Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | September 17-23
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AVON, Ohio – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the top athletes from the week of September 17 through 23. 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
Hunter Smith, Taylor
Smith led No. 14 Taylor past No. 8 Madonna and No. 12 IWU with a time of 26:26 and a second-place finish at the Bullock Invite. Smith’s effort helped the Trojans win the team championship.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Alex Berends, Taylor
Berends topped all 131 racers at No. 2 Taylor’s Bullock Invite, racing to a first-place victory with a time of 17:58. The senior beat second-place by 20 seconds, as TU bested No. 5 Madonna for the team title.
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Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Tommy Bullock, Marian
Bullock helped Marian blank Midway in a 6-0 affair with his work on defense, while also adding one goal and one assist in the blowout victory for the Knights.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Marcelo Talamas, Grace
Talamas secured a 2-1 win for RV Grace over Manchester on Friday, netting the game-winner in the 107th minute to lift the Lancers past the Spartans.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Megan Williams, Taylor
Williams saved six shots over 135 minutes in net for No. 23 Taylor, helping the Trojans secure a pair of shutout victories over Cornerstone and Campbellsville.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Matea Knispel, Huntington
Knispel did it all for Huntington in a 5-0 defeat of Bluffton, recording a hat trick and adding an assist to account for all but one goal in the non-league victory.
Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Grant Esposito, Indiana Wesleyan
Esposito rolled to a 6-0 week at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles for Indiana Wesleyan. The junior topped his foe in straight sets in all three singles matches.
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Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Taylor Freedline, Bethel
Freedline went 8-0 at the top of the Bethel lineup to help the Pilots to a 4-0 week. The junior won all four singles matches in straight-sets and did not have a doubles outcome closer than 8-3.
Volleyball Attacker of the Week
Paige Eakright, Huntington
Eakright led the Foresters to a 2-1 week in league play with 50 kills, 40 digs and a trio of aces in the three outings. The sophomore hitter averaged 3.85 kills per set and highlighted her week with two double-doubles and a 23-kill showing in a four-set win over MVNU.
Volleyball Defender of the Week
Samantha Korn, Taylor
Korn extended a stretch of five-straight matches with at least 20 digs and surpassed the 1,000-dig plateau with a 26-dig and 23-dig effort in Taylor’s two league victories to average 8.17 digs per set for the week.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Haley Harrell, Taylor
Harrell averaged 13.0 assists per set in a pair of Crossroads League sweeps for Taylor. The senior setter finished with 78 assists, 29 digs and two blocks in Trojan wins over Goshen and MVNU.