FARMINGTON, Utah (Oct. 21, 2024) – The Big Sky Conference announced its weekly honors for the past week of competition, as football, volleyball, soccer, cross country and golf were all in action.
Big Sky Football Players of the Week (Oct. 21, 2024)
Offensive Player of the Week: Lan Larison, UC Davis (RB, Sr., Caldwell, Idaho)
Lan Larison rushed for 182 yards and a touchdown, while adding 75 yards on five catches for UC Davis in the program’s first-ever win against Eastern Washington. Larison also recovered a couple of onside kicks late in the fourth quarter to help secure the Aggie win. The 257 all-purpose yards against EWU ranks Larison currently third in the nation with 168.1 yards per game.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Isiah King, Idaho (LB, R-Jr., San Diego, Calif.)
Isiah King had seven total tackles, a key sack and a key interception to help Idaho secure a 34-29 win over Cal Poly. The interception, on a pass deflection from Keyshawn James-Newby, led to the final Idaho touchdown of the game which the Vandals would need to survive a late comeback from Cal Poly. The sack on third down led to a 12-yard loss and a punt, which Idaho responded with another touchdown.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Zelmar Vedder, Sacramento State (DB, Jr., Manteca, Calif.)
Zelmar Vedder helped Sacramento State survive a 51-48 overtime win, forcing a pair of turnovers versus Weber State. Vedder had a one-handed pick in the endzone, before making a hit on the quarterback the following drive that resulted in a fluttering pass that was plucked out of the air by his defensive lineman. Vedder also had seven tackles to go along with his one INT, one forced fumble game.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Zach Schreiner, Sacramento State (K, Sr., Rocklin, Calif.)
Zach Schreiner was 3-of-3 on field goals and 6-of-6 on PATs, while making a pressure-filled field goal in overtime to help Sacramento State defeat Weber State. The senior made three field goals in a game for the third time in his career with makes 43, 41 and 36 yards, with the 36-yarder coming in overtime. He is now tied for fifth place in school history with 26 career field goals in just two seasons. He also moved into sixth place with 74 career PATs.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Football Player of the Week
Offense: Kekoa Visperas (EWU), Jack Wagner (Idaho), Tommy Mellott (MSU), Elijah Tau-Tolliver (SAC), Damon Bankston (WSU)
Defense: Kai Rapolla (CP), Neil Daily (MSU), Frankie, Edwards
Special Teams: Gabe Panikowski (ISU), Sam Hunsaker (NAU), Hunter Ridley (UCD)
Big Sky Volleyball Players of the Week (Oct. 21, 2024)
Offensive Player of the Week: Syd Cole, Northern Colorado (S, Gr., Parker, Colo.)
Syd Cole helped the Bears to a 2-0 record, with a .392 hitting percentage over the two matches, including a program DI record .484 against Montana State. Cole had 38 assists against Montana and 33 against Montana State, with the 38 being the most in a three-set match this season by any Big Sky player. She also added seven kills on 10 swings with no errors and two aces.
Defensive Player of the Week: Makenna Collins, Eastern Washington (L, Sr., Irrigon, Ore.)
Makenna Collins helped the Eagles to a 2-0 weekend collecting 29 digs, 4.14 digs per set, and 12 assists. In the win over Idaho State, Collins recorded 11 digs and five assists, while against Weber State she earned 18 digs and seven assists.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Volleyball Player of the Week
Offense: Bri Gunderson (EWU), Sadie Bluth (ISU), Maddie Kremer (UM), Gigi Greenlee (NAU), Makayla Lewis (PSU), Ellie Tisko (SAC)
Defense: Asiah Sopo’aga (ISU), Alexis Batezel (UM), Lauren Lindseth (MSU), Gabi Placide (UNC), Naomi White (PSU), Karlie Spohn (SAC)
Big Sky Cross Country Athletes of the Week (Oct. 22, 2024)
Men's XC Athlete of the Week: David Mullarkey, Northern Arizona (Sr., Leeds, England)
Leading the Lumberjacks to a solid finish at Wisconsin Pre-Nationals has earned Northern Arizona’s David Mullarkey Men’s XC Athlete of the Week honors. Mullarkey ran the 8K in a time of 23:12.1, helping the ‘Jacks finish fifth as a team. He has been the top finisher for NAU in all three meets he’s competed in this season so far. This marks Mullarkey’s third weekly award from the Big Sky this season.
Women’s XC Athlete of the Week: Regina Mpigachai, Northern Colorado (Sr., Geita, Tanzania)
Setting a Northern Colorado 6K record, and beating the field by more than two minutes at the Golden Eagle Invitational, has earned Northern Colorado’s Regina Mpigachai Women’s XC Athlete of the Week honors. The Bear ran the course in 19:31.7, which the second-place finisher clocking in at 21:33.8. This marks her third honor from the conference office so far this season.
Others Nominated for Big Sky XC Athlete of the Week
Men’s: Evan Peters (EWU), Carson Steckelberg (UM), Ryan Martin (SAC)
Women’s: Cassidy Walchk-Sloan (EWU), Iris McKean (UM), Ali Upshaw (NAU), Tia Oliver (SAC)
Big Sky Soccer Players of the Week (Oct. 22, 2024)
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Chloe Pattison, Eastern Washington (F, Jr., Lake Stevens, Wash.)
Chloe Pattison continued her fantastic season recording two goals over the weekend for the Eagles. Pattison would also add nine shots, with six of them on goal. Pattison scored the second goal of the 2-0 road victory over Idaho State. She would then record the go-ahead goal against Weber State for a 2-1 victory on senior day. Pattison leads the conference in goals scored (11), shots (50), shots on goal (29), and points (25). The weekly award is the third of the season for Pattison.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Alyssa Peters, Idaho (D, Gr., Bremerton, Wash.)
Alyssa Peters assisted on four of the Vandals' six goals over the weekend, in Idaho wins against Weber State and Idaho State. Peters posted one assist against the Wildcats to open the weekend, before a hat trick of assists in the 4-0 victory over the Bengals on Sunday. Peters has earned 13 assists this season, with 32 overall for her career. The Vandal defender ranks second in the nation with 13 assists and first among defenders. The weekly award is the third of the season for Peters.
Defensive Player of the Week: Paula Flores, Idaho (GK, R-Fr., Tijuana, Mexico)
Paula Flores posted two shutouts for Idaho over the weekend in wins over Weber State and Idaho State. She tallied five saves in her first match, before earning another four on Sunday to have nine on the weekend with no goals allowed. Flores' seven shutouts this season rank second amongst Big Sky keepers and her four shutouts in seven conference games rank in a tie for first. The weekly award is the first of Flores' career.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Soccer Player of the Week
Offense: Maddie Ditta (UM), Madelyn Dougherty (SAC), Elle Fraizer (PSU)
Defense: Kamryn Willoughby (EWU), Trinity Hale (ISU), Bayliss Flynn (UM), Dalen Lau (ISU), Eden Millan (PSU)
Big Sky Golfer of the Week (Oct. 24, 2024)
Golfer of the Week: Timbre Shehee, Northern Colorado (Jr., Mead, Colo.)
Shooting a Northern Colorado school record 54-hole score in the Clash at Boulder Creek has earned Timbre Shehee her second Big Sky Golfer of the Week title this season. Shehee carded a career-best 14-under, putting up a 6-under in the first round of action, which matched the UNC school record for a single round. She followed that up with a 3-under 69 and a 5-under 67. She finished third in the tournament, just one shot behind the co-individual medalists. The event was hosted by Northern Arizona University.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Golfer of the Week
Amy Hodgkins (NAU), Ella Kraft (SAC)
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