Photo courtesy NYU athletics.

Francis Hodgson, a 6-6 middle blocker for then-No. 5 New York University, has been named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division III Men’s National Player of the Week. He earned the award after leading the Violets to three strong wins last week over Division I, II and III opponents. In NYU's 3-0 win over Division II New Haven, Hodgson registered seven kills on .500 hitting, with two aces, two digs and three total blocks. He followed that up with his best match of the week in NYU's 3-2 win over EIVA Hay Division I rival, Harvard. In the match, Hodgson scored a double-double, with 18 kills and 11 total blocks, and hit an impressive .533. He ended the week with five kills, hitting at a .333 clip, while adding two aces, three digs and two total blocks in the Violets sweep of then-No. 14 MIT. For the week, Hodgson averaged 2.73 kills, 1.45 blocks and 3.91 points per game, and hit at a .481 percentage. This week's honor for Hodgson marks the 16th time an athlete from NYU has earned the Sports Imports/AVCA Division III Men's National Player of the Week award. Devin Zolnowski was the last Violet to earn the award on January 14, 2008. NYU is coached by Jose Pina.