in total kills, kill average and kill attempts (754). Garcia was third among the regulars on the team in hitting percentage (.229), third in digs, fifth in dig average (1.10) and tied for second in aces. Overall, he reached double figures in kills 18 times, including a season-best 24 during a February 23 win over Princeton. Garcia's personal-high in digs came when he posted 10 during a victory over New York University on February 3.

Jackson was one of the top defensive players in the East all season. He led the Eagles in total digs (239) and dig average (2.34). His scoop total was the third highest in blue and gold single-season annals. Jackson reached double figures in digs 12 times and had 15-or-more on five occasions. He posted a career-best 19 digs during Juniata's February 23 triumph over Princeton. During one seven-match stretch during the middle of the campaign, Jackson averaged 3.03 digs a game.

Jones paced the Eagles in hitting percentage (.344), total blocks (122), blocking average (1.22) and was fourth among the starters in kill average (2.01). Of his 122 rejections, 15 were solo efforts. Jones, who played in 100 of Juniata's 104 games, also finished with 16 aces, 27 digs and 17 assists. He posted an impressive double-double with 14 kills and a career-high 11 blocks during a February 17 loss at Vassar. Overall, he tallied 10-or-more kills in a match nine times, including a personal-best 18 terminations during a 3-2 loss to Vassar in the EIVA Division III semifinals on April 7.

Kofmehl spent time as the club's starter setter this past season, but he was never the full-blown number-one play-maker on the unit. He made great use of the moments he was given the chance to run the offense by tallying double figures in assists in 14 times. Kofmehl passed out a career-best 62 abets during Juniata's 3-2 win at Princeton on March 30. In addition, he had 46 kills on 91 tries (.396 hitting percentage), seven aces, 69 digs and 22 blocks. He owns a 3.88 cumulative grade-point average as an International Political Economy student.

The Eagles, who closed the year with a 13-13 overall record and a 7-7 mark in the EIVA Tait Division, ended the season with a 3-0 loss to Rutgers-Newark in the EIVA quarterfinals this past Saturday.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.