PITMAN --- The New Jersey Athletic Conference has announced its men's volleyball weekly award winners for the week ending Feb. 1.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MICHAEL SUAREZ • Rutgers University-Newark
Sophomore • Outside Hitter • Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill
Suarez earns NJAC Player of the Week honors after leading the Scarlet Raiders in kills during a perfect 3-0 week at the Eastern Mennonite Tournament. The sophomore outside hitter recorded 32 kills while hitting .232 and added 19 digs and five total blocks on the defensive end. Suarez opened the tournament with his strongest performance, posting 15 kills, 10 digs and four total blocks against host Eastern Mennonite before contributing seven kills in a sweep of Bethany. He closed the weekend with 10 kills and seven digs in another sweep against Stevenson, consistently providing offensive firepower throughout Rutgers-Newark's undefeated tournament run. Suarez currently ranks fourth in the NJAC in both points (3.41/set) and kills (3.07/set), and is seventh in hitting percentage (.232).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
AMARU PERALES • New Jersey City University
Senior • Middle Blocker • Harrison, NJ/Harrison
Perales claims NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording 14 total blocks during a 2-1 week at the Statesman Tournament, averaging 1.08 blocks per set. The senior middle blocker served as the Gothic Knights' defensive anchor at the net against competition that included #20 Hobart, #RV Nazareth and Trine. Perales posted eight blocks in a four-set victory over Nazareth and added four more in a triumph over Trine, forming an impenetrable wall when NJCU needed crucial defensive stops. His blocking presence helped secure two tournament victories while also contributing 29 kills and a .407 hitting percentage on the offensive end. Perales currently ranks third in the NJAC in hitting percentage (.360) and fourth in blocks (0.95/set).
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
DUNCAN STURT • Rutgers University-Newark
Freshman • Setter • Livingston, NJ/Livingston
Sturt garners NJAC Rookie of the Week recognition for the third straight week after orchestrating a high-powered Scarlet Raiders offense during a 3-0 week at the Eastern Mennonite Tournament. The freshman setter totaled 98 assists over the weekend while adding nine kills and four service aces. Sturt opened the tournament with a career-high 44 assists in a four-set victory over host Eastern Mennonite, then distributed 22 assists in a sweep of Bethany before closing the weekend with 32 assists in another sweep against Stevenson. The first-year floor general currently ranks second in the NJAC in assists (9.04/set).