PITMAN, N.J. — The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) released its awards for this past week of competition and three New Jersey City University student-athletes received weekly honors. Senior libero Daniel Esteva (Union, N.J./Union) of the men's volleyball team was named Defensive Player of the Week, while his freshman teammate setter Alex Casais (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) was named Rookie of the Week. Additionally, for the second straight week, fourth time in the past five weeks and fifth time this season, NJCU women's basketball junior guard Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) was named Player of the Week.

Esteva was once again a strong back row contributor for NJCU as the squad went 2-1 last week, thanks in part to his 4.17 digs per set (25 total) and his perfect serve-receive (41-for-41). He began with a match-best 10 digs and an assist in the three-set home loss to #1 Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday night, Feb. 1, at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC). Esteva then followed up with a dominant team-high 15 digs in the 3-0 sweep of NJAC rival Kean University at home on Saturday, Feb. 4. He did not play in the quick three set win over first-year program The College at Old Westbury later that same day.

Casais, now assuming the role of NJCU's primary setter, had a couple of strong outings, as well, last week for the Gothic Knights. He finished with 50 assists (8.33/set), eight digs (1.33/set), four blocks (0.67/set) a couple of kills and an ace. Casais began with a team-high 24 assists, two digs, a block and a kill at the JMAC against the top-ranked Ducks on Wednesday evening. Then in the conference sweep of the Cougars on Saturday, the rookie dished out a match-best 26 helpers to go with six digs, three blocks and another dump kill. Casais also did not play in that afternoon's 3-0 win against the Panthers.

Rodriguez, now officially the leading scorer in all of NCAA Division III at 24.8 points per game, once again helped NJCU to a 2-0 week and the Gothic Knights are now tied atop the NJAC standings at 11-4. She averaged 24.0 points, 8.5 assists, 5.5 steals and 5.5 rebounds over 38.2 minutes per game. Rodriguez began with a game-high 23 points in the 68-66 road win at Ramapo College on Wednesday in Mahwah, N.J., adding six boards, a team-high six assists and a game-high-tying four steals. Then, in Saturday's blowout win at Rutgers-Newark, Rodriguez finished with a team-high 25 points to go with game highs in assists (11) and steals (7), as well as five boards for her second double-double of the season.

This is the first award of Casais' collegiate career. For Esteva, he entered 2023 as a three-time Skyline Conference Libero of the Week, however this is the first weekly NJAC accolade of his Gothic Knight career. Rodriguez, as mentioned, now has five Conference Player of the Week nods this season and has earned that honor 10 times during her career.

Up Next:
She and the rest of her squad return to action this Wednesday night, Feb. 8, at 6:00 p.m. at the JMAC as Rowan University — also 11-4 and locked in three-way tie for first in the NJAC — comes to Jersey City for a marquis matchup. Esteva, Casais and the rest of the Green and Gold men's volleyball team continue play this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11-12, in Glenside, Pa., for three non-conference matches as part of the Arcadia University Tournament.