Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | September 3-9

Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | September 3-9

AVON, Ohio – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the top athletes from the week of September 3 through 9. Sports Information Directors from the league nominate student-athletes for the award and vote on each week’s winners.

Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Jesse Saxton, Indiana Wesleyan
Saxton finished second-of-131 runners and helped No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan to the team crown at the season-opening IWU Invite with a time of 25:58.

Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Sarah Harden, Taylor
Harden led No. 2 Taylor past NCAA Division I Ball State and the rest of the field at the IWU Invite on Friday, topping the 126-runner field with an 18:12 to defeat all NAIA runners by 40 seconds.

Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Braden Conn, Saint Francis
Conn posted a pair of shutouts between the posts for Saint Francis, recording a total of nine saves in 2-0 victories over IU East and Georgetown.

Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Luis Rocha, Indiana Wesleyan
Rocha scored once in each of Indiana Wesleyan’s wins, helping the Wildcats to a 3-2 win over Indiana Tech and a 1-0 result against Saint Xavier.

Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Brenna Malatestinic, Marian
Malatestinic repeated as the CL’s top defender, this time playing a part in a trio of shutout victories for No. 8 Marian. Malatestinic stopped nine shots in 225 scoreless minutes in net.

Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Bailey Zehr, Taylor
Zehr posted three goals and two assists over a pair of matches for RV Taylor, striking for two goals and one assist in TU’s 3-3 tie at NCAA Division I IUPUI and adding another goal and assist in a 3-1 win over Lourdes.

Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Ignacio Poncio, Huntington
Poncio held down the No. 1 slot in the Huntington lineup, picking up four wins for the Foresters in their team victories over Grace and Saint Francis.

Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Caroline Boger, Bethel
Boger helped Bethel to wins over Goshen and Spring Arbor by going a perfect 4-0 at No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles for the Pilots.

Volleyball Attacker of the Week
Hannah Trout, Marian
Trout slammed 41 kills on a .474 attack percentage in a trio of Crossroads League victories for the Knights. Trout drilled double-digit kills in all three wins, highlighting the week with an 18-kill effort in a four-set win against Grace.

Volleyball Defender of the Week
Valorie Flick, Saint Francis

Flick anchored the red-hot defense for No. 19 Saint Francis, averaging 5.18 digs per set and turning in a pair of 20-dig matches to help USF rack up a trio of league victories.

Volleyball Setter of the Week
Maria Pelak, Saint Francis
Pelak tallied 105 assists over 10 games to help No. 19 USF take down Indiana Wesleyan, Huntington and Grace last week. Pelak averaged 10.5 assists, 3.7 digs and 0.5 blocks per game and closed the week with a 46-assist, 20-dig gem against the Lancers.