Coleman and Witkofsky named AVCA All-Americans
April 8, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Endicott College's Dan Coleman (Millis, Mass.) and A.J. Witkofsky (Scotia, N.Y.) have been named to the 2008 American Volleyball Coaches Association's (AVCA) 5th Annual AVCA Division III Men's All-America Teams. Coleman earns his second First Team All-American award, while Witkofsky was named a Second Team recipient for the first time in his career.
Dan Coleman had another sensational year for the Gulls. In 118 games played, Coleman compiled 475 digs, good for the second-best total in program history. A 2006 All-American, Dan averaged 4.03 digs per game, the third-best average in the nation. Coleman now owns the three best single-season dig performances in Endicott history.
A.J. Witkofsky earns his first collegiate All-American award, as he was named a Second Team recipient after a standout sophomore season. Witkofsky tallied 578 kills in 116 games, an average of 4.98 kills per game (6th best in the country). A.J. came just 25 kills shy of breaking the all-time Endicott record of 603 in a season. Witkofsky ranked second nationally in blocks (1.41 per game) and fifth in point (5.95). His attack percentage of .356 is third in Endicott program history.
The University of California, Santa Cruz led the way with three student-athletes on the AVCA Division III Men's First-Team All-America. Vassar College also had three student-athletes honored, placing two players on the First-Team and one on the Second-Team. This year's First-Team features only two seniors, the fewest in the five years of the program.
Matt Werle of Juniata College, the 2007 AVCA Division III Men's National Player of the Year, is making his second consecutive appearance on the AVCA Division III Men's First-Team All-America, earning his third All-American honor overall. Andy Sipe of Springfield College is the only other player making at least his third appearance on an AVCA Division III Men's All-America Team, having garnered First-Team honors in 2007 and Second-Team honors in 2006.
The selections were made by the AVCA Division III Men's Volleyball All-America Committee: chairperson Charlie Sullivan (Springfield College); Tim Byram (Endicott College); Jonah Carson (University of California, Santa Cruz); Patrick Dorywalski (Stevens Institute of Technology); and Keith Koch (Medaille College).
2008 AVCA Division III First-Team All-America
| Player | Institution | Pos | Yr | Ht | Hometown |
| Justin Brubaker | Philadelphia Biblical University | OH | Fr. | 6-4 | Telford, Pennsylvania |
| Dan Coleman ^ | Endicott College | DS/Lib. | Jr. | 6-0 | Millis, Massachusetts |
| Austin Einhorn | University of California, Santa Cruz | MB | So. | 6-5 | Encinitas, California |
| John Kessenich | Vassar College | S | Jr. | 6-4 | Chicago, Illinois |
| Cal Palumbo | Springfield College | MB | Fr. | 6-5 | Hilton, New York |
| Bryan Shires + | University of California, Santa Cruz | OH | Sr. | 6-3 | San Diego, California |
| Brad Sullivan | University of California, Santa Cruz | OH | So. | 6-3 | Saratoga, California |
| Phil Tully | Vassar College | OH | So. | 6-6 | Huntington Station, New York |
| Matt Werle *! | Juniata College | S | Jr. | 6-5 | Meadville, Pennsylvania |
| Jonathan Wintermeyer + | New York University | MB | Sr. | 6-6 | San Luis Obispo, California |
2008 AVCA Division III Second-Team All-America
| Player | Institution | Pos | Yr | Ht | Hometown |
| Andrew Cranford ^ | Stevens Institute of Technology | MB | Jr. | 6-5 | Bel Air, Maryland |
| Kyle Giunta | Vassar College | DS/Lib. | Sr. | 5-8 | Penfield, New York |
| Francis Hodgson | New York University | MB | Fr. | 6-6 | Surf City, New Jersey |
| Frank Leahy | Nazareth College | S | Jr. | 6-0 | Smithtown, New York |
| Tom Maving + | Nazareth College | OH | Sr. | 6-1 | Tonawanda, New York |
| Praveen Pamidimukkala ! | MIT | OH | Sr. | 6-3 | Edison, New Jersey |
| Dan Powers | Juniata College | MB | Jr. | 6-4 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
| Andy Sipe * ! | Springfield College | MB | Jr. | 6-8 | New Oxford, Pennsylvania |
| Tim Walker | Carthage College | MB | Fr. | 6-4 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| A.J. Witkofsky | Endicott College | MB | So. | 6-4 | Scotia, New York |
2008 AVCA Division III National Player of the Year:
Announced April 10 at the Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship banquet in Springfield, Mass.
2008 AVCA Division III Newcomer of the Year:
Cal Palumbo, Springfield College
* - 2007 AVCA Division III Men's First-Team All-America selection
+ - 2007 AVCA Division III Men's Second-Team All-America selection
^ - 2006 AVCA Division III Men's First-Team All-America selection
! - 2006 AVCA Division III Men's Second-Team All-America selection