ST. PAUL, Minn.-- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced their Athlete of the Week award winners Wednesday in the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, football, 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 Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Logan Korthals, Fr, Martin Luther
Watertown, Wis./ Luther Prep
Korthals finished 11th at the UW-River Falls River Town Invite with a time of 27:59.3.
Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Jemimah Habben, Martin Luther
Flagstaff, Ariz./Luther Prep
Habben finished 10th at the UW-River Falls River Town Invitational with a time of 25:25.6.
Football Offensive Athlete of the Week
Elijah Alexander, Sr, Northwestern, QB
Minneapolis/Andover
In his UNW debut, Alexander led the team in both passing (148) and rushing yards (85). The Eagles' signal-caller also added a rushing touchdown and had five runs of 18 yards or more.
Football Defensive Athlete of the Week
Arian Saenz, Sr, Minnesota Morris, LB
Sleepy Eye, Minn./Sleepy Eye
Saenz led UMN Morris in the opening game of the 2026 season totaling 13 tackles. The senior linebacker made eight solo tackles, assisted on five tackles, and contributed on a tackle for loss. Saenz came away with a huge interception in the third quarter in the redzone.
Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Gideon Cruver, Sr, Northwestern, LB/P
Fayetteville, Ga./Landmark Christian
Cruver was all over the field Saturday at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, with his biggest moment coming in crunch time, when the senior blocked a CMS field goal attempt to keep UNW's deficit at 3 points in the 4th quarter. The two-way player also logged 7 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, in addition to averaging 35.3 yards per punt, with a long of 53.
Men’s Golf Athlete of the Week
Blu Anderson, Sr, UW-Superior
Amery, Wis./Amery
Anderson was the individual medalist at the UNW Invite Tuesday (won scorecard playoff with birdie on hole 13 (#2 handicap)), and then was the most consistent golfer for the Yellowjackets this weekend at the Augsburg Fall Invite. During the opening round, he finished with a seven-over 79 before shaving four strokes on day two, finishing his weekend with a 75.
Women’s Golf Athlete of the Week
Morgan Philyaw, Sr, Northwestern
Jordan, Minn./Jordan
Philyaw (formerly Eckman) opened 2026 with medalist honors at the UNW Invite after firing a 1-over 73 and leading the Eagles to a program-record team score of 302, as well as the team title. At this weekend's St. Kate's Invite, the senior tied for fifth, individually, after carding scores of 75 and 79, and helped UNW to another team win over three of the top Minnesota DIII programs in recent years (Bethel, St. Kate's and Carleton).
Men’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Seth Davidson, So, UW-Superior, F
Sartell, Minn./Sartell
Davidson scored Tuesday’s first goal in the 14th minute of play before firing two more against St. Scholastica, completing the first hat trick of his sophomore campaign.
Men’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Luke Lockman, So, UW-Superior, GK
Mequon, Wis./Homestead
Lockman saw 45 minutes in net Tuesday versus St. Scholastica, making one save in the first half of action. Against No. 22 UW-Eau Claire Friday, he played a full 90 minutes and made five saves while facing 24 shots, recording his first shutout this season.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week
Layla Kerr, Jr, Crown, M
Barigadda Heights, Guam/Homeschool
Kerr tallied 3 goals on the week leading the Polars offensive efforts.
Women’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Week
Samantha Hansen, Sr, Northwestern, GK
Cottage Grove, Minn./New Life Academy
The senior keeper opened this season with a shutout, collecting 6 saves on 15 shots faced. The 1-0 win over Bethel University was the first victory over the Royals since 2003.
Volleyball Offensive Athlete of the Week
Ana Egge, Jr, Northwestern, OH
Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Christian
Egge totaled 21 kills (7 per set) on .514 hitting in a season-opening sweep at Saint Benedict. The junior then went on to earn All-Tournament honors at the Kathryne Pals Legacy Invitational and finished the week with 60 kills (4.62 per set), 29 digs and 7 blocks, leading UNW to a 3-1 record. In the final game of the tournament, a sweep over UW-Platteville, Egge logged a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs.
Volleyball Defensive Athlete of the Week
Miranda Wyatt, Jr, Northwestern, MB
Manhattan, Mont./Manhattan Christian
Wyatt tallied 6 solo blocks and 15 block assists for an average of 1.62 per set, including outputs of 8 vs. Saint Benedict and 6 vs. Bethel. She was also efficient offensively in those matches as well, logging 10 kills apiece on hitting averages of .474 and .643, respectively.
Volleyball Setter of the Week
Sella Fleming, Fr, Minnesota Morris
Hawley, Minn./Hawley
In her first matches with the Cougars, Fleming totaled 92 assists at the Sugar Loaf Classic in three matches. She set a season-high of 36 assists in the five-set win over St. Scholastica. Fleming also added 29 digs, 13 kills, three service aces, and a block.