ST. PAUL -- Every UMAC fall sports team opened its 2011 season in the last week, meaning several notable performances were seen across the region. Join us in congratulating the first week of UMAC Player of the Week award winners who are listed below.
FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
WR Carl Givens, Westminster College
In Westminster College's 52-24 Week 1 victory over Rockford College, wide receiver Carl Givens caught eight passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns. Givens also had one rush attempt on Saturday for 52 yards which also scored six points for the Blue Jays. Givens, a senior this season, racked up 995 receiving yards in 2010.
FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
LB Josh Bromberg, Westminster College
In the same 52-24 victory for Westminster over Rockford, junior Josh Bromberg amassed 10 tackles, two of which were for a loss. Bromberg forced two Rockford fumbles in the game, recovering one to allow the Blue Jays to nearly double-up their Week 1 opponent.
FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
P Justin Bosman, College of St. Scholastica
In his first collegiate football game, freshman punter Justin Bosman pinned Lawrence University back all afternoon long, downing four punts inside the Vikings' 20-yard line. He also had a 56-yard punt in the game, which is the third-longest punt in program history.
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Alex Schoneberger, College of St. Scholastica
In his first collegiate cross country meet, freshman Alex Schoneberger paced St. Scholastica at Saturday's Tom Barry Invitational with a 14th place finish in a time of 22:24.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Molly Burgstahler, College of St. Scholastica
In her first collegiate cross country meet, freshman Molly Burgstahler placed eighth out of 99 runners to lead St. Scholastica to a runner-up finish at Saturday's Tom Barry Invitational. Burgstahler ran a time of 20:20.
MEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
F Jason Budish, Crown College
Jason Budish netted a hat trick, which included the game-winner in Crown's season-opening 4-3 victory over North Central University on Saturday. Budish also assisted on Crown's first goal of the game for a seven-point performance. The junior also showed some flair, scoring one goal with a header, one goal with his right foot and his third with a volleyed, left-footed chip.
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
OH Chelsea Koth, Northwestern College
Chelsea Koth earned all-tournament honors at the ACR Homes Volleyball Opener, turning in a double digit kill performance in each of Northwestern's four matches. In back to back matches against UW-Oshkosh and Bethel, Koth posted 17 and 10 kills while earning 15 and 10 against Wisconsin Lutheran and UW-River Falls.
VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MB Courtney Jonas, Northwestern College
In Northwestern's first four matches of the season, Courtney Jonas played well on the front line, especially on the defensive side of the net. After earning four and three blocks against UW-Oshkosh and Bethel on Thursday, Jones went off for eight blocks against Wisconsin Lutheran and six more against UW-River Falls on Friday, averaging 1.31 blocks per set for the week.
VOLLEYBALL SETTER OF THE WEEK
S Krista Stoltz, Northwestern College
Krista Stoltz had a great first week of the 2011 season, twice surpassing the 40-assist mark en route to 159 assists for the week. In four matches, Stoltz averaged 9.9 assists per set while Northwestern hit .203 as a team. Stoltz also averaged 1.6 digs per set.