FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 22, 2025) – The Big Sky Conference announced its Player of the Week honors, presented by
JAMBAR, with soccer, football, volleyball, cross country, women's golf and men's golf all in full swing.
Big Sky Football Players of the Week (Sept. 22, 2025)
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Ty Pennington, Northern Arizona (QB, Jr., Sand Springs, Okla.)
Northern Arizona’s Ty Pennington threw for a career-high three touchdowns in the 31-23 win over ranked Incarnate Word, passing for 286 yards on the day. Pennington had touchdown passes of 33, 46, and 30 yards on the day, with his 46-yarder being a Hail Mary at the end of the half to put NAU up 21-10 going into the break.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Keali'i Ah Yat, Montana (QB, R-So., Kaneohe, Hawaii)
In just two and a half quarters of play, Montana’s Keali’i Ah Yat scored three total touchdowns in the 63-20 win over Indiana State, with the sophomore quarterback connecting on 22-of-27 passes for a career-high 313 yards on the day. Two scores came through the air and one on the ground as Montana’s 63-point, 647-yard offensive day ranked as one of the top seven games in program history.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Dylan Hampsten, Sacramento State (DL, So., Santa Clarita, Calif.)
Sacramento State’s Dylan Hampsten had five tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks in an impressive defensive effort for the Hornet defense in the 45-16 win over Central Arkansas on Saturday night. Hampsten’s efforts were part of a 13 TFL, eight sack effort by the team, with it being the highest team effort for the Hornets since 2011.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week: Jacob Psyk, UC Davis (DL, Gr., Sugarland, TX.)
Jacob Psyk spent most of his night in the backfield for UC Davis, totaling seven tackles, two sacks, three tackles-for-loss and forced two fumbles in the 50-34 win over Southern Utah on Saturday night. Psyk’s efforts were part of a five-sack game for the Aggies, which were the most for the defense since 2023.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Ty Morrison, Montana (K/P, Jr., Valencia, Calif.)
Montana’s Ty Morrison filled up the stat sheet with another impressive day in the kicking game in the 63-20 win over Indiana State. The senior K/P went a perfect 7-for-7 on PAT attempts before being subbed out partway through the third quarter to stay perfect on the year. He added 4 punts for 180 yards, averaging 45 per attempt with 2 inside the 20 and a long of 49. He also logged 8 kickoffs for 510 yards and 6 touchbacks.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Football Player of the Week
Offense: Nate Bell (EWU), Joshua Wood (UI), Davis Harsin (ISU), Mathias Price (UNC), Cardell Williams (SAC), Jordan Fisher (UCD), Davion Godley (WSU)
Defense: Dre Greeley (EWU), Isaiah Cook (ISU), Solomon Tuliaupupu (UM), Paul Brott (MSU), Travis Arena (NAU), Ezra Ekuban (UNC)
Special Teams: Noah Cronquist (EWU), Trajan Sinatra (ISU), Ben D'Aquila (NAU), Leo Blumentritt (UNC), Sloan Calder (WSU)
Big Sky Volleyball Players of the Week (Sept. 22, 2025)
Offensive Player of the Week: Ashlynn Archer, Sacramento State (OH, R-Jr., Coeur d'Alene, ID.)
Senior Ashlynn Archer led Sacramento State to a perfect 3-0 record and a tournament championship at the Central Cal Challenge. The Hornets dropped just one set while handily defeating CSU Bakersfield (3-0), Pacific (3-0) and Fresno State (3-1).
The middle blocker, who was named the tournament MVP, had an incredible week, hitting .543 with averages of 4.30 kills and 0.40 aces per set. She had at least 13 kills in every match, and hit better than .475 in all three contests. She combined for 43 kills and just five errors in 70 swings, and spearheaded a Hornet offense that finished the week with a .362 hitting percentage.
She had a career-high tying 16 kills and a .500 hitting percentage against Fresno State, 14 kills and .667 hitting percentage vs. CSU Bakersfield, and 13 kills and .476 vs. Pacific. If that wasn’t enough, she added a career-best four aces in the win over Fresno State.
The St. John, Wash., native has hit better than .475 in seven straight matches, and easily leads the Big Sky with a .473 hitting percentage.
Defensive Player of the Week: Alexis Batezel, Montana (L, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.)
