(Posted January 31, 2006)

Huntingdon, PA - Juniata College sophomore men's volleyball player Matt Fritz (John Carroll/Churchville, Md.) has been named the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Division III Player of the Week for his efforts in helping Juniata claim a pair of wins last week. It is the first conference honor that Fritz has collected in his career, and is also the first weekly honor the Juniata men's volleyball team has earned in 2006.

Fritz posted two of the best performances of his young career as Juniata earned its first two victories of 2006 last week. He knocked out a career-best 20 kills with a .471 hitting percentage as the second-ranked Eagles topped third-ranked Division III rival New York University. Along with his offense, Fritz contributed five digs, four blocks and an ace in the match. The previous night he had matched his career-best with 13 kills in a victory over Division II East Stroudsburg. He added eight digs in that victory, along with two blocks and two aces. Fritz piled up 40 points on the week and averaged 4.12 kills per game with a .318 hitting percentage.

After seeing action as a part-time starter in his freshman season Fritz has enjoyed a breakthrough start to the 2006 season. He has led Juniata in kills in two of its three matches this season, and is the team leader in kills with 42. He is also second on the team with 20 digs and ranks third in both blocks and hitting percentage. His 49 points are the best on the team, and are just 23 points shy of his total from all of his freshman season. In 27 games as a freshman Fritz piled up 62 kills, 34 digs and nine blocks with a .280 hitting percentage. He topped 10 kills in two matches during his first collegiate season, a feat he has already matched in his sophomore campaign.

Fritz has helped the Eagles get off to a 2-1 start, including a 1-0 record in EIVA Tait Division play. After claiming its second-consecutive Molten Division III Invitational and EIVA Division III Championship last season, Juniata is currently ranked second in the most recent CSTV/AVCA Division III Men's Coaches Top 15 Poll. Juniata gets back in action Tuesday night when they travel to play Division II Mercyhurst.

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