After a 2-0 home sweep of LIU, University of Maryland Eastern Shore freshman Joshua Hightower has secured NEC Rookie of the Week honors. It is the first weekly award for Hightower this season.

In addition to being named Rookie of the Week, Hightower and junior Andre Mills were named as NEC Prime Performers.

NEC MEN'S VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jamal Ellis, FDU (Sr., OPP)
Bayamón, Puerto Rico/Academia Discípulos de Cristo
Ellis totaled 28 kills (4.00 kills per set) and 33.5 points (4.79 points per set) across seven sets while helping the Knights to a 2-0 week. Ellis also added eight total blocks (1.14 blocks per set), including one solo block and seven block assists in back-to-back wins.

NEC MEN'S VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rayjan Suarez Palacios, FDU (Jr., MB)
San Antonio, Texas/Clark
Suarez Palacios anchored the FDU front line during a 2-0 week recording 12 total blocks (1.71 blocks per set), including one solo block and 11 block assists. He also contributed 12 kills (1.71 kills per set) and two service aces across seven sets for the Knights.

NEC MEN'S VOLLEYBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Joshua Hightower, UMES (Fr., OH)
Irvine, CA/Northwood High School
Hightower played a key role in UMES's 2-0 week, ranking among the NEC leaders in hitting percentage, kills and points. The freshman outside hitter totaled 27 kills (3.38 kills per set) and 29.5 points (3.69 points per set) across eight sets while hitting .375. He also added five block assists as the Hawks earned a pair of conference wins over LIU.


NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Ethan Robinson, DYO (Jr., OH)
Robinson totaled 15 total kills (3.00 kills per set) and 18.0 total points (3.60 points per set) in D'Youville's five-set match against Roberts Wesleyan.

Patrick Mullen, DAE (R-So., RS)
Mullen led the NEC with 35 total kills (5.00 kills per set) and 40.0 total points (5.71 points per set) across two matches.

Laydon Biro, FDU (So., OH)
Biro recorded 27 total kills (3.86 kills per set), 29.0 total points (4.14 points per set) and hit .353 in FDU's 2-0 week.

Jamal Ellis, FDU (Sr., OPP)
Ellis totaled 28 kills (4.00 kills per set) and 33.5 points (4.79 points per set) across seven sets.

Dylan McFadden, FDU (Sr., OH)
McFadden posted 19 total digs (2.71 digs per set) and seven total blocks (1.00 blocks per set) during the Knights' series sweep.

RayJan Suarez Palacios, FDU (Jr., MB)
Suarez Palacios anchored the FDU front line during a 2-0 week recording 12 total blocks (1.71 blocks per set), including one solo block and 11 block assists.

Max Larcheid, MC (Fr., MB)
Larcheid recorded 10 total blocks (1.25 blocks per set) in a 1-1 week for Manhattan.

Joshua Hightower, UMES (Fr., OH)
Hightower totaled 27 kills (3.38 kills per set) and 29.5 points (3.69 points per set) across eight sets while hitting .375.

Andre Mills, UMES (Jr., OPP)
Mills recorded 20 total kills (2.86 kills per set), 27.5 total points (3.93 points per set) and 20 total digs (2.86 digs per set) in UMES's two wins.

Cole Dorn, SFU (Sr., OH)
Dorn had 23 total kills (2.88 kills per set), 31.0 total points (3.88 points per set) and five service aces (0.63 aces per set).

Brady Stump, SFU (Sr., OH)
Stump finished with 26 total kills (3.25 kills per set), 30.5 total points (3.81 points per set) and four service aces (0.50 aces per set).

2026 MEN'S VOLLEYBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:

NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jan. 13: Brady Stump, SFU (Sr., OH)
Jan. 20: Ike Vernon, LIU (Fr., OH/RS)
Jan. 27: Kasen Owens, MAN (So., OH)
Feb. 3: Laydon Biro, FDU (So., OH)
Feb. 10: Patrick Mullen, DAE (R-So., RS)
Feb. 17: Laydon Biro, FDU (So., OH)
Feb. 24: Brady Stump, SFU (Sr., OH)
Mar. 3: Andre Mills, UMES (Jr., OPP)
Mar. 11: Ike Vernon, LIU (Fr., OH/RS)
Mar. 17: Owen Holowecky, LIU (So., S)
Mar. 24: Jamal Ellis, FDU (Sr., OPP)
Mar. 30: Owen Holowecky, LIU (So., S)
Apr. 6: Jamal Ellis, FDU (Sr., OPP)

NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jan. 13: Chase Valentine, UMES (Fr., MB)
Jan. 20: Peter Leicht, DAE (R-So., OH)
Jan. 27: Marcellus Owens, UMES (Fr., OH)
Feb. 3: Patrick Mullen, DAE (R-So., RS)
Feb. 10: Chase Valentine, UMES (Fr., MB)
Feb. 17: Chase Valentine, UMES (Fr., MB)
Feb. 24: Chase Valentine, UMES (Fr., MB)
Mar. 3: Chase Valentine, UMES (Fr., MB)
Mar. 11: Max Larcheid, MC (Fr., MB)
Mar. 17: Vanja Petrasinovic, LIU (Sr., OH/RS)
Mar. 24: Rayjan Suarez Palacios, FDU (Jr., MB)
Mar. 30: Rayjan Suarez Palacios, FDU (Jr., MB)
Apr. 6: Rayjan Suarez Palacios, FDU (Jr., MB)

NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Jan. 13: Chase Valentine, UMES (Fr., MB)
Jan. 20: Ike Vernon, LIU (Fr., OH/RS)
Jan. 27: Ike Vernon, LIU (Fr., OH/RS)
Feb. 3: Tristan Rowley, UMES (Fr., OH/OPP)
Feb. 10: Tristan Rowley, UMES (Fr., OH/OPP)
Feb. 17: Chase Valentine, UMES (Fr., MB)
Feb. 24: Chase Valentine, UMES (Fr., MB)
Mar. 3: Tristan Rowley, UMES (Fr., OH/OPP)
Mar. 11: Ike Vernon, LIU (Fr., OH/RS)
Mar. 17: Ike Vernon, LIU (Fr., OH/RS)
Mar. 24: Xander Horst, MC (Fr., MB)
Mar. 30: Ike Vernon, LIU (Fr., OH/RS)
Apr. 6: Joshua Hightower, UMES (Fr., OH)