TOWNSEND NAMED DIVISION III NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

March 23, 2009

Michael Townsend, a 5-8 junior outside hitter for Emmanuel College, has been named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division III Men's Volleyball National Player of the Week. The American Volleyball Coaches Association made the announcement on March 23, 2009.  Townsend earns the award after helping his team win two matches last week, including a victory over then-No. 12 ranked Newbury College. In that first match, a 3-0 win over the Nighthawks, he had 14 kills, six digs, six aces and a block. Townsend scored his first of two double-doubles in the Saints' next contest, a tough 3-2 loss to MIT, notching 16 kills, 11 digs and three blocks. In Emmanuel's next match, he put away 16 kills and had six digs, three aces and one block in a sweep of Johnson & Wales. He finished out the week with his second double-double, racking up 22 kills, 13 digs and four aces in another tough five-game loss, this time coming at the hands of SUNY New Paltz.

For the week, Townsend averaged 4.25 kills, 2.25 digs and 5.25 points per game. In addition, he recorded his 392nd kill this season, setting a new single-season record for the Saints. He also eclipsed the 1,000 kill mark, making him just the third Emmanuel player to accomplish that feat. Townsend is the first athlete from Emmanuel to receive Sports Imports/AVCA Division III Men's National Player of the Week honors.  This week, the Beaverdam, Virginia native was also named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference's Player of the Week, an honor he is receiving for the third time this season.