ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced its Player of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of baseball, softball, and women’s tennis for the week of March 25-31, 2024. 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.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aidan Russell,
Junior, Bethany Lutheran College
Gilbert, Ariz. / Campo Verde
- Another productive week for Russell this week as he reached base in 9-of-16 at-bats after batting 7-for-14 on the week and drawing a pair of walks.
- Had seven RBI and eight runs scored, highlighting his weekend with a home run in the series finale against Northland on Saturday.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Drew Hedtke, Sophomore, Bethany Lutheran College
Norwood Young America, Minn. / Glencoe-Silver Lake
- Hedtke threw a complete game for Bethany in a 6-1 win over Northland on Friday.
- Allowed zero earned runs in the game, striking out 11 hitters and allowing just five hits.
SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Carla Mendoza, Senior, North Central University
Ridgecrest, Calif. / Sherman E. Burroughs
- Mendoza batted .667 (10-15) with 10 RBIs, six scored runs, three doubles, and two triples through five games this week.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Kayla Senne, Junior, Bethany Lutheran College
Northwood, Iowa / Northwood-Kensett
- Senne pitched nine innings this weekend at Northland, picking up a pair of wins and allowing zero earned runs while striking out 12.
WOMEN’S TENNIS SOUTH DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Veronica Volkart, Junior, Principia College
Asuncion, Paraguay / Col Experi Universidad Catolica Asuncion
- Volkart won both of her matches against strong opponents from Lake Forest College.
- After an 8-4 win at #1 doubles, she played a tough #6 singles match that went to a 10-point tiebreaker after splitting the first two sets.
- Down 9-6 in the tiebreaker, she fought back and rattled off five straight points to win the match.