Batezel averaged 4.75 digs/set and led Montana to another undefeated weekend at the Eastern Washington Tournament. Montana held its two opponents to .158 hitting on the weekend and Batezel continued to rise up the program's all-time record book, cracking the top 10 with the win over Gonzaga.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Volleyball Player of the Week
Offense: Kalista Lukovich (EWU), Kiana Greer (UI), Jaydin Watts (ISU), Delaney Russell (UM), Jaynes Teagan (MSU), Hannah Stoddard (NAU), Zoe Gibbs (UNC), Tyra Schaub (PSU)
Defense: Alyssa Radke (EWU), Kyriah Trefren, (UI), Jenna Werbelow (ISU), Joelie Spelts (MSU), Sophia Wadsworth (NAU), Zoe Gibbs (UNC), Naomi White (PSU), Reese Ampi (SAC)
Big Sky Soccer Players of the Week (Sept. 23, 2025)
Offensive Player of the Week: Saydree Cooke, Idaho State (F, R-Jr., Pocatello, ID.)
Saydree Cooke led the Bengals offensive attack that dropped 2 goals on UNLV, leading them to a 2-0 victory in Idaho State's lone game on the week. ISU's first win over UNLV since 2000, and just their second in program history.
To close out non-conference play, Cooke would assist a Mary Za goal in the first half to open the scoring in Vegas, followed by a goal of her own in the first two minutes of the second half. Saydree would end the match with 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 points, 2 shots on goal, and 4 total shots.
Defensive Player of the Week: Ashlyn Dvorak, Montana (GK, R-Jr., Billings, Mont.)
Ashylyn Dvorak posted shutouts as Montana defeated Gonzaga 4-0 and Washington State 1-0. The redshirt-junior made six saves against the Bulldogs, three against the Cougars.
Dvorak now has three sutouts on the season.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Soccer Player of the Week
Offense: Delani Walker (EWU), Lydia Robertson (UM), Preslie Young (UNC), Sydney Spotts (PSU), Presley Ray (WSU)
Defense: Kamryn Willoughby (EWU), Hannah Wieler (ISU), Emry Jacobs (WSU)
Big Sky Cross Country Athletes of the Week (Sept. 23, 2025)
Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week: Seth Babbel, Idaho State (Jr., Caldwell, Idaho)
With a victory at the Montana XC Invite, Idaho State’s
Seth Babbel has been named Big Sky Conference Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week. Babbel finished the 8K course in 24:30.1, to outpace the field by 15 seconds. This win also marked his second collegiate victory. He was able to lead the Bengals to a team victory, as ISU scored just 30 points to finish 26 ahead of Idaho and 28 ahead of Montana in Missoula.
Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week: Regina Mpigachai, Northern Colorado (Sr., Geita, Tanzania)
Following a statement victory at the Woody Greeno/Dirksen Invitational, Northern Colorado’s
Regina Mpigachai has been named Big Sky Conference Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week. She ran the 5K course in 17:03.94, which was 34-seconds ahead of the runner-up. Mpigachai has now won this meet in back-to-back seasons. Last season she qualified individually to the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Men’s: Miles Ferguson (UI), Carson Steckelberg (UM), Noah Osmond (UNC)
Women’s: Alex Terry (UI), Ashley Reeck (ISU), Kayla Ingraham (UM)
Big Sky Men's Golfer of the Week (Sept. 24, 2025)
Men’s Golfer of the Week: Kaelen Dulany, Northern Colorado (Jr., Keller, Texas)
After claiming an individual victory at the Gene Miranda Flacon Invitational, Northern Colorado’s Kaelen Dulany has been named Big Sky Conference Men’s Golfer of the Week. Dulany outpaced the field in Colorado Springs, shooting a 14-under over three rounds at Eisenhower Golf Course. In the third and final round, he carded an 8-under 64 to run away from the competition. He played the 2024-25 campaign at UTSA, where he participated in eight tournaments.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Men’s Golfer of the Week
Josh McCartain (UI), Ty Anderson (WSU)
Big Sky Women's Golfer of the Week (Sept. 25, 2025)
Women’s Golfer of the Week: Zoe Newell, Idaho (Jr., Oro Valley, Ariz.)
With a third place finish at the Kalispel Invitational, Idaho’s Zoe Newell has been named Big Sky Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week. Newell shot 2-under to finish just four shots behind the individual champion from Gonzaga. She outpaced five other teams of Big Sky golfers, thanks in large part to a 4-under performance in the third and final round. The Vandals finished fifth in the event as a team.
Other Nominated for Big Sky Women’s Golfer of the Week
Raina Ports (UM), Lizzie Neale (NAU), Maddie Dustin (PSU), Sophia Lee (SAC)
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