Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | October 16-22
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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 October 16 through 22. 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
Martina Demarchi, Indiana Wesleyan
Demarchi’s play helped No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan to three more wins, including a four-set victory over No. 20 Bethel. Demarchi posted 20 kills and 18 digs against the Pilots and ended the week with 4.2 kills and 3.5 digs per set, along with a .351 hitting percentage.
Volleyball Defender of the Week
Alisha Leffring, Grace
Leffring was big on both sides of the net for Grace in a trio of contested victories. The junior blocker posted 2.9 kills and 1.0 blocks per set in the three matches, highlighting those numbers with 12 kills and eight blocks in the Lancers’ upset of RV Marian.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Haley Biedenbach, Bethel
Biedenbach had at least 40 assists in all three of No. 20 Bethel’s matches, including a 61-assist gem in BU’s four-set win against No. 25 MVNU. Biedenbach tallied 150 helpers on the week, good for a clip of 13.6 assists per set.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Audrey Lerch, Bethel
Lerch scored three times for Bethel in two Pilot victories. The graduate senior put in both of her shots in BU’s 3-1 upset of No. 8 Marian and added another score in a 2-1 victory at Goshen.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Lauren Moellering, Spring Arbor
Moellering’s play helped the defense of No. 2 Spring Arbor limit RV Taylor to four shots in a 3-1 win for the Cougars. In addition to her play on defense, Moellering posted a goal in the match which proved to be the game-winning score.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Brandon Nyagurungo, Indiana Wesleyan
Nyagurungo led No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan to a 4-2 win over MVNU in its lone outing of the week. The sophomore forward struck for two goals in the victory and ended the match with seven shots.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Juan Torres, Marian
Torres did not allow a running-time goal in two wins for Marian, piling up 13 saves and stopping a pair of penalty kicks in his 180 minutes of work. The play in goal from Torres helped MU to a pair of one-goal victories.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Noel VanderWall, Taylor
VanderWall led the way for No. 1 Taylor at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic, taking third-of-287 runners in the loaded field. VanderWall’s time of 21:07 was the fastest ever for Taylor in a 6k race.
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Austin Liepe, Huntington
Liepe ran his fastest career time by nearly 45 seconds to help RV Huntington finish third-of-19 teams at the Appalachian Challenge. The senior finished sixth overall, with a time of 24:34.