Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | September 12-18
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top individual performances from September 12-18. 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
Skyler Van Note, Marian
Van Note piled up the stats for No. 3 Marian over a trio of three-set victories for the Knights. The senior hit .393 while slamming nearly five kills per set and closed the week with 44 kills, 20 digs and four blocks.
Volleyball Defender of the Week
Grace Ieremia, Taylor
Ieremia anchored No. 19 Taylor at the net over its 3-0 week with 17 total blocks in the three sweeps. In addition to the 1.9 blocks per set, the middle hitter also posted 1.9 kills per set on a .484 hitting percentage and had nine blocks in TU’s win over RV Mount Vernon Nazarene.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Kacy Bragg, Taylor
Bragg kept No. 19 Taylor’s offense rolling with three more efforts of 30-or-more assists, averaging 12.0 assists per set in a trio of Trojan sweeps. Bragg closed the week with 108 assists, 25 digs, 10 blocks, eight kills and an ace.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Mackenzie Selvius, Spring Arbor
Selvius had a part in three goals for No. 2 SAU in its 5-0 defeat of Point Park. The midfielder scored twice while taking just two shots and set up another Cougar goal with an assist in the victory.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Ariana Stoltzfus, Spring Arbor
Stoltzfus led No. 2 Spring Arbor to a 5-0 win over Point Park, as the Cougar defense allowed only five shots for its sixth shutout of the season. Stoltzfus added two assists and three shots with two going on frame in the match.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Higor Barbieri, Huntington
Barbieri opened the scoring in Huntington’s 2-1 upset win over No. 14 Indiana Tech and then added two more scores in a 4-0 blanking of IU East. The junior tallied three goals in nine shots to help HU to a 2-0 week.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Matteo Conci, Grace
Conci continued his strong play between the posts for No. 12 Grace, this time posting a shutout with eight saves in the Lancers’ 1-0 upset of No. 3 Columbia. The junior keeper highlighted his afternoon with a trio of diving stops in the second half to preserve the shutout.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Shelby Christman, Huntington
Christman torched the field at the GRCC Raider Invitational, crossing with a time of 18:05 to top the field of 200 competitors by over half a minute.
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Bryan Hernandez-Rios, Grace
Hernandez-Rios showed well against NCAA Division I foes, finishing 11th overall out of 279 runners at the Michigan State Invitational. The senior Lancer crossed with a time of 24:58.
Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
France Antezana, Indiana Wesleyan
Antezana won all seven of her matches to lead Indiana Wesleyan to a 4-0 week which secured the Crossroads League Championship for IWU. Antezana went 4-0 at No. 1 singles and 3-0 at No. 1 doubles for the Wildcats in those outings.
Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Facundo Paredes, Grace
Paredes led Grace to a 4-0 week that clinched the Crossroads League Championship. Facundo went 4-0 at No. 1 singles and 4-0 at No. 1 doubles for the Lancers without dropping a single set in the eight contests.