ST. PAUL -- Seven different schools were represented in the most recent Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Player of the Week awards. New faces continue to emerge as nine of the 12 certificates distributed this week have new names.
FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
QB Cullen O'Brien, Presentation College
Presentation's Cullen O'Brien completed 14 of 21 passes for 261 and four touchdowns in the Saints' 42-26 win over Crown on Saturday night. O'Brien also rushed for a game-high 118 yards, including a 48-yard TD in the first quarter.
FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DL Zack Dubanoski, College of St. Scholastica
Zack Dubanoski tied three other Saints with a team-high 10 tackles in Saturday's victory at Northwestern. He also had 1.5 sacks, two tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the game. Dubanoski was part of defense that held Northwestern to just 55 yards of total offense in the second half.
FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
PR Rosney Beverly, Eureka College
Eureka's Rosney Beverly returned three punts for 85 yards in the Red Devils' 31-21 win over Martin Luther on Saturday. Beverly's 44-yard return was the longest of his career while the senior also returned two kicks for 41 yards.
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Adam Zais, Northland College
Northland's Adam Zais established himself after winning the Bethany Lutheran Invitational with an 8k time of 27:05.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Linda Keller, University of Minnesota Morris
Linda Keller won for the second time in three races this season at the Bethany Lutheran Invitational, beating her closest competition by two minutes after crossing the finish line in 22:20.
MEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MF CK Pock, Bethany Lutheran College
CK Pock played very well in a must-win game for Bethany Lutheran in the Vikings' 3-0 defeat of Martin Luther on Saturday. While scoring two goals on four shots, Pock distributed the ball well in the victory.
MEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
D Matt Flanders, Northwestern College
Northwestern's Matt Flanders helped Northwestern coast to two shutout victories in back-to-back games against Crown on Friday and Saturday, taking possession away from the Storm at key times in both contests.
WOMEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
FW Rebekah Kirby, Northwestern College
Rebekah Kirby had a hat trick in Northwestern's Friday home game against Crown before scoring another goal on Saturday at Crown to boost her season goals total to 10.
WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
GK Molly Bergmann, College of St. Scholastica
In a 7-0 victory over Northland College last Friday, St. Scholastica's Molly Bergman recorded three saves on her way to earning her fifth shutout of the season.
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
OH Chelsea Koth, Northwestern College
Chelsea Koth helped Northwestern earn its 11th, 12th and 13th consecutive victories and sweep the first round of UMAC competition with 4.45 kills per set and a .341 attacking percentage last week. Koth also averaged 2.0 digs per set while recording seven blocks in three matches.
VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MB Jacki Smith, Northwestern College
From her middle blocker position, Northwestern's Jacki Smith made life tough for opponents as she recorded 16 blocks on the week, making for a 1.6 blocks per set average as the Eagles improved to 19-2 overall on the season.
VOLLEYBALL SETTER OF THE WEEK
S Krista Stoltz, Northwestern College
Leading the Eagles to 13 consecutive wins and a 7-0 record to start the UMAC season, Krista Stoltz averaged 12.0 assists per set as Northwestern hit .271 on the week. Six of the Eagles' hitters had over a .200 attack average which was due in part to Stoltz's setting.