(Posted November 28, 2000)

Junior outside hitter Brandy Workinger (Dallastown/Dallastown), sophomore middle hitter Niki Mueller (Bishop Guilfoyle/Altoona) and sophomore setter Jesse Woods (Bothell/Seattle) were all named first-team members on the Commonwealth Conference all-star unit. In addition, Workinger was tabbed as the Commonwealth Most Valuable Player.

Workinger, who was a Commonwealth second-team pick a year ago, was recognized as the Conference's Player of the Week three times this fall. In addition, she was the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Sports Imports Division III national player of the week once. Workinger posted 30-or-more kills in a match three times this season, including a career-high 34 against Nebraska Wesleyan on October 7. For the year, she led the conference in kills per game and digs an outing. Through November 11, Workinger was averaging 4.93 kills and 4.62 digs per game. She has tallied a Juniata single-season record 681 kills this fall and overall, she leads the Eagles in nine statistical categories. Workinger owns club-high totals in kills, kill attempts (1,429), hitting percentage (.344), digs (638) and solo blocks (26).

Woods, who is in her first season as the club's setter, picked up all-conference honors for the first time this fall. She has passed out 1,452 assists for a 12.41 assist-per-game average and is first on the club with 59 aces. In addition, she is third on the squad in digs with 353 (3.02) and has tallied 81 kills on 173 attempts and just 13 errors for a .393 hitting percentage. Woods was named the Commonwealth Player of the Week two times this fall and was tabbed as AVCA/Sports Imports Division III Player of the Week once. She had a season-high 80 assists against Edinboro on September 2.

Mueller, who was the Commonwealth Rookie of the Year in 1999, was forced out of the Juniata lineup two times this fall due to injury, but still leads the Eagles in total blocks (85) and blocking average (0.81). She is hitting .322 with 275 kills (fourth on the team) and has 42 digs for the year. Mueller has played in 109 games and has reached double figures in kills 13 times, including a season-high 16 terminations against Edinboro on September 2 and Princeton on September 29.

Juniata, ranked fifth in the final AVCA Division III poll, will take its 32-8 record into the NCAA Division III quarterfinals this Saturday when it hosts Cortland State (31-11) at 7:00 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium. The winner will move on to the national semifinals/finals on December 1-2 at a site that will be determined following play this weekend.

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