Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week
AVON, Ohio – The Crossroads League announced its athletes of the week on Tuesday, recognizing the top athletes from the week of September 4 through 10. In order to be considered for the award, a student-athlete must be nominated by their institution’s Sports Information Director.
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Hunter Smith, Taylor
Smith won the Indiana Wesleyan Invite to highlight a team win for No. 15 Taylor. Smith posted a personal-best time of 25:40 for his first collegiate win and was 26 seconds faster than the closest non-Taylor competitor.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Sarah Harden, Taylor
Harden impressed in her collegiate debut, leading No. 14 Taylor to a team win at the Indiana Wesleyan Invite with a fourth-place showing and a time of 18:31. Harden’s time was the eighth-best in TU history and paced the Trojans in their sixth-best team mark in program history.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Philip Keller, Bethel
Keller allowed just one goal in 211 minutes of work between the posts for RV Bethel, helping the Pilots to a win over Roosevelt and a scoreless draw with NCAA D-II Purdue Northwest. Keller picked up 12 saves in the two outings.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Ollie Smith, Goshen
Smith had a part in eight-of-10 goals for Goshen in three matches, piling up three goals and five assists. Smith’s 11 points helped GC to wins over Rochester and Calumet Saint Joseph in non-league play.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Sarah Klunder, Spring Arbor
Klunder anchored an unblemished SAU defense, as the No. 2 Cougars scored a 1-0 win over No. 1 Northwestern Ohio and added a 4-0 defeat of Concordia. Klunder and SAU have not been scored on through six victories to open the year.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Morgan Marshall, Spring Arbor
Marshall netted the game-winner in No. 2 Spring Arbor’s thrilling win over No. 1 Northwestern Ohio and added another goal in the Cougars’ 4-0 defeat of Concordia.
Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Eli Steiner, Indiana Wesleyan
Steiner went 5-0 for Indiana Wesleyan, leading the Wildcats to a trio of wins at the top of the IWU lineup. Steiner went 2-0 at No. 1 singles and 3-0 at No. 1 doubles.
Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Emily Mast, Grace
Mast was 6-0 for Grace, going 3-0 at both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for the Lancers over three team wins. Mast remained unbeaten for the season and did not drop a set.
Volleyball Attacker of the Week
Kacee Salyers, Marian
Salyers powered RV Marian to a trio of CL victories by averaging 3.2 kills, 2.5 digs and 0.6 blocks per set with a .292 percentage for the first-place Knights. Salyers scored double-doubles in wins over Grace and Taylor, while topping 10 kills in all three victories.
Volleyball Defender of the Week
Kate Cobb, Huntington
Cobb secured her 2,000th career dig and averaged 5.2 digs per set to help Huntington notch a pair of league victories. Cobb registered a pair of 20-dig matches, including a 22-dig effort in HU’s four-set win over Saint Francis.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Haley Harrell, Taylor
Harrell tossed up 96 assists at a clip of 8.7 per set and added 3.0 digs per set to help Taylor secure wins over No. 20 IWU and Huntington. Harrell turned in three double-doubles, including a 28-assist, 11-dig showing in the win at Indiana Wesleyan.