Press Release

JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league’s top athletes from September 27 through October 3. 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
Nicole Winkler, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Winkler led RV Mount Vernon Nazarene to a four-set win over Grace in the lone match of the week for the Cougars. The senior outside hitter tallied 17 kills, 18 digs and one service ace, to go with a .306 hitting percentage in the win.

Volleyball Defender of the Week
Ellie Ruby, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Ruby highlighted the defense for RV Mount Vernon Nazarene in its lone match of the week. The senior libero picked up 31 digs and added one service ace in a four-set victory over Grace.

Volleyball Setter of the Week
Kacy Bragg, Taylor

Bragg had at least 35 assists in each of No. 17 Taylor’s three matches, piling up 122 total assists with 19 digs and three aces on the week. The junior averaged 12.2 assists per game and 40.7 assists per match for the Trojans in the three outings.

Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Erin Oleksak, Marian
Oleksak led No. 7 Marian to a bounce-back win over Bethel, scoring three goals and adding an assist in the 7-3 victory for the Knights.

Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Becca Mindling, Spring Arbor
Mindling anchored a tight defense for No. 4 Spring Arbor in its wins over No. 7 Marian and No. 15 Grace. The senior defender helped the Cougars post shutouts in each contest, running SAU’s consecutive-shutout streak to eight-straight matches.

Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Matheus Santiago, Bethel
Santiago was instrumental in RV Bethel’s 2-1 win over RV Indiana Wesleyan, scoring both goals for the Pilots, including the game-winner in the 99th minute.

Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Franklin Joyce, Bethel
Joyce allowed just one goal in 189 minutes of work in the net for RV Bethel, helping the Pilots to wins over RV Indiana Wesleyan and Marian. Joyce logged five total saves in the two matches and recorded his sixth shutout of the season.

Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Alex Ebetino, Saint Francis

Ebetino finished second-of-491 runners at the Louisville Classic Blue Race with a time of 17:52.1 to cross as the top NAIA finisher in that event.

Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Daniel Gerber, Taylor

Gerber led No. 3 Taylor at the Louisville Classic Gold Race, clocking a blistering time of 24:04.7 for the second-best time in TU’s program history. Gerber finished 30th-of-353 in a field consisting of mostly NCAA Division I and II competitors.