ST. PAUL, Minn.-- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced their Athlete of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball. The awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications staff and selected each week by the latter group.
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Dylan Uitto, Jr, UW-Superior
Ashland, Wis./Ashland
Uitto established a new personal record in the 8K last Saturday, at the Augustana Interregional Invitational. He led UW-Superior with a time of 26:35.5, placing 30th in a field of some of the region's best runners.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
Simone Stephens, Jr, UW-Superior
Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro
Stephens led the Yellowjackets this past weekend at the Augustana Interregional Invitational. She placed 57th on the individual leaderboard while posting a race time of 24:42.8.
Football Offensive Athlete of the Week
Brady Turriff, So, Martin Luther, QB
Lancaster, SC/Sun Valley
Turriff went off for a career-high performance in a 41-39 victory over Greenville at home on Saturday. The sophomore gunslinger threw for 346 yards and 4 TD's, including a 25-yard touchdown on 4th down and 6 to give MLC a two-score lead with nine minutes remaining. Turriff completed 62 percent of his throws against the Panthers' defense.
Football Defensive Athlete of the Week
Tom Balge, Sr, Martin Luther, LB/S
New Ulm, Minn./Luther Prep
Balge matched a season-high with 16 tackles (9 solo, 7 assisted) in MLC's 41-39 win over Greenville on Saturday. The senior recorded 16 tackles for the second consecutive week and now sits fourth in tackles amongst all defenders in the UMAC.
Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Micah Koschnitzke, Sr, Martin Luther, K/LB
Waukesha, Minn./Wisconsin Lutheran
Koschnitzke was a perfect 5-of-5 in his PAT attempts in MLC's 41-39 win over Greenville, and totaled 320 yards in his seven kickoffs. Koschnitzke also made an impact defensively for the Knights, coming in second on the squad in tackles (7, 1.5 TFL) from the linebacker position.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Ulrich Mvogo, Sr, North Central, M
Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids
Mvogo posted a hat-trick performance against MLC in his first week back on the pitch after being injured for the last six weeks.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Leo Roque, Sr, Crown, GK
Cancun, Mexico
Roque tallied 18 saves on the week with a save percentage of.783.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Haley Mersberger, Sr, Northwestern, F
Kiel, Wis./Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah
Mersberger found her groove as she scored five goals and tallied 1 assist for a total of 11 points over the week. Her hat trick against North Central marked the most goals in a game this season. Mersberger now leads the UMAC in goals scored and is second in points.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Rachel Fuller, Jr, Crown, GK
Becker, Minn./Becker
Fuller totaled 27 saves with one clean sheet and a save percentage of .964 leading Crown to a draw with UW-Superior for the first time in over fifteen years.
Volleyball Offensive Athlete of the Week
Anja Jarchow, So, Northwestern, OH
Luverne, Minn./Luverne
Jarchow had a breakout week as UNW rolled to three conference sweeps. The sophomore put up 37 kills (4.11 per set), including 14 against Martin Luther and a career-high 15 against Crown, hitting .400 and .419, respectively, in those matches. Jarchow also recorded 13 digs and 3 blocks on the week.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Addeson Jenniges, So, Northwestern
Walnut Grove, Minn./Westbrook
Jenniges dished out 100 assists in three conference wins and just eight sets this week, averaging 12.5 per set. She recorded 40 and 34 in sweeps over Martin Luther and Bethany Lutheran, respectively, before adding 26 in just two sets against Crown Saturday night. The sophomore also tallied 14 digs, 3 aces and 2 blocks for the week and her 10.59 assists per set put her 6th in all of NCAA Division III.
Volleyball Defensive Athlete of the Week
Savanna Hering, So, UW-Superior, DS/L
Superior, Wis./Superior
Hering continued her strong season this weekend, taking on Crown and Minnesota Morris on the road. She added 19 digs against the Polars in a 3-1 win before racking up 27 in a five-set reverse sweep of the Cougars. Hering now holds 418 digs on the campaign, a mark that leads both Superior and the UMAC.