FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 19, 2024) – The Big Sky Conference announced its weekly honors for football, volleyball, women's basketball and men's basketball for the past week of competition.
Big Sky Football Players of the Week (Nov. 18, 2024)
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Kekoa Visperas, Eastern Washington (QB, R-Jr., Eatonville, Wash.)
Kekoa Visperas led the Eastern Washington offense to a 77-point output in their win over Idaho State this past Saturday. The Eagle quarterback was a perfect 14-of-14 passing, with over 250 yards of offense and four total touchdowns. Overall, the 77 points scored broke a program record against a Div-I opponent and the 704 yards of offense was the team’s most since the 2021 season.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Mark Hamper, Idaho (WR, R-Fr., West Linn, Ore)
Mark Hamper caught eight passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns in Idaho’s 31-24 win over Weber State, with all three categories being career highs for the redshirt freshman. Hamper caught touchdown passes of 36, 16 and 74 yards, with the latter two coming in the fourth quarter to seal the victory over the Wildcats. The win for Idaho secured the first undefeated home slate for the Vandals since 1996.
Defensive Player of the Week: Jace Klucewich, Montana (DB, R-Jr., Frenchtown, Mont.)
Jace Klucewich picked off two passes in Montana’s 28-17 win over Portland State, with both drive-killers coming in the redzone. Klucewich also had five tackles, with all five being solos. The redshirt junior now leads the Big Sky with four interceptions on the year.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Taco Dowler, Montana State (PR/WR, So., Billings, Mont.)
Taco Dowler made a game-changing play in Montana State’s win at UC Davis on Saturday, returning a punt 79 yards for a touchdown that helped the Bobcat clinch at least a share of the 2024 Big Sky Championship and the league's automatic berth to the FCS Playoffs. The touchdown return came at a crucial moment late in the second quarter, with the score just 14-8 in favor of the Bobcats. The punt return for a score was the first of the season for Dowler and the third of his career.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Football Player of the Week
Offense: Logan Fife (UM), Ty Pennington (NAU), Delon Thompson (PSU), Jared Gipson (SAC), Lan Larison (UCD)
Defense: Mason Rivera (CP), Samarai Anderson (EWU), Malakai Williams (UI), Rylan Ortt (MSU), Tommy Ellis (NAU), Peyton Wing (PSU), Rex Connors (UCD)
Special Teams: Noah Serna (CP), Cameron Pope (UI), Cash Cheeks (UNC), Quincy Craig (PSU), Zach Schreiner (SAC)
Big Sky Volleyball Players of the Week (Nov. 18, 2024)
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Maddie Kremer, Montana (OH, Sr., Red Bluff, Calif.)
Maddie Kremer led Montana to two victories over the weekend, averaging 3.88 kills per set to keep the Grizzlies postseason hopes alive. Kremer led the offense with 31 kills overall on .307 hitting percentage for the weekend. In the win over Portland State, Kremer averaged 5.00 kills per set, as the Grizzlies won their fourth-straight match. The weekly honor was the first of her career.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Syd Cole, Northern Colorado (S, Gr., Parker, Colo.)
Syd Cole averaged 12.0 assists per set for Northern Colorado, as the Bears earned road wins over Idaho State and Weber State. Cole also tallied 12 kills on 20 attacks, without and error and one service ace. Northern Colorado clinched at least a share of the Big Sky regular-season title with the road wins.
Defensive Player of the Week: Millie O’Ketter, Northern Arizona (L, Gr., Durango, Colo.)
Millie O’Ketter averaged 5.00 digs per set in a split weekend against Weber State and Idaho State, as she led Northern Arizona over the weekend. O'Ketter currently leads the Big Sky with her 4.83 digs per set season average. The libero has now won weekly honors three times this season.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Volleyball Player of the Week
Offense: Bri Gunderson (EWU), Jordan Radick (MSU), Hannah Stoddard (NAU), Devon DeNecochea (PSU), Ellie Tisko (SAC)
Defense: Morgan Blazzard (EWU), Alexis Batezel (UM), Lauren Lindseth (MSU), Sam Steele (UNC), Naomi White (PSU), Skyler Gartin (SAC)
Big Sky Women's Basketball Player of the Week (Nov. 19, 2024)
Co-Player of the Week: Esmeralda Morales, Montana State (G, Sr., Spanaway, Wash.)
Esmeralda Morales led Montana State to a 2-0 week, with wins over Cal Poly and UC Davis for the Bobcats. Morales scored 21 points in both games, while averaging 4.0 assists, 4.0 steals and 2.5 rebounds per game. Montana State is now 4-0 on the year, which is the program's best start since the 2003-2004 season. The weekly conference honor is the second of Morales' career and first as a Bobcat.
?Co-Player of the Week: Nyah Moran, Northern Arizona (G, Sr., Riverside, Calif.)
Nyah Moran scored a season-high 23 points in Northern Arizona's 68-63 win at Pacific, which was the fifth-straight win over a West Coast Conference foe for the Lumberjacks. Moran was key in NAU's victory, going 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the final seconds of Sunday's game. The senior also added six rebounds, an assist and a block to her statline. The weekly conference honor is the first of Moran's career.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Jennifer Aadland (UI), Sophia Covello (ISU), Mack Konig (UM), Tatum West (UNC), Alaya Fitzgerald (PSU), Lina Falk (SAC)
Big Sky Men's Basketball Player of the Week (Nov. 19, 2024)
Player of the Week: Money Williams, Montana (G, So., Oakland, Calif.)
Money Williams had back-to-back scintillating performances on the road against two NCAA Tournament teams from last year, scoring 30 points at No. 11 Tennessee and following it up with 25 points at Utah State. He became the first non-SEC player to score 30 points against Rick Barnes' Volunteer team since 2014 and just the fourth Griz underclassmen to reach the 30-point mark. He shot 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from three, and also averaged 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. This is Williams’ second Big Sky Player of the Week nod in his career, after claiming one on December 5, 2023.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Nic McClain (EWU), Jake O’Neil (ISU), Jaylin Henderson (PSU), Jacob Holt (SAC), Blaise Threatt (WSU), Trent McLaughlin (NAU)
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