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 Athlete of the Week
Dylan Uitto, Sr, UW-Superior
Ashland, Wis./Ashland
Uitto set a new personal record at this weekend's Augustana Interregional Invitational, taking home a time of 25:53.9. This time ranks ninth in program history.
Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Emery Maki, Sr, Northwestern
Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing
Maki led the Eagles with an eighth-place finish and a personal-best time of 23:05.4 in the 6K at the Bennie Johnnie Autumn Classic. She followed six D1 runners from the University of Minnesota and one other D3 runner. Her new PR ranks as the second-fastest time in program history. Maki shaved more than 11 seconds off her previous best of 23:17.1.
Football Offensive Athlete of the Week
Tarion Wilbourn, Fr, Greenville, WR
East St. Louis, Mo./Madison
Wilbourn tallied 134 yards of total offense and 2 TDs Saturday. He had 6 catches for 79 yards and 2 rushes for 65 yards including a game-sealing 59-yard touchdown run.
Football Defensive Athlete of the Week
Dylan Maxwell, Sr, Greenville, DL
Butler, Ill./Litchfield
Dylan had the best game of his career helping the Greenville defense put up their second-straight dominant performance holding an offense under 250 yards of total yards. Dylan had 3 sacks, 9 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Gabriel Nottling, Fr, Martin Luther, K/P
Watertown, Wis./Luther Prep
Nottling made a long-list of positive plays during MLC's 24-21 win at Minnesota-Morris, including the game-winning 20-yard field goal with 5 seconds left. He also went 3-for-3 on PATs, pinned two of four punts inside the Morris 20, including a long punt of 54. All three of his kick-off attempts went for touchbacks. He also caught a touchdown pass while playing receiver.
Men’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Santiago Grams, Sr, North Central, F
Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park
Grams scored four goals in two conference victories over Northwestern and Martin Luther.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Dutch Bullock, So, Minnesota Morris, GK
Grand Junction, Colo./Grand Junction
Bullock has helped the Cougars grow their winning streak to six after recording a pair of clean sheets this week. Bullock started the week by making two saves in the 1-0 win against Crown College. The sophomore goalkeeper then tallied four saves against St. Scholastica in another 1-0 win.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Marie Kendall, So, Northwestern, M
Dakar, Senegal/Dakar Academy
Kendall led the Eagles in their two shut-out wins this week. She scored 7 and assisted on 2 of Northwestern's 16 goals. Against BLC, she tallied 7 shots on goal, 4 goals, and an assist in 55 minutes. Earlier in the week against North Central, she placed 10 shots on goal, finishing with a hat trick and an assist through 80 minutes.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Samantha Hansen, Sr, Northwestern, GK
Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy
Hansen started at goal for the Eagles in both wins this week. She led Northwestern's back line with two clean sheets. Against BLC, she collected 4 saves. Earlier in the week, against North Central, she didn't face a shot; however, Hansen delivered her first career assist in the first half, earning her first career point.
Volleyball Offensive Athlete of the Week
Ana Egge, Jr, Northwestern, OH
Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Christian
Egge led UNW to a pair of conference sweeps over the weekend totaling 26 kills (4.33 per set), 7 digs and 3 aces. The junior was as dominant as ever in Friday's win at Martin Luther, hitting .517 on her way to 17 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks and 4 digs.
Volleyball Defensive Athlete of the Week
Savanna Hering, Jr, UW-Superior, DS/L
Superior, Wis./Superior
Hering averaged 6.86 digs per set in last week's matches, garnering 48 digs after a pair of UMAC victories over Crown and Minnesota Morris.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Sella Fleming, Fr, Minnesota Morris
Hawley, Minn./Hawley
Fleming recorded 71 assists, four kills, two service aces and two blocks. The first-year setter tallied 44 digs over the week with a career-high 28 against UW-Superior. Fleming then added 16 against St. Scholastica.