NEW PALTZ — SUNY New Paltz men’s volleyball standout Chris Wright was rewarded for his outstanding play in the Hawks’ three matches last week with his selection this afternoon as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Sports Imports Division III Men’s National Player of the Week.
Wright, a junior middle hitter, averaged 3.75 kills per game and had an astounding .500 hitting percentage against two nationally-ranked opponents and a Division II school last week for the (7-10) Hawks, ranked 10th in the latest AVCA Division III Top 15 Poll.
In a four-game upset of fourth-ranked D’Youville College (15-8, 15-3, 13-15, 15-4) on Saturday afternoon, Wright had one of his finest performances to date, with 17 kills and nine blocks. Earlier in the day against 15th-ranked Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wright made just one error in 16 hitting attempts while collecting 12 kills (.688 hitting percentage) and eight blocks to help the Hawks snap a modest two-match losing skid (15-10, 15-11, 15-6). He was also perfect in six serve attempts and recorded two service aces.
Against Division II East Stroudsburg on Thursday night, Wright contributed 16 kills, six blocks and five digs as New Paltz, which led two games to none in the contest, lost to the Warriors in five (10-15, 13-15, 15-12, 15-12, 15-9).
For the season, Wright is ranked fourth nationally in Division III hitting percentage (.410) and is eighth in blocking average (1.33 blocks/game). Midway through his third season at New Paltz, Wright has career totals of 1,144 kills, 317 blocks and 277 digs.
He is an Interpersonal/Intercultural Communications major with a journalism minor, and a 1993 graduate of LaGuardia High School in Manhattan. Prior to his enrollment at New Paltz, Wright spent four years in the United States Navy, where in 1995 he was named to the All-Navy Volleyball team.
