ST. PAUL-- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced their Athlete of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of men’s and women’s golf, 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 Golf Athlete of the Week
Jakob Swanson, Sr, Northwestern
Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview
Swanson had a career day at the BLC Invite on Friday, making an ace on the 8th hole on his way to a score of 67 (-4), which UNW's program record for low individual round and tied him with teammate Shane Seiffert for medalist honors. His efforts also led the Eagles to the team win with a program-record score of 285. He followed that up with a 77 (+5) the following day at the MLC Fall Invitational as Northwestern finished runner-up.
Women’s Golf Athlete of the Week
Morgan Eckman, Jr, Northwestern
Jordan, Minn./Jordan
Eckman was a double winner this week while also leading UNW to a pair of team wins by 41 and 33 strokes in a week where the program earned its first-ever WGCA Top 25 vote. The junior made three birdies to win the BLC Invite with a score of 76 (+5) on Friday, before winning by nine strokes with a 75 (+3) on Saturday at the MLC Fall Invitational. Eckman now has four individual wins this season.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Aaron Mackall, Sr, Minnesota Morris, F
Nerstrand, Minn./Woodbury
Mackall set a Minnesota Morris record this week scoring four goals in a single game against Martin Luther. His scoring did not stop there as he netted his fifth of the week at UW-Superior. Mackall has 12 goals this season, the second-most in DIII. Over the week, the senior forward took five shots and all five found the back of the net.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Jamie van Wijland, Jr, Bethany Lutheran, D
Hoorn, Netherlands/Oscar Romero
van Wijland helped Bethany go 2-0 in the UMAC during the week with shutout victories over Crown (3-0) and North Central (6-0). Against Crown, van Wijland and the Viking defense limited the Polars to just four total shots and one on goal, and against North Central, he helped limit the Rams to three total shots with zero on goal.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Elena Luján Rubio, Sr, Bethany Lutheran, M
Alborache, Spain IES La Hoya de Buñol
Luján Rubio helped Bethany go 2-0 in the UMAC during the week with wins over Crown (3-1) and North Central (7-0). Luján Rubio scored one goal and assisted on another against Crown, and then added three goals and an assist against North Central. Luján Rubio finished the week with four goals and two assists, increasing her team lead to 13 points on five goals and three assists this season.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Quinn Clark, Sr, UW-Superior, GK
Duluth, Minn./Duluth East
Clark made 11 saves in last week's contests with Northwestern and Minnesota Morris. She made a season-high 10 saves versus the Eagles as Superior ended the week 1-0-1.
Volleyball Offensive Athlete of the Week
Lilly Mehrkens, So, Bethany Lutheran, OH
Zumbrota, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa
Mehrkens played a key role in Bethany going 3-0 in the UMAC during the week with wins over Martin Luther (3-0), UM-Morris (3-1), and Crown (3-0). Mehrkens paced the Viking offense in all three matches, accumulating 42 kills with a .248 attack percentage. Her best performance of the week included 22 kills against UM-Morris, which helped the Vikings secure their first win over the Cougars since 2008, snapping a 29-match losing streak. Bethany has increased its current winning streak to eight, which is the longest streak since 2004.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Abby Distad, So, Bethany Lutheran
Kasson, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville
Distad played a key role in Bethany going 3-0 in the UMAC during the week with wins over Martin Luther (3-0), UM-Morris (3-1), and Crown (3-0). Distad quarterbacked the Viking offense in all three matches, accumulating 103 assists (10.3 per set) while adding 18 digs and seven service aces. Her best performance of the week included 43 assists against UM-Morris, which helped the Vikings secure their first win over the Cougars since 2008, snapping a 29-match losing streak. Bethany has increased its current winning streak to eight, which is the longest streak since 2004.
Volleyball Defensive Athlete of the Week
Lexi Coon, Fr, Minnesota Morris, L
Fon Du Lac, Wis./St. Mary's Springs Academy
Coon totaled 61 digs including a career-high 24 against Bethany Lutheran. She also tallied 15 assists and four aces to start conference action.