Junior setter Christian Smith of Massapequa of the No. 5 State University of New York at New Paltz men’s volleyball team has been named the Sports Imports American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Week for the period ending March 8, announced on Tuesday.
Smith was also named the United Volleyball Conference (UVC) Player of the Week, the first Player of the Week award for the Hawks this season and the second of Smith’s career, as he earned the honor as a freshman on Jan. 28, 2013.
Smith helped lead the Hawks to a 3-0 week (2-0 UVC) with victories over No. 1 Kean (3-0), No. 8 Nazareth (3-2) and Vassar (3-0). For the week, Smith led the team with 33 kills while hitting .526 (33-3-57). Smith also showed off his distribution skills, posting a team-high 60 assists while recording 17 digs, four service aces and three total blocks.
Against top-ranked Kean on Wednesday, Smith filled the stat sheet with eight kills, a team-best 21 assists, seven digs and one block assist. Versus No. 8 Nazareth, Smith helped lead the Hawks to victory despite trailing 2-sets-to-1. Smith hit .542 (15-2-24) and tallied 24 assists for the double-double. The junior also registered seven digs and three aces.
Against Vassar, Smith hit .667 (10-0-15) and recorded 15 assists for another double-double. He chipped in three digs, two block assists and one ace.
Smith and the Hawks (11-3, 4-1 UVC) host conference foe New York University on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m.
