Haines Nets NEAC Defensive Player of the Week

GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – Freshman Jonathan Haines (Wellington, Fla.) has been selected as the North Eastern Athletic Conference Men's Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday. Haines and the Express posted a 2-2 record this past week, collecting conference victories against Keuka and D'Youville. 

At the net front, Haines recorded 21 total blocks for the Express while averaging 1.5 per set across the four matches. His 14 solo blocks led all Wells players and he also chipped in 16 kills while only committing four attacking errors. 

Against Keuka on Wednesday, Haines threw up six total blocks (three solo, three assists) and added six kills on 13 total swings, helping Wells to a 3-1 win against its Finger Lakes-rival. In the very next match against D'Youville, he added five solo blocks and tallied a service ace in his team's 3-0 win against the Spartans. 

Tallying three solo blocks against Medaille, who remains undefeated in conference play, on Saturday, Haines went on to record a season-high seven kills alongside five total blocks in a tough four-set loss to the Hawks from Hilbert College. 

On the season, Haines has appeared in 74 sets for the Express and has recorded 75 total blocks, averaging 1.01 per set to lead not only his team, but all men's volleyball players in the NEAC. On a national scale, he ranks 14th amongst NCAA Division III men's volleyball players in blocks per set. Offensively, he has tallied 47 kills on 127 swings (47-19-127, .220) and has recorded seven service aces. 

The Express will look to qualify for its second-straight NEAC postseason by finishing strong against conference opponents down the stretch. Wells will take on Wilson this Friday, Mar. 18 on the campus of Penn St.-Altoona at 5 p.m. before battling Lancaster Bible and the host Lions at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 19.