Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | October 20-26
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top individual performances from October 20 through 26. 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
Ellie Frey, Taylor
Frey turned in a pair of big efforts to help No. 20 Taylor past Spring Arbor in four sets and RV Marian in straight sets. The junior had double-doubles in each contest and averaged 4.9 kills, 3.7 digs and 0.9 blocks per set in the two outings.
Volleyball Defender of the Week
Ruth Anderson, Taylor
Anderson was a force at the net for No. 20 Taylor in its wins over Spring Arbor and RV Marian. The freshman middle hitter picked up 10 total blocks in the two wins, including a career-best seven in the sweep of MU and averaged 1.4 blocks and 2.6 kills per set in the two matches.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Reagan Nuss, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Nuss helped No. 12 MVNU break No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan’s 52-match win streak in league play with 32 assists in the sweep. Nuss also added 28 helpers in a sweep of Goshen, closing the week with 10.0 assists and 2.0 digs per set over two Cougar wins.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Katie Koger, Marian
Koger scored once for No. 3 Marian in each of its wins over No. 6 IWU and No. 13 SAU, netting the game-winner for the Knights in a 1-0 win over Indiana Wesleyan. The two wins kept MU unbeaten in league play and clinched at least a share of the league title.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Lily Ames, Marian
Ames helped No. 3 Marian to wins over No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan and No. 13 Spring Arbor to clinch at least a share of the league title. The goalie had three saves in a 3-1 win over SAU, before registering five stops in a shutout of IWU.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Miguel Bello, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Bello led Mount Vernon Nazarene to a 4-3 upset win over No. 20 Grace, scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals for the Cougars. The forward ended the game with four shots, three shots on goal and the two scores.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Kadin Wolfe, Indiana Wesleyan
Wolfe posted a clean sheet in goal for No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan against No. 23 Marian, as the Wildcats edged the Knights for a 1-0 victory. Wolfe preserved the shutout with five saves in the win.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Katie Woods, Marian
Woods helped No. 11 Marian to a fourth-place team finish at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge by taking second overall. Woods clocked a 5k time of 17:42 to pace the Knights.
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Drew Hogan, Goshen
Hogan set a new school record and finished second overall at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge with a time of 24:18.2. Hogan’s mark was the best for a Crossroads League individual at the race and helped GC post its fastest team time in school history.
Women’s Golfer of the Week
Kylee Purdy, Indiana Wesleyan
Purdy led No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan to a fourth-place team finish at the Dalton State Fall Invite. Prudy shot scores of 75, 79 and 73 to take fourth place out of 80 competitors on the individual leaderboard.
Men’s Golfer of the Week
Amaury Wouters, Bethel
Wouters tied for second on the individual leaderboard at the NCCAA National Championships with rounds of 78, 67 and 69, helping Bethel to a top-five team finish.
Women’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week
Liv Raby, Huntington
Raby posted back-to-back double-doubles to open the season, helping Huntington to wins over East-West and St. Mary-of-the-Woods. Raby finished the week averaging 12.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.
Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Celina Blount, Taylor
Blount impressed in her debut with Taylor, as the College of Charleston transfer nearly pulled off a triple-double in TU’s 90-71 win at Holy Cross. The sophomore forward ended the night with 11 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots, while also dishing four assists.
Men’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week
Gavin Betten, Grace
Betten helped No. 7 Grace to a 105-90 win over Governors State in his collegiate debut, netting 19 points on eight-of-10 shooting from the field and adding three assists and 10 rebounds.
Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Ian Raasch, Grace
Raasch opened his junior campaign by filling the box score for No. 7 Grace in its 105-90 win over Governors State. Raasch posted 13 points, four assists, four rebounds, three steals and one block in the contest.