GNAC Men's Volleyball Report: Week 6
Rivier's David Smith collected his second straight GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honor after the Raiders took down No. 1 Springfield in straight sets on the road last week.
( FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 25 - MARCH 3 )
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OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK David Smith, Rivier (Jr, OH - Clinton, Ohio) Smith, the reigning GNAC Offensive Player of the Week, continued his dominant play in leading Rivier to a 2-0 week, including a 3-0 sweep of No. 1 nationally-ranked Springfield. The junior outside hitter averaged 3.83 kills per set while hitting an impressive .455. Smith was electric against Springfield, hitting .435 with 12 kills. It was the second time in program history Rivier has knocked off the No. 1 ranked D3 program, last happening in 2014 also against Springfield. Smith followed up with 11 kills in a 3-0 sweep of Lasell at home. |
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DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Erik English, Emmanuel (Mass.) (Sr, OH - Simi Valley, Calif.) English averaged 3.10 kills, 3.70 digs and 1.80 service aces per set over 10 sets in a 3-0 week for Emmanuel. The senior recorded 14 kills in an impressive 3-1 win over MIT and then combined for 17 kills in a sweep over Pine Manor including the 1,000th of his career. The California native also played great defense with 37 digs and added 18 aces on the week. |
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ROOKIE OF THE WEEK Kostea Andreenko, Regis (Mass.) (So., MB - Marstons Mills, Mass.) Playing his first season of collegiate volleyball, Andreenko had 12 kills in the Pride's 3-0 GNAC victory over Colby-Sawyer, while making just one attack error in 17 attempts for a .647 hitting percentage, his highest hitting percentage when making at least 10 attack attempts. In addition, he led Regis with four total blocks (1.33 per set). |
WEEK 6 HONOR ROLL
Dashaun Graham, Rivier (Sr, MH - Highlands Falls, N.Y.) - Graham was a monster at the net helping Rivier to a 2-0 week including a 3-0 sweep over #1 Springfield College. The middle blocker put back an impressive 8 blocks for a 2.67 blocks/set average in the sweep over Springfield. Graham finished his week with a 1.67 blocks/set average on defense while chipping in on offense with 1.5 kills/set and a .286 hitting percentage. This is the 2nd time in program history Rivier has knocked off a #1 ranked team - last happening in 2014 against then #1 ranked Springfield.
GNAC MEN'S VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY ARCHIVE
| WEEK | OFFENSIVE PLAYER | DEFENSIVE PLAYER | ROOKIE |
| 1 | Francis Kokoros, RIV | Orlando Plagata, CSC | Orlando Plagata, CSC |
| 2 | Ryan Love, WIT | Peter Klembczyk, WIT | Ian Carlson, WIT |
| 3 | Pedro Campos, RIV | Cam Roth, RIV | Orlando Plagata, CSC (2) |
| 4 | Pedro Campos, RIV (2) | Jordan Aprea, LAS | Jack Normandin, RIV |
| 5 | David Smith, RIV | Kostea Andreenko, REG | Drew Potter, WIT |
| 6 | David Smith, RIV (2) | Erik English, EMM | Kostea Andreenko, REG |
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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