Smith earned Tournament MVP honors, leading the Hawks to their second-ever UVC title with a pair of three-set wins over No. 9 Nazareth College and the No. 4 Stevens Institute of Technology in the semifinal and final rounds of the UVC Tournament, respectively. On the week, he averaged 11.33 assists per set, 2.50 digs per set, 1.17 kills per set, 0.50 blocks per set and 0.17 service aces per set while hitting at a .636 (7-0-11) clip. Against Nazareth on Saturday, he dished out 36 assists and added six digs, four kills, two blocks and a service ace before handing out 32 assists and adding nine digs, three kills and one block in the championship match against Stevens on Sunday. Smith, the 2016 UVC Player of the Year, ranks ninth in NCAA Division III in assists per set (10.28). New Paltz (30-2, 8-0 UVC) faces either the Wentworth Institute of Technology or Hunter College in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III Tournament on Friday, April 22, at 12:30 p.m. at Nazareth College's Kidera Gymnasium.
