Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | September 18-24
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top individual performances from September 18 through 24. 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
Maddy Payne, Bethel
Payne helped No. 15 Bethel to a 2-1 week with double-digit kill totals in each contest. Payne hit .407 and totaled 47 kills, while averaging 4.3 kills per set and adding 2.0 digs and 1.0 blocks per set for the Pilots.
Volleyball Defender of the Week
Keely Hinzman, Spring Arbor
Hinzman piled up 20 total blocks for Spring Arbor at a clip of 1.5 per set over three matches. The freshman also had an offensive presence with 3.5 kills per set on a percentage of .465.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Abbigail Porter, Indiana Wesleyan
Porter continued her strong play with 104 assists over a trio of sweeps for No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan. Porter averaged 11.6 assists per set in those victories, while adding 2.1 digs and 0.6 blocks pet set.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Audrey Grimm, Taylor
Grimm scored the eventual game-winner in each of RV Taylor’s victories, ending the week with two goals and one assist for the Trojans. Grimm’s production helped TU score comfortable wins over Georgetown and Saint Francis.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Avery Sluss, Indiana Wesleyan
Sluss posted a clean sheet for No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan in its 1-0 blanking of No. 4 Marian in the Crossroads League opener for each team. Sluss grabbed five saves in the affair.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Brandon Nyagurungo, Indiana Wesleyan
Nyagurungo highlighted an undefeated week for No. 20 Indiana Wesleyan, netting four goals and two assists in a pair of lopsided victories. The forward recorded a hat trick in a 6-3 win over Rochester and added four points in IWU’s 5-1 victory over Marian.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Mathis Neuhaus, Bethel
Neuhaus earned two wins in goal for No. 7 Bethel, picking up five saves and allowing just one goal. The freshman keeper also registered a shutout in BU’s 2-0 defeat of Spring Arbor.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Jynessa Larsen, Spring Arbor
Larsen crossed with a time of 20:10 to finish 16th-of-163 at the Lansing Invitational. The freshman helped Spring Arbor end third in the 14-team field.
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Braden Sweet, Indiana Wesleyan
Sweet led top-ranked Indiana Wesleyan to a team win at the Roy Griak Invite. The junior finished seventh-of-460 overall with a time of 25:51.
Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Breann Barger, Indiana Wesleyan
Barger helped No. 19 Indiana Wesleyan finish off yet another Crossroads League Championship with a combined 6-0 showing at No. 5 singles and No. 2 doubles. Barger’s efforts helped IWU take wins over Huntington, Grace and Goshen to secure the title.
Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Javier Gallego, Grace
Gallego helped No. 17 Grace secure its second-straight Crossroads League Championship by leading the Lancers to crucial wins over No. 21 Huntington and RV Indiana Wesleyan. Gallego went a combined 4-0 in those matches at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles.