JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Senior outside hitter Derek Portugal (Barrington, R.I.) of the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team has been named the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association New England Division Player of the Week for matches played from January 31-February 6.

Portugal helped the Leopards to a 3-1 week by averaging 3.60 kills, 0.47 aces, 1.80 digs, and 4.80 points per game while hitting .290 for the week.  In a 3-2 loss to Stevenson at the Lancaster Bible Quad Tournament, he recorded a double-double with 19 kills and 15 digs, while also recording three aces and three blocks.  In the four matches he played in he had 10 or more kills in each of them, including 11 in a 3-0 win at Kean.  In that match he hit .474, which was his high for the week.

Wentworth is off to an 8-5 start and Portugal is a key reason why, averaging 3.03 kills, 1.60 digs, and 3.59 points per game while hitting .247.  In his last six matches he has recorded 10 or more kills.