(Posted April 4, 2007)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Juniata College will be the host of the Molten Division III Men\'s Invitational Tournament set for April 13-14, 2007 according to The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), USA Volleyball (USAV), and Molten U.S.A.,Inc. who announced Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. as the host institution. Juniata is the three-time defending champion of the Molten Invitational, and is looking to become the first program to win four-consecutive Molten Championships. The semifinals will be held at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, April 13. The consolation match will then be at 5 p.m. on Saturday April 14, with the championship match to follow at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $3 for students with identification, and $2 for children under 12. All four matches will be held in Memorial Gymnasium in the Kennedy Sports & Recreation Center on the Juniata campus. Juniata received an automatic berth into the four-team championship as the host institution. Springfield College (Mass.) also earned a spot in the field by qualifying for the EIVA Division III Championship where the team will face Juniata. Stevens Institute of Technology claimed the championship of the North East Collegiate Volleyball Championship (NECVA) to earn an automatic bid to the Molten Invitational. Rounding out the field is Carthage College which received an invitation as an at-large selection representing the Midwest and West regions. \"The Juniata and Huntingdon communities are delighted to be hosting the 2007 Molten Invitational,\" said Larry Bock, Juniata College Director of Athletics. \"We feel strongly about the advancement of men\'s volleyball, and feel this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase an exciting sport.\" This season will mark the third time that Juniata has hosted the Molten Invitational Championship. The first Molten Championship Tournament was held in Huntingdon in 1997, and Juniata then hosted the event again in 2003. The 2003 event was the last time Juniata did not win the title, as the Eagles were defeated in four games by Springfield. Now in its 11th year, the championship was formed due to a need for a culminating event for Division III men's volleyball. While the NCAA sponsors a national championship for men's volleyball, programs from all three divisions compete for just four berths in the yearly tournament. In the 36-year history of the men's tournament, no Division III program has been selected to participate in the NCAA National Collegiate Men's Volleyball Championship. Molten U.S.A., Inc. is the "Official Volleyball of the Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship," as well as the "Official ball of the AVCA." Sports Imports is the "Official Net System Supplier of the Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship." Mizuno USA is the "Official Apparel & Shoe Sponsor of the Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship.\" ###

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