Men's Volleyball

Rutgers-Newark Sweeps NJAC Men's Volleyball Weekly Honors; Kolodziej, Marke, Sturt Honored

PITMAN --- The New Jersey Athletic Conference has announced its men's volleyball weekly award winners for the week ending Feb. 22.
 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ALEKS KOLODZIEJ • Rutgers University-Newark
Junior • Opposite • Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge
 
Kolodziej is named NJAC Men's Volleyball Player of the Week after leading Rutgers-Newark to one of its biggest wins of the season — a five-set upset of No. 2 Stevens — before closing out a 2-0 week with a sweep of Drew. He was a force on both ends throughout, recording 13 kills and 13 digs in the thriller over the Ducks before adding 11 kills and eight digs against Drew, finishing the week with 24 kills, a .353 hitting percentage and 21 digs. He is currently ranked among NJAC leaders in a number of categories, including aces (3rd; 0.35/set), kills (5th; 2.63/set), points (5th; 3.21/set), digs (7th; 2.08/set), and hitting percentage (8th; .288).
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ADRIAN MARKE • Rutgers University-Newark
Freshman • Middle Blocker • Old Bridge, NJ / Old Bridge
 
Marke earns his first career NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honor. He was at the center of Rutgers-Newark's stunning five-set upset of No. 2 Stevens, tying his career high with five blocks as he relentlessly disrupted the Ducks' attack and helped swing the momentum of one of the program's most significant victories in recent years. He backed it up with two more blocks in a sweep of Drew, finishing the week with seven total blocks in a 2-0 run. Marke currently ranks second in the NJAC in blocks per set (1.05) and sixth in hitting percentage (.351) in his first season.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
DUNCAN STURT • Rutgers University-Newark
Freshman • Setter • Livingston, NJ / Livingston
 
Sturt collects his fifth NJAC Rookie of the Week award in six weeks after he orchestrated one of Rutgers-Newark's most memorable wins in recent memory, tying his career high with 54 assists as the Scarlet Raiders knocked off No. 2 Stevens in five sets. He kept the offense balanced and relentless throughout the hard-fought victory before turning around and distributing 33 more assists in a sweep of Drew, finishing the week with 87 total assists in a 2-0 performance. Sturt leads the NJAC in assists per set (10.21) and is the only player averaging double-figure assists per set.