FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 17, 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 (Sept. 16, 2024)
Offensive Player of the Week: Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona (QB, So., Sand Springs, Okla.)
Quarterback
Ty Pennington led Northern Arizona to a 45-17 victory over Utah Tech in just his third-career start for the Lumberjacks, as the sophomore scored four touchdowns this past Saturday night. Pennington completed 8-of-14 passes for 123 yards and two scores, while adding 67 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns to round out his night. Pennington transferred in from Pittsburg State where he was coached by first year NAU head coach, Brian Wright.
Defensive Player of the Week: Will Leota, Sacramento State (LB, Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah)
Linebacker
Will Leota recorded his eighth career game with at least 10 tackles and his first as a Hornet while helping lead Sacramento State to a dominant defensive effort against No. 24 Nicholls on Saturday night. Leota led the team with 10 total tackles which included three tackles-for-loss and a pair of sacks. His sacks and TFLs both set career bests and sparked a Hornet defense which did not allow a point and finished the game with seven sacks (most since 2011) and 14 tackles-for-loss. Leota, who won Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week honors, transferred to Sacramento State after three seasons at Utah Tech.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Andrew Marshall, Idaho (PR, So., Eastvale, Calif.)
Andrew Marshall had a breakout game in Idaho's 41-13 win over ranked UAlbany, as he returned three punts for 82 yards and a touchdown. The 47-yard touchdown came in the second quarter, which put Idaho up 27-3 at the time. Marshall also added two tackles on defensive during the game.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Football Player of the Week
Offense: Bo Kelly (CP), Nate Thomas (UI), Hunter Hays (ISU), Malae Fonoti (UM), Elijah Tau-Tolliver (SAC)
Defense: Ethan Rodriguez (CP), Tommy McCormick (UI), Hayden Harris (UM), Ammon Allen (NAU), Montae Pate (WSU)
Special Teams: Isiah Childs (UM), Zach Schreiner (SAC)
Big Sky Volleyball Players of the Week (Sept. 16, 2024)
Offensive Player of the Week: Maddie Davies, Northern Colorado (MB, Sr., Greenacres, Wash.)
Maddie Davies led Northern Colorado to a 3-0 week, after wins over Colorado, Air Force and Denver. The senior middle blocker hit .400 with 48 kills in three matches, averaging 3.69 kills per set. In the win over Colorado, Davies posted a career-high 22 kills in the five-set win for the Bears. Davies added 13 blocks and four digs to her stat sheet over the weekend. Overall, the Bears are 4-0 against the state of Colorado, with wins over Colorado, Colorado State, Air Force and Denver this season. UNC has posted an 8-2 mark to start the season, with additional wins over Michigan State and Ole Miss to go along with its state of Colorado sweep.
Defensive Player of the Week: Millie O’Ketter, Northern Arizona (L, Gr., Durango, Colo.)
Millie O’Ketter posted 53 digs in a pair of wins for Northern Arizona over the weekend, as the libero averaged 6.5 digs per set in the two matches. O’Ketter earned a blistering .925 serving percentage as well for the Lumberjacks. NAU's wins came over New Mexico and Tarleton State, with the win versus the Lobos snapping a 16-match losing streak to New Mexico. The weekly conference honor is the second of O’Ketter's career and first of the season.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Volleyball Player of the Week
Offense: Bri Gunderson (EWU), Taylor Brickey (UI), Jamie Streit (ISU), Paige Clark (UM), Carisa Barron (PSU), Caitlin Volkmann (SAC), Baylee Bodily (WSU)
Defense: Makenna Collins (EWU), Emma Patterson (UI), Asiah Sopo’aga (ISU), Brenley Hansen (UM), Lauren Lindseth (MSU), Gabi Placide (UNC), Naomi White (PSU), Ashlynn Archer (SAC), Marly Pratt (WSU)
Big Sky Cross Country Athletes of the Week (Sept. 17, 2024)
Men’s Athlete of the Week: Noah Hasselblad, Eastern Washington (Sr., Belfair, Wash.)
Following a ninth-place finish at the Cougar Classic in Colfax, Washington, Eastern Washington runner Noah Hasselblad has been named Big Sky Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week. Hasselblad was the top Big Sky Conference athlete in the field, running the 8K course in 24:90.8.
Women’s Athlete of the Week: Regina Mpigachai, Northern Colorado (Sr., Geita, Tanzania)
Leading Northern Colorado to a team victory, and picking up an individual win in the process, Northern Colorado’s Regina Mpigachai has been named Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week. The Bear won the UIW Invitational with a 5K time of 16:49.4 and pushed UNC to scoring an event-low 42 points.
Others Nominated for Big Sky XC Athlete of the Week
Men’s: Henry Ballinger (UM), Abdi Ibrahim (PSU)
Women’s: Sara Sanders (EWU), Abigail Kotran (UM), Emma Stolte (PSU)
Big Sky Soccer Players of the Week (Sept. 17, 2024)
Offensive Player of the Week: Chloe Pattison, Eastern Washington (F, Jr., Lake Stevens, Wash.)
Chloe Pattison scored four goals and added an assist in a pair of matches this weekend, as the junior forward continues her hot streak for Eastern Washington. Pattison, who has scored seven goals in five matches, scored twice and added an assist in the 4-1 win over San Jose State, while scoring another two goals in the loss at San Diego State. The weekly conference honor is the second-straight of the season for Pattison and third of her career.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Cassandra Herrman, Sacramento State (MF, R-Sr., Cameron Park, Calif.)
Cassandra Herrman helped the Sacramento State defense allow just one goal on the weekend, as the Hornets shutout Cal State Northridge 1-0 and earned a 1-1 draw with Cal State Bakersfield. Herrman assisted on the match-tying score against Cal State Bakersfield en route to an unbeaten week for Sacramento State.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Bayliss Flynn, Montana (GK, So., Edina, Minn.)
Bayliss Flynn made five saves and a clean sheet in Montana's lone match of the week, as the Grizzlies defeated North Dakota, 4-0. Flynn now has three shutouts in four matches since becoming Montana's starting goalkeeper. Ashlyn Dvorak, Montana's starting goalkeeper to open the season, was injured in Montana's match at Fresno State in late August, opening the door for Flynn. The weekly conference honor is the first of Flynn's career.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Soccer Player of the Week
Offense: Daphne Egelhoff (ISU), Carly Whalen (UM), Abigail Lopez (SAC), Sayler Schlosser (WSU)
Defense: Becca Gaido (EWU), Trinity Hale (ISU), Taryn Rae (UNC), Samantha Kearns (WSU)
Big Sky Golfer of the Week (Sept. 18, 2024)
Women’s Golfer of the Week: Cala Korman, Weber State (So., Killarney, Manitoba, Canada)
Weber State’s Cala Korman was the Big Sky’s top performer at the Kelsey Chugg Invitational, leading to Golfer of the Week honors. Korman finished with a 1-over 145 in the rain-shortened event, which put her in a tie for second on the leaderboard. The event featured six Big Sky Conference teams and was hosted by the Wildcats.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Golfer of the Week
Raina Ports (UM), Emma Kang (UI), Scarlet Weidig (MSU), Cynthia Ong (PSU), Andrea Chin (ISU)
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