Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | September 1-7
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JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top individual performances from September 2 through 8. Sports Information Directors from the league institutions nominate student-athletes for the awards and vote on each week’s winners.
Volleyball Attacker of the Week
Libby Evanshine, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Evanshine led No. 15 MVNU to a 2-1 week with 3.7 kills per set and a .248 hitting percentage. The junior saved her best for a top-25 clash with No. 22 Taylor, hammering down 20 kills in 46 swings to lead MVNU past the Trojans in four sets.
Volleyball Defender of the Week
Marissa Mullins, Indiana Wesleyan
Mullins posted nine total blocks for No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan in wins over RV Grace and No. 23 Spring Arbor. The middle blocker averaged 1.3 blocks per set to go with 3.1 kills per set and a .362 percentage in the two league victories.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Abbigail Porter, Indiana Wesleyan
Porter tossed up 33 assists in a sweep of RV Grace and added 49 in a four-set win over No. 23 Spring Arbor. The senior All-American setter powered No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan to a 2-0 start in Crossroads League play with 11.7 assists per set in the two matches.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Nora Pollock, Grace
Pollock had three goals, two assists and eight points for RV Grace in a 9-0 blowout of Rio Grande, before adding two more helpers in a 5-0 win against No. 25 Saint Ambrose. Pollock closed the week with three goals, four assists and 10 points in the two victories.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Brianna Rawlings, Taylor
Rawlings helped RV Taylor extend its perfect 5-0 start with wins in goal against Trinity Christian and No. 18 Campbellsville. Rawlings had seven saves in the two matches, allowing just one goal in over 162 minutes of work.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Samuel Wehaus, Marian
Wehaus repeated as the CL’s top offensive player, this time finding the net four times in a pair of matches for No. 16 Marian. The sophomore midfielder scored once in a 2-1 loss to Olivet Nazarene, before registering a hat trick in a 5-1 win over Governors State.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Brayden Pierson, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Pierson racked up 10 saves in 180 minutes of work in goal for Mount Vernon Nazarene, helping the Cougars to a pair of shutouts. Pierson had five saves in a 4-0 win over Rochester Christian and five more in a scoreless draw against West Virginia Tech.
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Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Jaynie Halterman, Taylor
Halterman ran a time of 20:41.2 to lead the pack at the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcat Invitational. The sophomore topped the field of 202 by over a full minute to remain unbeaten in her collegiate career, while leading No. 1 Taylor to the team title.
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Drew Hogan, Goshen
Hogan led 303 runners across the finish line at the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcat Invitational, crossing with a course-record time of 24:25.7. Hogan’s efforts helped No. 21 Goshen to a fifth-place team finish.
Men’s Golfer of the Week
Kyle Kasitz, Taylor
Kasitz led unranked Taylor past No. 25 Northwestern Ohio and RV Lawrence Tech to win the team title at the LTU Collegiate Kickoff. Kasitz posted rounds of 73 and 74 to tie atop the field of 60 on the individual leaderboard.