Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week
 AVON, Ohio – The Crossroads League announced its athletes of the week on Monday, recognizing the top performers from the week of October 30 through November 5. In order to be considered for the award, a student-athlete must be nominated by their institution’s Sports Information Director.
Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Mason Degenkolb, Taylor
Degenkolb scored 22 of his game-high 32 points in the second half to lead No. 15 Taylor to a comeback, 101-97, victory at No. 8 Trinity International. Degenkolb averaged 20.7 points on 58.3-percent shooting and dished out 4.3 assists per game in TU’s three victories.
Women’s Basketball Player of the Week
Kara Gerka, Saint Francis
Gerka posted a 26-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead No. 21 Saint Francis past RV Aquinas, 73-63, and averaged 20.5 points and 8.5 boards in USF’s two wins, while shooting 63.6 percent from the field.
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Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Stephen Cho, Taylor
Cho raced to the 2017 Crossroads League Championship with a personal-best time of 25:49. Cho’s effort helped No. 19 Taylor claim second place in the team standings.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Sarah Harden, Taylor
Harden claimed the 2017 Crossroads League Championship with a personal-best time of 18:23 for the eighth-best time in No. 4 Taylor’s history. Harden was one-of-three Trojans at the top of the leaderboard, helping TU claim a fifth-straight Crossroads League Championship.
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Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Isiah Handspike, Spring Arbor
Handspike allowed just one goal in two CL Tournament outings for No. 21 Spring Arbor, picking up eight total saves in SAU’s outings against Taylor and Huntington. Handspike’s save in the shootout round sent the Cougars to the CL Tournament Championship.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Cody Boerema, Grace
Boerema turned in a pair of key plays to help the Lancers advance to the CL Tournament Championship. Boerema scored the equalizer in the 87th minute of GC’s eventual double-overtime win against MVNU and assisted the game-winner against Goshen in the 89th minute.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Catherine Schmidt, Marian
Schmidt continued her dominant season in the net for No. 14 Marian, piling up eight saves and allowing only one goal in MU’s two CL Tournament wins over Grace and Taylor.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Aubrey Schierbeek, Spring Arbor
Schierbeek racked up nine points for No. 3 Spring Arbor in a pair of lopsided CL Tournament victories. Schierbeek had two goals and two assists in the quarterfinals and added a goal and an assist in SAU’s semifinals victory.
Volleyball Attacker of the Week
Kelsee Zuidema, Grace
Zuidema needed just seven sets to rack up 36 kills, averaging 5.14 kills per set and hitting at a scorching .460 clip with just seven errors to lead the Lancers to a pair of wins. Zuidema also added eight digs, four blocks and two service aces for the Lancers.
Volleyball Defender of the Week
Valorie Flick, Saint Francis
Flick turned in a pair of 30-dig showings in USF’s two matches, averaging 6.67 digs per set for the streaking Cougars. Flick had 30 digs in a five-set win over MVNU, before repeating the feat and adding an ace in four-set upset of Taylor in the CL Tournament Quarterfinals.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Maria Pelak, Saint Francis
Pelak posted 109 assists, 39 digs and three aces in USF’s two wins, averaging 12.1 assists, 4.3 digs and 0.3 aces per set. Pelak opened with a 65-assist, 25-dig double-double in a five-set win against MVNU, before adding 44 assists and 14 digs in another double-double against TU in the CL Tournament.