March 18, 2013

AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass Sports Luncheon Committee decided on Michaela Butler and Chaz Williams as this week's UMass Co-Athletes of the Week. Butler excelled at the NCAA Zone A Diving Meet, earning herself a spot at NCAA's. Williams turned in another outstanding A-10 Tournament, leading to his placement on the A-10 All Championship team.

Williams led UMass to a a pair of victories en route to the school's second-consecutive A-10 Tournament semifinals appearances. He was named to the All-Championship team for the second-straight year as he averaged 20.7 points, 5.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds. Playing in front of his family and friends in his hometown of Brooklyn, he collected a season-high 28 points - 1 shy of his career high - in the quarterfinal win over Temple.

The Minutemen will play host to America East champion Stony Brook on Wednesday night at 7:15 p.m. in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Butler made UMass history when she advanced through the NCAA Zone A Diving qualifier last weekend. Butler, a Dennisport, Mass. native, becomes the first UMass women's swimmer or diver in the program's history to qualify for the NCAA meet. She joins Jason Cook (2009) and Billy Brown (1991) as the only other UMass swimming and diving athletes to qualify for NCAA's.

The 2013 NCAA Swimming and Diving Meet will be held from March 21-23 from the IU Natatorium and the IUPUI Sports Complex in Indianapolis, Ind.