UVC Release

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Elmira College's Mark Kawecki '17 was rewarded by the United Volleyball Conference (UVC) for his strong performance last week, as the fourth-year outside hitter was took home his first-ever Player of the Week Award, as announced by the league office on Monday.

Kawecki, who was also crowned an EC Athlete of the Week, played an instrumental role in the Soaring Eagles' 2-0 week. He posted a pair of double-digit kill performances and helped the Soaring Eagles pick up non-conference wins over D'Youville College on the road on March 16 and Baruch College at home on March 18. For the week, he registered a .408 attack percentage with 26 kills and a 3.25 kills per set average, in addition to team highs in both digs (12) and service aces (5).

In EC's sweep of D'Youville, Kawecki led the Soaring Eagles to a new program record for attack percentage (.564) by setting a new career mark of his own. He compiled 11 kills on 15 attempts without an error, equaling a career-high success rate of .773. The Bangor, Pennsylvania, product also tossed up a career-high-tying five service aces and paced the team in digs (5) and total blocks (2) in the straight-set victory.

Kawecki's effort last time out allowed the Purple and Gold to secure a hard-fought five-set win over the Bearcats on the home hardwood inside Speidel Gymnasium. He spiked 15 kills and posted three blocks – both figures equaling his previous season highs – to go along with seven digs. Four of his kills came in the decisive fifth set, including the match point. He also picked up a key block late in the set, which gave Elmira a two-point led at 14-12.

After consecutive matches with double-digit kills, the standout senior outside hitter became just the fourth player in Elmira history to eclipse the 600-kill plateau, and now has 609 in his collegiate career. On the season, Kawecki ranks third on the team with 2.58 kills per set and is second with an average of 1.60 digs per set.

The Elmira men will look to extend their current three-match win streak in a crucial UVC match on Tuesday, March 21, when the Purple and Gold host Penn State Behrend at 7:00 p.m.