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 basketball, football, and volleyball. The awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications staff and selected each week by the latter group.
Men’s Basketball Offensive Athlete of the Week
Carvin Fish, Jr, Minnesota Morris, F
Sisseton, S.D./Tiospa Zina Tribal School
Fish led the Cougar scoring in the first week of action. The junior forward scored 34 points in UMM's comeback win against Bethel. He recorded his first double-double of the season adding 11 rebounds in the game. Fish finished the week with 53 points, 17 rebounds, two blocks, a steal and an assist.
Men’s Basketball Defensive Athlete of the Week
Tyler Smith, Sr, Crown, F
Columbia Heights, Minn./Irondale
Smith finished the Polars season opener with 3 blocks and 7 defensive rebounds, anchoring the Polars defense like he did last season. He helped hold Oak Hills to just 25% from the floor and only 40 points in the game.
Women’s Basketball Offensive Athlete of the Week
Maddy Grove, Sr, Minnesota Morris, G
Morris, Minn./Morris
At the CSB Tip-Off Grove scored 57 points earning her fourth-straight All-Tournament Team honor. The senior guard set a career-high with 39 points against Hamline. Grove also recorded four rebounds, five assists, six steals and two blocks.
Women’s Basketball Defensive Athlete of the Week
Brooke Ver Steeg, So, Minnesota Morris, G
Hancock, Minn./Hancock
Ver Steeg led the Cougars defensively in the opening week. The sophomore guard tallied eight rebounds and had seven steals. In the first game of the season, Ver Steeg recorded a career-high six steals against St. Benedict.
Football Offensive Athlete of the Week
Brady Turriff, Jr, Martin Luther, QB
Lancaster, S.C./Sun Valley
Turriff had his third-straight game with 300+ passing yards in MLC's 35-34 win vs. Northwestern. The junior signal-caller was 29-of-39 for 324 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Football Defensive Athlete of the Week
JT Garza III, Sr, Minnesota Morris, DB
Rupert, Idaho/Minico
Harza helped led the Cougar defense to a 28-14 win against Crown. The senior defensive back, recorded two interceptions. The first was to stop the Polars driving the end the first half and the other set up the Cougars for a touchdown at the Crown 24-yard line. Garza also tallied four tackles and a pass break up.
Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Carter Bilitz, So, Martin Luther, DE
Janesville, Minn./Homeschool
Bilitz made the play of the game during MLC's 35-34 win vs. Northwestern, blocking the Eagles' final PAT, which ended up being the difference in the game.
Volleyball Offensive Athlete of the Week
Ana Egge, Jr, Northwestern, OH
Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Christian
Egge led the Eagles with 26 kills (2.6 per set) on the week, adding 3 aces, 7 digs and 3 blocks.
Volleyball Defensive Athlete of the Week
Savanna Hering, Jr, UW-Superior, DS/S
Superior, Wis./Superior
Hering led the defensive efforts for the Yellowjackets this weekend, logging 43 digs and averaging 6.14 per set.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Sella Fleming, Fr, Minnesota Morris
Hawley, Minn./Hawley
Sella Fleming set a career-high in the final game of the regular season. The first-year setter tallied 46 assists in the Cougars' 3-1 win over UW-Superior. Fleming finished the regular season with 754 assists.