NEW PALTZ — In recognition of helping fifth-ranked SUNY New Paltz win two matches against ranked teams last week, Sean Riley has been selected as the American Volleyball Coaches Association/Sports Imports Division III National Player of the Week.
Riley, a junior middle hitter from Port Jefferson Station, NY, is the second SUNY New Paltz men’s volleyball player in the past three weeks to garner this honor. Two weeks ago, sophomore setter Beau Warren was the National Player of the Week after, among other things, posting the only quadruple-double in collegiate volleyball this season.
Riley averaged 2.63 kills, 1.8 blocks, and nearly a dig per game in New Paltz’s wins over 10th-ranked Roger Williams and ninth-ranked D’Youville. He made just six hitting errors in 41 attempts while accumulating 21 kills for a stellar .366 hitting percentage over the Hawks’ two matches.
He had 12 kills, seven blocks, two digs and a service ace, while hitting .474 to lead New Paltz to a three-set win over Roger Williams, the Hawks’ second victory in three meetings. And against D’Youville, Riley contributed nine kills, seven blocks and four digs, as the Hawks rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win in five games.
New Paltz, which has won 16 of its last 18 matches, currently boasts the best record in Division III. Additionally, the Hawks have won two straight since having their nine-match win streak snapped by Division II Southampton on February 24, and have compiled a 9-1 mark against other ranked Top 15 teams this season.
Riley is a computer science major at New Paltz, with a minor in math. He is a 1998 Comsewogue High graduate.
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Note to editors: Photos of Sean Riley can be downloaded from the SUNY New Paltz web site at http://hawk.newpaltz.edu/news/images/riley.html.
