Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | September 24-30
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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 24 through 30. 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
Jesse Saxton, Indiana Wesleyan
Saxton logged the second-best time in program history for No. 12 Indiana Wesleyan, crossing at 24:45 to end third-of-412 runners at the Greater Louisville Classic. IWU took 13th-of-45 at the meet.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Rebecca Groh, Indiana Wesleyan
Groh ran a time of 19:12 at the Greater Louisville Classic to finish 39th of 287 runners at the meet and helped Indiana Wesleyan take 13th at the 31-team event.
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Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Alex Sokalski, Spring Arbor
Sokalski anchored the defense for No. 22 Spring Arbor in a 1-0 win over Taylor and a 3-1 win against Saint Francis. The shutout was SAU’s fifth of the season.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Samuel Biek, Bethel
Biek highlighted a pair of 4-2 wins for Bethel, recording a hat trick against Goshen and striking the net for another goal against Taylor. Biek’s efforts helped the Pilots to their best start since 2009 through 11 matches at 8-2-1.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Malorie Henderlong, Spring Arbor
Henderlong was vital in No. 1 SAU’s defensive efforts, anchoring a pair of shutout wins for the Cougars in which the squad allowed a total of six shots. The junior center back also scored twice in a 6-0 win over USF.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Bethany Balcer, Spring Arbor
Balcer upped her Crossroads League-leading totals for goals and points with three goals in two wins for No. 1 Spring Arbor. Balcer scored once in SAU’s 2-0 win over No. 22 Taylor and added two more in a 6-0 blanking of USF.
Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Grant Esposito, Indiana Wesleyan
Esposito helped Indiana Wesleyan secure its Crossroads League regular season crown by going 8-0 at No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles for the Wildcats. Esposito did not drop a set and IWU won all four of its outings.
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Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Emily Mast, Grace
Mast was a perfect 8-0 on the week in four matches for Grace at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. The junior did not drop a set and helped the Lancers pick up three team wins to set a program mark with the 12th win of the season.
Volleyball Attacker of the Week
Marci Miller, Indiana Wesleyan
Miller drilled 74 kills in 179 swings over five IWU wins, averaging 4.9 kills per set on a .268 percentage to pace the Wildcats. The sophomore turned in a career-best 21 kills in 42 swings during a sweep of Taylor.
Volleyball Defender of the Week
Gina Novotny, Grace
Novotny turned in 106 digs over five matches for Grace, posting a career-high 34 digs in a five-set loss to Olivet Nazarene and adding two other 20-dig outings in Lancer wins. Novotny averaged 5.3 digs per set on the week.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Kendyll Gebert, Indiana Wesleyan
Gebert led Indiana Wesleyan to a 5-0 week by tossing up 30-or-more assists in four-of-five straight-set victories for the Wildcats. The freshman averaged 10.8 assists per set, tallying 162 assists, 25 digs, seven aces and four block assists on the week.
