Press Release

JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Tuesday, recognizing the league’s top athletes from August 30 through September 5. 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
Isabelle North, Bethel
North led No. 25 Bethel to wins over no. 16 Indiana Wesleyan and No. 24 IU-Kokomo with 3.75 kills and 1.38 blocks per set. The sophomore middle blocker also hit .533 over the course of BU’s 5-0 week, ending with 60 kills and 22 blocks.

Volleyball Defender of the Week
Stephaney Fifield, Taylor
Fifield picked up 125 digs over five Taylor wins, averaging 25.0 digs per match and 7.4 digs per set in that time. The senior libero had a pair of outings with at least 30 digs and four showings of at least 20 digs for the Trojans and added nine aces and 24 assists during TU’s 5-0 week.

Volleyball Setter of the Week
Kacy Bragg, Taylor
Bragg repeated as the CL Setter of the Week after averaging 10.5 assists, 3.0 digs and 0.3 blocks per set during Taylor’s 5-0 week. The junior posted a trio of double-doubles and added 179 more assists to her season total.

Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Erin Oleksak, Marian
Oleksak poured in five goals and two assists over a trio of victories for No. 4 Marian. The junior also moved into first on MU’s career-charts in points, goals and game-winning goals with the big week.

Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Ireland Aerni, Huntington
Aerni allowed just one goal over three matches in the net for Huntington, helping the Foresters to a 2-0-1 clip on the week with 15 saves. Aerni scored a pair of shutout wins to open the week, before a 12-save gem helped HU battle Cornerstone to a 1-1 draw.

Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Zack Bowser, Mount Vernon Nazarene
Bowser netted three goals on five shots in Mount Vernon Nazarene’s 9-1 win over Ohio Christian in MVNU’s lone outing of the week.

Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Gabriel Vessely, Saint Francis
Vessely posted a shutout win between the posts for Saint Francis, highlighting the Cougars’ 1-0 win over Franklin.

Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Morgan Forney, Mount Vernon Nazarene

Forney led Mount Vernon Nazarene at the Kenyon Tri-Meet, running a 19:57.6 to finish second overall among the 29-member field.

Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Haile Stutzman, Huntington

Stutzman led Huntington in its season-opener at Manchester, pairing with Elijah Chesterman to win the MU Hokum Karem. Stutzman ran the fastest mile of the event at 4:32 and totaled 19:03 over his four miles.

Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Maddie Bemisderfer, Indiana Wesleyan
Bemisderfer played to a perfect 8-0 record on the week over four victories for the Indiana Wesleyan women’s tennis program. Bemisderfer did not drop a set, while playing No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for the Wildcats.

Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Martin Carrizo, Indiana Wesleyan
Carrizo won each of his six matches atop the lineup for Indiana Wesleyan. Carrizo dropped just one set over the six matches, helping IWU to a 3-0 mark.