Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | September 25-October 1
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top individual performances from September 25 through October 1. 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
Eva Joldersma, Indiana Wesleyan
Joldersma totaled 46 kills, 45 digs, five blocks and three aces in wins for No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan over RV Marian, Spring Arbor and No. 19 Mount Vernon Nazarene. Joldersma had two double-doubles and posted 19 kills, 21 digs and two blocks in a four-set win at MU.
Volleyball Defender of the Week
Emma Lyons, Marian
Lyons helped RV Marian to a 2-1 showing on the week with 6.5 digs per set. The sophomore libero had 38 digs in a four-set loss to No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan and proceeded to add 21 in a four-set win over Taylor and 19 in a four-set win over Spring Arbor.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Abbigail Porter, Indiana Wesleyan
Porter led No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan in three more Wildcat victories, which included wins over No. 19 MVNU and RV Marian. Porter had at least 40 assists in all three, posted two double-doubles and ended the week with 143 assists, 31 digs and six blocks in the three victories.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Katie Koger, Marian
Koger scored four of No. 6 Marian’s seven goals on the week, netting three in a 5-0 win at Goshen, before scoring the equalizer in MU’s 2-2 draw with RV Taylor.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Fara Serra, Spring Arbor
Serra helped No. 2 Spring Arbor to two more victories, anchoring a defense that allowed just one goal in the two contests. Serra also assisted the offense, netting two scores in a 6-0 SAU win against Goshen.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Abdulrahman Al-Rashad, Spring Arbor
Al-Rashad picked up seven total points for SAU in its wins over Mount Vernon Nazarene and Goshen. The sophomore had one goal and three assists in a 4-2 win over MVNU and scored again in the Cougars’ 5-0 victory at Goshen.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Mathis Neuhaus, Bethel
Neuhaus helped No. 8 Bethel to a pair of narrow, 2-1, wins in Crossroads League play, stopping seven total shots in the 180 minutes of work.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Audrey Brinkruff, Taylor
Brinkruff finished fourth-of-383 runners at the Louisville Classic which featured a host of NCAA Division I competitors. Brinkruff finished the 5k in 17:58 to help No. 1 Taylor comfortably top all NAIA teams and finish third overall.
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Mathew Keitany, Goshen
Keitany led No. 16 Goshen at the Louisville Classic, finishing ninth overall out of 431 total competitors. Keitany’s time of 24:56 helped Goshen take seventh overall in a field filled with NCAA Division I and nationally-ranked NAIA opponents.
Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Sofia Munoz, Indiana Wesleyan
Munoz played to the ITA Doubles Regional Championship and also advanced to the semifinals of the singles bracket.