Photo courtesy Springfield athletics.

Eric Shoemaker, a 6-1 setter for then-No. 2 Springfield College, has been named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division III Men’s National Player of the Week. He receives the award after earning Most Valuable Player honors while leading the Pride to the winner’s circle in the 2008 Molten Division III Men’s Invitational Volleyball Championship. In Springfield’s opening match of the tournament, a 3-1 win over four-time defending champion Juniata College, Shoemaker led his team to a .358 team hitting percentage behind 62 assists, while contributing one kill, eight digs and three blocks in the contest. In the championship match, a sweep of then-No. 3 Vassar College, Shoemaker led his team to a .361 hitting percentage on 42 assists, while scoring two kills, four digs and seven blocks in the win. For the tournament, he averaged 14.86 assists per game while guiding the Pride to a stellar .359 team hitting percentage. He also chipped in 1.71 digs, 1.43 blocks and 1.2 points per game. Shoemaker’s honor marks the 15th time a player from Springfield has earned the Sports Imports/AVCA Division III Men's National Player of the Week award. The last player to receive the honor was AJ Nally on March 10, 2008. Springfield is coached by Charlie Sullivan.