Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | September 10-16

Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | September 10-16

AVON, Ohio – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the top athletes from the week of September 10 through 16. Sports Information Directors from the league nominate student-athletes for the award and vote on each week’s winners.

Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Evan Herr-Knispel, Bethel
Knispel led Bethel for a second-straight race and turned in the second-best time of his career to pace the Pilots at the Friendship Invite.

Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Emma Jankowski, Bethel
Jankowski took 12th at the Friendship Invite and turned in the best time among all NAIA competitors at the meet with a mark of 19:24.

Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Zach Weidman, Spring Arbor
Weidman set a new career-high with 11 saves in RV Spring Arbor’s 2-1 win over No. 12 Cardinal-Stritch and added three more in a shutout win over RV Lawrence Tech.

Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Morris Kamara, Spring Arbor
Kamara poured in four goals in RV SAU’s wins over No. 12 Cardinal Stritch and RV Lawrence Tech, including his second hat trick of the season.

Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Brenna Malatestinic, Marian
Malatestinic piled up 19 saves over 109 minutes of action in the goal for No. 8 Marian against a pair of Top-20 foes. The senior keeper had eight saves in a shutout against No. 12 Northwestern Ohio.

Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Liz Van Wormer, Grace
Van Wormer found the net six times and assisted another goal, as Grace rolled to three wins in non-league action. Van Wormer scored in all three outings and had a hat trick in an 8-1 win over Cincinnati Christian.

Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Eli Steiner, Indiana Wesleyan
Steiner claimed two victories in a 9-0 win over Bethel, before teaming with Grant Esposito to win the ITA Midwest Regional Doubles Championship. Steiner also advanced to the quarterfinals in the singles tournament.

Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Lizzie Bauss, Indiana Wesleyan
Bauss defended her ITA Midwest Regional Singles Tournament Championship with six victories and also scored wins at No. 1 singles and doubles in IWU’s defeat of Bethel.

Volleyball Attacker of the Week
Cassidy Rammel, Saint Francis
Rammel helped the No. 19 Saint Francis squad to four victories, turning in a trio of 16-kill efforts against CL foes, before tattering Mount Saint Joseph for seven kills in just one set. Rammel closed with 55 kills in 146 swings and added six blocks in the four USF wins.

Volleyball Defender of the Week
Valorie Flick, Saint Francis

Flick closed a 4-0 week for No. 19 Saint Francis with three-straight matches of at least 24 digs and added 40 digs in a five-set win over Mount Vernon Nazarene. Flick averaged 6.38 digs per set for the week.

Volleyball Setter of the Week
Maria Pelak, Saint Francis
Pelak set a program record for No. 19 USF with 59 assists in a five-set win over MVNU and went on to toss up 178 assists in four Cougar wins. Pelak also added 23 digs, four kills and an ace in the win at Mount Vernon.