GNAC Men's Volleyball Report: Week 1

( FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 18-27 )

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Francis Kokoros, Rivier (Jr, OH - Braintree, Mass.) Rivier faced off against three of the top-7 Division III teams in the nation last week, as Kokoros averaged 3.08 kills, 1.15 digs and 0.77 blocks per set in three setbacks to begin the 2019 campaign, while hitting .250. The junior opposite hitter scored 3.9 points per set against No. 2 Stevens, No. 7 Stevenson and No. 4 Kean, highlighting his week with 17 kills and a .324 hitting percentage in a 3-1 setback versus Stevens.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER / ROOKIE OF THE WEEK Orlando Plagata, Colby-Sawyer (Fr, OH - Los Angeles, Calif.) Plagata led the Chargers to a 2-0 start in the program's inaugural season, with 4.89 kills per set on a .274 hitting percentage to go along with 4.44 digs per set. In the first-ever match for Colby-Sawyer, Plagata posted a match-high 16 kills to go with 25 digs and help the team to a 3-1 win over So. Vermont. He finished the week with an impressive 28 kills on a .294 hitting and 15 digs to lead Colby-Sawyer to a 3-2 comeback win over Newbury.

WEEK 1 HONOR ROLL
Mark Piorkowski, Emerson (Senior, OH/RS - Montclair, N.J.) - Piorkowski helped Emerson to a 1-1 record in the Lions' opening two games, averaging 5.29 kills and 2.29 digs per set while hitting .295.  Against Nichols, Piorkowski totaled 21 kills (.429), 10 digs, two service aces and two blocks in a 3-1 victory over the Bison. He added 16 more kills against the St. Joseph's Golden Eagles, averaging 5.29 kills per set over the two matches. 

Sanjae Holloway, Johnson & Wales (RI) (Jr., OH - East Hartford, Conn.) - Holloway averaged 2.89 kills (.298), 1.89 digs and 0.67n blocks per set in a 2-1 opening week, producing 10 kills, seven digs and three blocks in a win over Baruch before adding nine kills and six digs versus Alvernia. He also had seven digs and two blocks in a loss against No. 1 Springfield. 

Ben Sandt, Johnson & Wales (RI) (Fr., S - East Northport, N.Y.) - The rookie averaged 9.22 assists and 0.67 blocks in three matches ... Had 34 assists and three blocks against Baruch ... Also had 28 assists and 2 blocks ... Started his career with 21 assists and 4 digs against No. 1 Springfield.

Matt Ferrara, Regis (Mass.) (Fr., OH - Haverhill, Mass.) - Ferrara enjoyed a stellar start to his collegiate career, averaging 2.88 kills per set on a .197 hitting percentage in a 1-1 week. After five kills against MIT,  he led the Pride with 18 kills and 14 digs for a double-double as Regis pulled out a 3-2 victory over Eastern Nazarene. 

GNAC MEN'S VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY ARCHIVE