ST. PAUL, Minn.-- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced their Athlete of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of 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.
Football Offensive Athlete of the Week
Jamarrius Courtney, Crown, QB
Minneapolis, Minn./Chaska
Courtney totaled 163 rushing yards, 122 passing yards, and 3 total touchdowns in a solid performance leading Crown to a victory over UM-Morris.
Football Defensive Athlete of the Week
Jeremiah Belizaire, So, Westminster, DE
Miami Gardens, Fla./North Miami Beach
Had 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 3 tackles in the Blue Jays’ win over Greenville.
Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Aidan Szczdroski, Fr, Westminster, DB
Hallsville, Mo./Hallsville
Blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown, and had 3 tackles on special teams in the Blue Jays' win.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Jay’ce Jones, Fr, Northwestern, F
Marina del Rey, Calif./Palisades Charter
Against Crown, Jones scored twice with just three shot attempts. Against Morris, the freshman led the team with shot attempts with 3 in his 77 minutes of play.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Patrick Sessions, Sr, UW-Superior, GK
Brighton, England/Brighton, Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College
Sessions turned in a clean sheet against Bethany Lutheran this past weekend, posting three saves and boosting the Yellowjackets to their eighth-straight UMAC Regular Season Championship.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Haley Mersberger, Sr, Northwestern, F
Kiel, Wis./Elkhart Lake Glenbeulah
Mersberger closed out the regular season with three 3 goals through 10 shots on target to lift the Eagles to their first UMAC regular season championship since 2017. The senior finishes the regular season ranked second in the UMAC in goals, points, shots, and shots on goal.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Mallory Moseman, Sr, Northwestern, D
Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy
Moseman played two solid games for the Eagles as they went 2-0 and secured the #1 seed, winning the regular season championship. She scored her second goal of her career on Wednesday against Crown College, notching her second game-winner of her career. She played 180 minutes over both matches, and her defense and leadership on the backline stalled both teams' attacks, limiting only three shots over the week.
Volleyball Offensive Athlete of the Week
Mary Cate Ziembiec, Sr, Minnesota Morris, OH
Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen
Over the week, Ziembiec paced the Cougars with 33 kills, 4.71 per set. In the three-set sweep over MLC she recorded 16 kills while hitting .406. Ziembiec added 17 digs and five blocks on the week.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Addeson Jenniges, So, Northwestern
Walnut Grove, Minn./Westbrook-Walnut Grove
Jenniges was on fire in UNW's four-set wins over Saint Benedict and UW-Superior, finishing with 47 and 46 assists, respectively, for a total of 93 (11.63 per set). She also added 10 digs and 2 blocks in the win over CSB to achieve the ninth double-double of her career. The sophomore's 10.55 assists per set this season ranks seventh in Division III and first in the UMAC.
Volleyball Defensive Athlete of the Week
Lexi Coon, Fy, Minnesota Morris, L
Fon Du Lac, Wis./ St. Mary's Springs Academy
Coon led the Cougars defense over the week with 50 digs over seven sets. The Fon Du Lac native recorded a career-high 32 digs against Bethany Lutheran. Coon also tallied seven assists, one service ace and one kill.