Below are the United Volleyball Conference (UVC) Players of the Week, released on January 23, 2023, for matches played from January 16-22. It is the second UVC weekly honors release of the 2023 season.
 
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Brendan Spulnick, SUNY New Paltz, Gr., OH, Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa
Spulnick led his team to an opening record of 5-1 in the Hawks' season-opening Midwest road trip, with a pair of wins coming against nationally-ranked opponents. He led SUNY New Paltz in kills (73), kills per set (3.32), points (96.5), points per set (4.39), and aces (16), while hitting a productive .385 with 10 blocks and 29 digs. He posted a season-high 17 kills on 31 attempts against Benedictine and recorded season-high totals of seven aces and three blocks against No. 12 Dominican. Spulnick also hit .692 with 10 kills in a three-set win over Augustana.
 
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Owen Wickens, Nazareth, Jr., OH/L, Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit
Wickens was named the SUNY Poly Invitational Tournament Most Valuable Player and had arguably his best weekend of his career as Nazareth remained unbeaten and won all four matches over the weekend, including a five-set win over No. 3 Wentworth. Wickens slammed 68 kills (4.53 per set), while hitting .408 to go along with 31 digs, 30 assists, 10 service aces and six blocks. He had two 20-kill matches, including a career-high 24 against Wentworth. He was moved to the primary setter role in the final match of the weekend and posted 24 assists, seven kills (with a .700 pct), four aces and eight digs against Potsdam. It is his second straight UVC weekly honor to start 2023.
 
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Krish Jain, SUNY New Paltz, Fr., MB, Hicksville, NY/Hicksville
Jain started in all six matches and played in all 22 sets in the Hawks' opening six games of the season this past week, leading No. 7 Hawks to a 5-1 mark, with a pair of wins coming against nationally-ranked opponents. He finished fourth on the team in kills with 30, while hitting .436 on 55 attempts with three aces and a team-leading 15 blocks with 13 digs. Jain hit .800 and slammed eight kills to go along with three blocks in a three-set sweep over Augustana Saturday.
 
ABOUT THE UNITED VOLLEYBALL CONFERENCE
The members of the United Volleyball Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices.
 
For more on the UVC visit www.theuvc.org.
 
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