Five New York University student-athletes were named University Athletic Association (UAA) Athletes of the Week in their respective sports for their performances from October 30 to November 5.
Arkan Tahsildaroglu of men's soccer,
Grace Nelson (Offense) and
Elise Curtin (Defense) of women's volleyball,
Meera Kasturi of women's diving,
William Hopkins of men's diving, and
Benny Bautista of wrestling were recognized.
In the men's soccer team's final game of the 2023 season, Tahsildaroglu netted two goals in the Violets' 3-3 draw against Brandeis University on Saturday. He started the Senior Day game off with a successful long-range free kick in the ninth minute to put NYU ahead 1-0 and sent another shot into the back of the net at the 83rd minute to give the Violets a 3-2 lead.
Nelson had 3.44 kills per set on .439 hitting, along with 0.56 aces per set across NYU's three victories this past weekend. She recorded 18 kills without committing an attack error (.545) and three aces in the sweep of Stevens. The rookie followed with 12 kills (.313) and two aces against Scranton and still averaged over 3.40 kills per set on the weekend despite playing just one set (with one kill on her lone attempt) against Manhattanville.
Curtin delivered 26 total blocks for 2.60 blocks per set across the Violets' three weekend wins. She posted 10 total blocks (eight assists, two solo) against Stevens and 12 total blocks (nine assists, three solo) against Scranton while adding four blocks assists in just two sets played versus Manhattanville.
Kasturi won the 1-meter dive and placed second in the 3-meter at the NYU Invitational at the Palladium Natatorium on Friday and Saturday. Her respective scores of 290.85 and 278.18 earned her NCAA Division III Northeast Regional qualifications.
In the men's diving competition at the NYU Invitational, Hopkins swept both boards. He totaled 285.00 in the 3-meter and 307.28 in the one, joining Kasturi with two Regional qualifications.
Bautista was the 125-pound champion as NYU opened its season at the Ned McGinley Invitational in Wilkes-Barre, PA, on Saturday. He recorded a fall, a technical fall and a major decision before defeating teammate
Thomas Fischer 9-6 in the final. Bautista's performance helped lead NYU to a first-place finish in the 13-team competition.
The men's soccer squad has concluded its season with a 5-6-5 record and 3-2-2 mark in the UAA. Women's volleyball will next compete in the UAA Championship on November 10-11 in Atlanta, GA, with their first match against Brandeis this Friday. NYU's divers will travel to Pittsburgh, PA, for the Carnegie Mellon Diving Invitational on 17-18. The wrestlers will return to action at the Racich Rumble hosted by Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA, this Saturday, November 11.
