ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of volleyball, men's and women's soccer, and men's and women's golf. The awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications staff and selected each week by the latter group.
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Addy Gangl, Sophomore, UW-Superior Yellowjackets
Nashwauk, Minn. / Nashwauk-Keewatin
- Gangl finished last week's matches with a .463 attack percentage, compiling 30 kills as the Yellowjackets won all three matches in straight sets. She sits atop the Yellowjacket leaderboard with 192 kills on the campaign and 229.5 points, averaging 3.33 points per set.
VOLLEYBALL SETTER OF THE WEEK
Grace Brigson, Senior, North Central Rams
West Salem, Wis. / West Salem
- Coming off last week’s setter of the week honors, Brigson put together another solid weekend with 60 total assists (8.57 per set), 24 digs, 4 kills, and 3 aces as the Rams defeated BLC and MLC to remain undefeated in conference play.
VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jenna Anderson, Senior, UW-Superior Yellowjackets
Bemidji, Minn. / Bemidji
- Anderson led the defensive charge once again for the Yellowjackets. Across three matches she added 59 more digs, sitting at 445 on the season while receiving recognition as one of the top defenders across Division III, according to D3 Sports Data.
MEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Aaron Mackall, Freshman, Minnesota Morris Cougars
Nerstrand, Minn. / Woodbury
- Mackall played a total of 180 minutes in the Cougar's two games this week. He put 2 goals in the net for a total of 4 points against Crown, and totaled up 1 goal and 1 assist for 3 points versus Northland.
MEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Harry Ambler, Senior, UW-Superior Yellowjackets
Reading, England / Little Heath School
- Ambler aided the Yellowjackets' efforts in both conference matches, playing a full 90 minutes and defeating Northwestern 1-0 and Bethany Lutheran 2-0. This week's performance marks the second-straight week of the 'Jacket defense posting clean sheets against UMAC competitors.
WOMEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Olaitz Azkue Muguruza, Senior, Bethany Lutheran Vikings
Orduna, Spain / IES Zaraobe
- Azkue had a big week for the Vikings, notching her first career hat trick while adding two assists for an eight-point day in a 7-2 win over MLC Tuesday. She then helped set up a goal in Saturday's win over UW-Superior by playing a pass to a forward who would avoid a few defenders before notching the goal.
WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Quinn Clark, Junior, UW-Superior Yellowjackets
Duluth, Minn. / Duluth East
- Clark saw action against Northwestern last week in a rematch of last year's conference championship match. Playing a full 90 minutes in net, she made three saves and picked up her third win and third shutout as UWS downed the Eagles 2-0.
MEN'S GOLF ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Carson Mersberger, Freshman, Northwestern Eagles
Kiel, Wis. / Elkhart Lake-Glenbeaulah
- Mersberger continued his hot streak over the weekend. The freshman won the MLC Fall Invitational by shooting a career-low 71 (-1) one day after finishing 3rd at the BLC Invite with a 74 (+3). He was the top Eagle on both days, helping UNW to a pair of team wins.
WOMEN'S GOLF ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Morgan Eckman, Sophomore, Northwestern Eagles
Jordan, Minn. / Jordan
- Eckman had a dominant weekend, firing a 75 (+4) on Friday to win the BLC Invite and a 77 (+5) on Saturday to claim medalist honors at the MLC Fall Invitational. Her efforts helped the Eagles take first and second place in the events as a team, respectively.
The UMAC is an NCAA Division III member comprised of eight full-time member schools from Minnesota and Wisconsin: Bethany Lutheran College, Crown College, Martin Luther College, North Central University, Northland College, University of Minnesota Morris, University of Northwestern, and University of Wisconsin-Superior.
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