Grace Lands Quartet With Honors
WINONA LAKE – It was a busy day for Grace College in letting athletes know about being honored for their recent athletic accomplishments. Volleyballers Sierra Smith and Sara Miller, men’s soccer goalkeeper Kurt Hamlin and men’s tennis ace Danila Kurkulin were all tabbed for their prowess by the Crossroads League and the NCCAA.
Smith and Miller earned a pair of Crossroads League Player of the Week awards.
Smith was named the league’s Attacker of the Week, and Miller was the Defender of the Week.
Smith amassed 57 kills in five matches for the Lady Lancers. She averaged 3.0 kills/set, earning herself a spot on the Holiday Inn Express All-Tournament Team. Against Spring Arbor, she racked up 14 kills and just one error.
Miller excelled for Grace’s defense, averaging 6.0 digs/set in five matches. She had a career-high 33 digs against St. Thomas and had 23 digs in three sets against St. Francis (Ill.).
The Lady Lancers play on the road twice this weekend, including at Huntington on Friday and at St. Francis on Saturday.
Following yet another shutout, Hamlin was lauded as the Crossroads League Defensive Player of the Week.
Hamlin extended his shutout streak to 241 consecutive minutes with a 0-0 (2OT) draw with Bethel on Saturday.
He made several key stops in the first half and the second overtime period to secure a tie with the reigning Crossroads League champion.
For the season, Hamlin has tallied five shutouts in nine matches. The Lancers continue league play on Wednesday, playing at Marian at 7 p.m.
Kurkulin was honored nationally as the NCCAA Player of the Week.
Kurkulin completed a perfect regular season at No. 1 singles for the Lancers. He beat every Crossroads League No. 1 player, capping off the season sweep with two-set victories over Bethel and Indiana Wesleyan’s top singles’ player last week.
In the regular season, Kurkulin was 9-0 in singles and 5-4 in doubles. The Lancers start the Crossroads League Tournament today in the quarterfinals, traveling to Marian for the opening round.