Downs Tabbed NEAC Defensive Player of the Week

Downs Tabbed NEAC Defensive Player of the Week

GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – One day after being named the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference's Player of the Week, Penn State Altoona men's volleyball's senior middle hitter Dan Downs (Reading, PA/Daniel Boone) was announced as the North Eastern Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday afternoon.

Downs had an excellent week defensively for the Lions, showcasing a big presence at the net to help his team pick up a pair of wins.

In Monday night's 3-0 win over NEAC opponent Wilson College, Downs recorded eight digs – an impressive defensive statistic for a middle hitter – to go along with three solo blocks and one block assist, and he also contributed to the team's offense with six kills. In Saturday afternoon's 3-1 victory against AMCC foe Penn State Behrend, Downs had a career-best eight solo blocks with two block assists, and he also posted 11 kills. The senior's totals of eight solo blocks and 10 total blocks against Behrend both tied for the second-most blocks in a single match in Lions volleyball history.

For the week, Downs totaled 14 total blocks (11 solo blocks, three block assists, 2.00 blocks per set) and eight digs (1.14 digs per set). He also finished the week with 17 kills (2.43 kills per set) while swinging at a .311 clip.

This is Downs' first career NEAC Defensive Player of the Week award.

Penn State Altoona men's volleyball (10-10, 2-1 NEAC / 1-1 AMCC) returns to action tomorrow, Wednesday, March 21 when it travels to take on non-conference opponent Thiel College for a 7:30 p.m. match.

To read the NEAC's Men's Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week release, click HERE.