TOWNSEND NAMED GNAC P.O.W. FOR 2ND TIME IN '09

March 9, 2009

Emmanuel College's Michael Townsend recently received his second Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Week recognition for the 2009 season. Townsend's most recent conference honor came on March 9th, after the junior captain led the Saints to a 5-1 week, including a 1st place finish in the MIT Invitational Tournament. The Beaverdam, Va. native was selected the tournament's Most Valuable Player, as he powered the Saints to their 2nd MIT title in four appearances. Townsend hit .351 for the week, averaging 3.71 kills per set, with 63 total kills in 114 swings. He also notched 38 digs and averaged 1.0 aces per set over the six matches last week. Townsend currently leads Emmanuel with an average of 4.15 kills, 2.53 digs, and 0.65 aces per set. Townsend is also up there among the national leaders in each of these categories, as he is ranked 6th in aces, 12th in kills, and 30th in digs per set. Heading into the last few weeks of the season, the junior outside hitter is currently 68 kills shy of 1,000 for his collegiate career and just 45 kills away from the program record for kills in a season (369 - set by Stephen Yates in 2006).