Fighting Illini’s Bella Loya, Hoosiers’ Tara Trainer and Buckeyes’ Kaitlyn Coffman receive Big Ten’s top honors this week
Player of the Week
Bella Loya, Illinois
DP/C – So. – Mission Viejo, Calif. – Mission Viejo – Major: Sociology
Posted a .667 batting average, .688 on-base percentage and 1.400 slugging percentage last weekend with three home runs and eight RBI to help the nationally-ranked Fighting Illini win three of four games at the Mardi Gras Invitational in Mobile, Alabama
An all-tournament selection who went 4-for-4 in the tournament opener at host South Alabama, hitting a home run and a double while driving in four runs and scoring twice
Added home runs in both weekend matchups with Nicholls State, including one as part of a three-hit, two-RBI day in the tournament finale on Sunday
Earns her first career Player of the Week honor
Last Illinois Player of the Week: Leigh Farina (April 17, 2017)
Pitcher of the Week
Tara Trainer, Indiana
RHP – Sr. – Lebanon, Ohio – Lebanon – Major: Interior Design
Went 4-0 with a 0.28 ERA in 25.0 innings in the circle last weekend, recording 37 strikeouts and six walks while allowing just one earned run on 10 hits to help nationally-ranked Indiana sweep five games at the Black and Orange Challenge in Macon, Georgia
Registered two complete-game wins over previously-unbeaten Loyola-Chicago and pitched seven innings of relief with a career high-tying 16 strikeouts in an 11-inning win over tournament host Mercer
Combined with teammate Josie Wood on a no-hitter in the opener against Alron on Feb. 22, throwing four innings and fanning six
Twice received Academic All-Big Ten accolades (2016-17 and 2017-18)
Earns her fourth career Pitcher of the Week honor
Last Indiana Pitcher of the Week: Tara Trainer (Feb. 18, 2019)
Freshman of the Week
Kaitlyn Coffman, Ohio State
OF – Visalia, Calif. – Mt. Whitney – Major: Psychology
Batted .538 with a .571 on-base percentage and 1.077 slugging percentage last weekend, hitting two home runs with 10 RBI as the Buckeyes won all four games at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California
Hit the game-winning grand slam in the tournament opener against Army West Point on Feb. 22
Had a career-high three hits and five RBI on Feb. 23 against Duke
Earns her first career Freshman of the Week honor
Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Niki Carver (April 30, 2018).
KOPSEA’S KORNER – 2025-26 BASKETBALL – VOLUME 11
SENASATIONAL SEVEN Northridge (18-1): Brady Scholl contributed 33 points as the No. 7 (Class 4A) Raiders claimed a share of the Northern Lakes Conference title with a 79-59 win over Concord. Saint Joseph (16-4): Nick Shrewsberry came up with a career-high 37 points as...