April 1, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) has announced its third Hall of Fame Class, which is highlighted by former Nittany Lion Ramon Hernandez. Hernandez and two others will be honored at the 2014 EIVA Championship match April 26th at the site of the highest seeded team.
"Ramon was certainly the best I've ever seen in the EIVA. He was one of the most clutch players not only in Penn State history, but in EIVA history too," head coach Mark Pavlik said.
Hernandez earned AVCA All-America honors in three consecutive seasons at Penn State, while also garnering four straight First Team All-East/All-EIVA honors from 1991-94. While at Penn State, Hernandez also worked his way to the top of the record book, as he currently ranks among the top five in all three blocking categories in PSU history. His 107 solo blocks ranks first all-time, while his 390 block assists ranks fifth and his 497 total blocks ranks third.
He also ranks among the top five in the Nittany Lions career record book in both kills and digs. His 1,693 kills ranks third all-time while his 820 digs also ranks third.
Hernandez was also instrumental in helping Penn State capture its first NCAA national championship in program history. His team-high 38 kills on .444 hitting guided Penn State to a 3-2 comeback victory against UCLA in the national finals. He earned NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player honors for his standout performance.
Following graduation from Penn State, Hernandez represented Puerto Rico at the 2004 XXVIII Olympic Games in Athens, Greece with his beach volleyball partner Perez Papaelo.
"The EIVA is pleased to announce this year's Hall of Fame class," EIVA President Ron Shayka said. "Both Paslawsky and Hernandez were players who were capable of taking over matches and carrying their team on their backs. We are also pleased to recognize a fine leader and international official who worked many early ECVL (EIVA) matches that helped elevate the quality of eastern collegiate volleyball."
Aside from Hernandez this year's EIVA Hall of Fame Class features former Rutgers-Newark student-athletes, Don Kruger and Nestor Paslawsky.