NEC Player of the Week: Andre Mills, UMES
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Chase Valentine, UMES
NEC Rookie of the Week: Tristan Rowley, UMES
Previous NEC Releases: February 24 | February 17 | February 10 | February 3 | January 27 | January 20 | January 13 | Preseason Poll Release

NEC MEN'S VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Andre Mills, UMES (Jr., OPP)
Ft. Lauderdale, FL/JP Taravella
Mills powered UMES to a 2-0 week and the top offensive ranking in the NEC, highlighted by a dominant performance from the service line. The junior opposite totaled 20 kills (2.86 kills per set) and 31.5 points (4.50 points per set) across seven sets. Most notably, Mills led the conference with 9 service aces (1.29 aces per set), including a six-ace performance against D’Youville. His serving pressure helped UMES lead the conference in team aces (19) and aces per set (2.71) while maintaining the league’s top hitting percentage (.415).

NEC MEN'S VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER & ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Chase Valentine, UMES (Fr., MB)
Kaysville, UT/Davis High School
Valentine anchored the league’s top defensive unit as UMES held opponents to a conference-best .206 hitting percentage. The freshman middle blocker recorded 10 total blocks (1.43 blocks per set), including two solo blocks and eight block assists. Valentine also added 14 kills (2.00 kills per set) while hitting .423, highlighted by a seven-block performance against D’Youville. 

NEC MEN'S VOLLEYBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Tristan Rowley, UMES (Fr., OH/OPP)
Denver, CO/Vista Peak High School
Rowley continued his efficient freshman campaign, leading the conference in hitting percentage. The outside hitter totaled 29 kills (4.14 kills per set) while hitting .533 across seven sets. He also contributed 36.5 points (5.21 points per set) and added four service aces, highlighted by a 17-kill, .600 hitting performance against D’Youville.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Aidan White, Daemen (So., OH)
White recorded 30 kills (3.75 kills per set) and 36.0 points (4.50 points per set), ranking fourth in the NEC in both categories during the reporting period.

Ethan Robinson, D’Youville (Jr., OH)
Robinson led the NEC with 26 kills (6.50 kills per set) and 28.0 points (7.00 points per set), including the conference’s top individual scoring performance of the week.

Panagiotis Kourmouzos, FDU (Sr., MB)
Kourmouzos paced the NEC with 8 total blocks (1.60 blocks per set), including an eight-block performance at Sacred Heart.

Ike Vernon, LIU (Fr., OH/RS)
Vernon totaled 31 kills (3.44 kills per set) and 35.5 points (3.94 points per set), highlighted by a 19-kill effort against Saint Francis.

Andre Mills, UMES (Jr., OPP)
In addition to Player of the Week honors, Mills’ 9 service aces (1.29 aces per set) led the conference and helped UMES rank first in team aces during the week.

Tristan Rowley, UMES (Fr., OH)
Rowley’s 36.5 total points (5.21 points per set) ranked second in the NEC during the reporting window.

Chase Valentine, UMES (Fr., MB)
Valentine’s 10 blocks (1.43 blocks per set) ranked second among all NEC players.

Brady Stump, Saint Francis (Sr., OH)
Stump recorded 34 kills (3.78 kills per set) and 41.0 points (4.56 points per set), including six service aces in a five-set match at LIU.

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)

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)

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)