Abram Named National Volleyball Player of the Week

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced today 
that Emmanuel’s Curtis Abram has been named the Sports Imports/AVCA Men's Volleyball Division III National Player of the Week.  Abram, a 6’2 junior outside hitter from San Luis Obispo, California, is only the second athlete from Emmanuel to ever receive National Player of the Week accolades. Abram earned the award for his efforts in propelling the Saints to a 6-0 week, including victories over three teams ranked in the top-ten of the AVCA Men’s Division III Coaches Top 15 Poll. Abram kicked things off by tallying 17 kills, four digs, three blocks and two aces in Emmanuel’s first upset of the week, a four-set conference victory over then-No. 6 Rivier College. Next up, the junior notched a double-double in the Saints’ 3-2 win over then-No. 10 Milwaukee School of Engineering, bashing 27 kills and picking up 13 digs in the process.

 In Emmanuel’s sweep of New Haven to begin the MIT Invitational, the spark plug turned in another 17-kill outing, while also adding seven digs and three aces. Abram continued his hot streak by putting down 11 kills and picking up four digs in a whitewashing of Bard. He turned in his second 20-plus kill outing of the week in the Saints’ 3-1 victory over then-No. 5 Carthage, smashing 25 bombs, in addition to grabbing eight digs. Abram capped his stellar play with a 13-kill, six-dig, five-block outing in Emmanuel’s blanking of Mount Saint Vincent.

 For the week, Abram, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the MIT Invitational, hit at a .411 clip and averaged 5.00 kills, 1.91 digs and 5.73 points per game.  In the Saints’ Sunday morning win over Carthage, Abram also recorded his 1,000^th collegiate career kill, becoming just the fourth player in program history to reach this milestone.

 *Courtesy Emmanuel College Athletic Communications