(Posted September 17, 2001)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Brandy Workinger (Dallastown/Dallastown), a senior outside hitter for the Juniata College women's volleyball team, has been named the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Sports Imports Division III national player of the week for the stretch of September 3 through September 9. It marks the second time in her collegiate career that she has earned the honor.

Workinger, a 5-10 captain for Juniata (4-0), led the Eagles to victories over three NCAA Division II squads this past weekend and the team title at the Mercyhurst Invitational. She was named tournament MVP for her performance, which included 20-plus kill efforts (25 and 21, respectively) in two of the three matches to finish the weekend with a 5.55 per game average. Workinger registered 13 digs versus Indiana (Pa.) and 12 versus California (Pa.) to complete the double-double for those matches. She then posted a hitting percentage of .364 with 15 kills, three errors and 33 attempts in leading the Eagles to a win over Lock Haven. An AVCA All-America First-Team selection last season, Workinger tallied 61 kills, 32 digs and a .306 hitting percentage on the weekend.

"Brandy is without question one of the best players in Division III this year and she has worked hard throughout her entire career to earn that kind of status," said 25-year veteran Juniata coach Larry Bock. "Year in and year out, we play a pretty demanding schedule and through the past two seasons, she has been our go-to person. Opponents know that she is our main weapon and she is still able to put up some tremendous hitting numbers from the outside."

For the year, Workinger is averaging 5.43 kills, 3.14 digs, 0.14 aces and 0.50 blocks a contest, while hitting .312. Overall, she leads Juniata in five statistical categories.

Juniata, ranked third in the 2001 preseason AVCA Division III Poll, will be back in action on Tuesday at Albright for a 6:00 p.m. conference match against the Lions before making a journey to fourth-ranked Washington (MO) for a match on Thursday evening. In addition, the Eagles will remain at Washington for a two-day, highly-competitive tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Bock enters the week of competition with 898 career victories. He needs just two more to become only the third volleyball coach (first in Division III) in NCAA history to record 900 triumphs.

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