UMAC Player of the Week Awards - September 11, 2023
ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced its Player of the Week award winners Monday in the sports of football, volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, and men's and women's golf. The UMAC Player of the Week awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications/sports information staff and selected each week by the latter group.
FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Diego Narezo, Sophomore, Crown College
San Antonio, Texas/Cornerstone Christian
- Totaled 459 yards passing with 27 completions.
- Recorded five total touchdowns with four passing and one rushing.
FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rudy Criner, Junior, Crown College
San Antonio, Texas/Cornerstone Christian
- Defensive back recorded 17 total tackles including 13 solo tackles.
- Had 2.5 tackles for less.
FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Quintral Clay, Freshman, Greenville University
Hayti, Mo./Hayti
- Returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, breaking the Greenville program record for longest kick return in school history.
- Had set the previous school record with a 95 yard kickoff return last week.
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kaylin Plautz, Senior, University of Wisconsin-Superior
Elk River, Minn./Elk River
- Was instrumental to the Yellowjackets winning all four matches this past week at the Subway Stinger Classic for the first time since 2018.
- Recorded 47 kills on a .394 hitting percentage.
VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Maggie Claussen, Freshman, Crown College
Staples, Minn./Homeschool
- Finished the week with 107 digs and 6.69 digs per set in five matches.
- Recorded 31 digs against Calvary and 37 digs in a win over Trinity Bible.
VOLLEYBALL SETTER OF THE WEEK
McKenzie Newton, Senior, University of Minnesota Morris
West Fargo, N.D./ Sheyenne
- Dished out 137 assists in 16 sets (8.56 per set), with 11 kills and 10 aces as Minnesota Morris went 4-0 last week with victories over Bethel, Carleton, Buena Vista, and Grinnell.
- Named to the All-Tournament Team at the Macalester Invitational.
MEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Elliott Lebsack, Senior, North Central University
Kearney, Nev./ Kearney
- Scored a total of five goals on seven shots on goal and 10 total points in two wins over Buena Vista and Faith Baptist Bible to keep the Rams undefeated.
MEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jerad Buse, Graduate Student, North Central University
Kearney, Nev./ Kearney
- Posted 16 total saves, a .929 save percentage, and only one allowed goal in a pair of wins versus Buena Vista and Faith Baptist Bible.
WOMEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Katie Schoeneck, Freshman, Martin Luther College
College Station, Texas/Luther Prep
- Scored two goals to lead the Knights to their first win of the season against Buena Vista University on Saturday.
WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rebekah Schroeder, Freshman, Martin Luther College
Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Luther Prep
- On Saturday, Schroeder had the first shutout of her career as MLC won their first game of the season 2-0 over Buena Vista University.
- Recorded 18 saves and only allowed two goals to Dakota Wesleyean on Wednesday.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Michael Butterfield, Junior, University of Wisconsin-Superior
Bovey, Minn./Greenway
- Led the Yellowjackets in their season opening race, the Bulldog Invite, placing 10th in team scoring and 12th overall against a competitive field of DII and DIII runners.
- Finished with a 19:25, which is nearly 20 seconds faster than the nearest UMAC runner and over three minutes faster than the next fastest runner outside of UW-Superior.
- Additionally, he achieved a new PR, beating his previous time by over a full minute.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Halle Barker, Junior, University of Wisconsin-Superior
Superior, Wis./Superior Senior
- Led the Yellowjackets in Thursday's season opening race, placing 10th in team scoring and 15th overall against a competitive field of DII and DIII athletes.
- Her 5k time was 20:15, earning a new PR which is nearly three minutes faster.
- Ran the fastest 5k time by a UMAC runner this fall.
MEN'S GOLF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Conner Willard, Junior, University of Wisconsin-Superior
Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing
- Carded a 71 in the first round and a 73 in the second to win the Twin Ports Collegiate over the weekend.
- During the first day, Willard was the only golfer to play at par, scoring a 36 on the front nine and 35 on the back nine.
- Saturday he followed up that performance with a 38/35 split to earn the top spot.
WOMEN'S GOLF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kendall Clark, Sophomore, Crown College
Vail, Ariz./Empire
- Finished in second place at the Twin Ports collegiate after she scored an 84 and a school record round of 72.