(Posted April 11, 2006)

Huntingdon, PA - Juniata College junior men's volleyball player Jeremy Barndt has been selected as the AVCA/Sports Imports Division III National Player of the Week for his role in helping Juniata to the Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship. It is the first national player of the week award that Barndt has captured in his career, and is the third time this season a Juniata player has earned the honor.

Barndt was named the Most Valuable Player of the Molten Championship as he helped the Eagles earn their third-consecutive title. The junior knocked out 20 kills over the two matches and posted a remarkable .679 hitting percentage. He committed just one attack error on 28 swings over the weekend, including 13 kills with just one hitting error in the semifinal victory over Stevens Institute of Technology. In the championship match win over UC-Santa Cruz he knocked out seven kills without a hitting error, while adding three blocks, two aces and a dig. For the tournament Barndt averaged 3.33 kills, and 4.25 points per game while contributing five blocks, three aces, three digs and four assists.

"Jeremy played some of his best volleyball of the season this past weekend, and is certainly deserving of this award," Juniata Head Men's Volleyball Coach Ken Shibuya said. "Jeremy does so many different things well, that when he's sharp, like he was this weekend, then he's really tough to stop. He's been one of our most consistent players all season and it was great to see him really take his game up a few notches for the big matches."

Barndt has been one of Juniata's most consistent all-around players in his junior season as he ranks among the team leaders in several categories. He earned AVCA Division III All-America recognition for the second time in his career. His 97 blocks are a career-high and are tops on the team while he also leads the squad with his .394 hitting percentage. Barndt ranks third on the team with his 207 kills, and is also third in serve aces. His 277.5 points are the second-highest total on the team.

After claiming its third-consecutive Molten Championship, the Eagles raised their record to 12-11 on the season. Juniata will now close out the regular season with matches against Mercyhurst and George Mason before beginning the EIVA Postseason Tournament.

###

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

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