FARMINGTON, Utah (Sept. 29, 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. 29, 2025)
Offensive Player of the Week: Caden Pinnick, UC Davis (QB, R-Fr., Loomis, Calif)
Quarterback Caden Pinnick led UC Davis to a 34-12 victory over Weber State, with the redshirt freshman racking up over 300 yards of offense and three touchdowns in the Big Sky opener. Pinnick connected on 16-of-27 passes for 288 yards, while rushing for 48 yards on the ground against the Wildcats. Pinnick threw touchdown passes of 85 and 57 yards, while rushing in a two-yard touchdown to round out his scoring plays. The weekly conference honor for Pinnick is the first of the season for the redshirt freshman.
Defensive Player of the Week: Brian Dukes, Cal Poly (DB, Sr., Spring Valley, Calif.)
Senior safety Brian Dukes had a career night with two interceptions, including a pick-six to help lead the Cal Poly defense in the upset win over No. 21 Sacramento State. Dukes' other interception also resulted in points for the Mustangs as it put Cal Poly in field goal territory which resulted in three points. Dukes added three tackles to his stat line for the night as well, as the Mustangs opened Big Sky play with the 32-24 road victory over the Hornets.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Trajan Sinatra, Idaho State (K, Jr., San Jose, Calif.)
Trajan Sinatra was a perfect 4-of-4 on field goals for Idaho State, helping lead the Bengals to a 26-18 win at Northern Colorado to open Big Sky play. Sinatra hit from 26, 27, 48 and 49 yards on the day, while converting both PAT attempts in the win. Sinatra accounted for 14 of Idaho State's 26 points in the 26-18 road victory. Sinatra has now won weekly conference honors three times this season and is a perfect 9-of-9 kicking field goals this year.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Football Player of the Week
Offense: Tyrei Washington (CP), Dason Brooks (ISU), Michael Wortham (UM), Justin Lamson (MSU), Quran Gossett (NAU), Eric Gibson (UNC), Sagapolutele John-Keawe (PSU)
Defense: Teilor Tuioti (ISU), Hunter Peck (UM), Cam Chapa (UNC), Isaiah Green (PSU), Jacob Psyk (UCD)
Special Teams: Ty Morrison (UM), Leo Blumentritt (UNC), Jordan Herron (PSU), Hunter Ridley (UCD)
Big Sky Volleyball Players of the Week (Sept. 29, 2025)
Offensive Player of the Week: Delaney Russell, Montana (OH, So., Denver, Colo.)
Russell averaged 4.33 kills per set on .276 hitting this weekend to help Montana open league play with back-to-back sweeps for the first time since 1990. Russell had 14 kills on .357 in a win over Sacramento State and a dozen kills in the sweep of Idaho as Montana's winning streak has reached 10. She also averaged 2.50 digs per set.
Defensive Player of the Week: Paige Stepaniuk, Portland State (L, Jr., Ridgefield, Wash.)
Paige Stepaniuk led the Viking defense to its best weekend of the season as the Vikings opened Big Sky play 2-0 with 3-0 sweeps of Idaho State, at home Thursday, and Montana State, on the road Saturday. Stepaniuk and the defense held Idaho State and Montana State to opponent season lows for hitting percentage in back-to-back matches. The Vikings held the Bengals to .145 hitting Thursday, which was the lowest mark by a Viking opponent this season until Stepaniuk and the Vikings held Montana State to .128 hitting in the Bobcats' home gym Saturday. Stepaniuk posted match highs in digs in both matches. She recorded 19 digs against the Bengals Thursday, then followed up with 12 digs Saturday against the Bobcats.
With her 31 total digs over the weekend, Stepaniuk moved into the career top 10 for digs within Portland State's Big Sky era (1996-present). From a season perspective, Stepaniuk ranks tied for fifth in the Big Sky in digs (3.75) and 10th in aces (0.31) per set after last weekend.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Volleyball Player of the Week
Offense: Kalista Lukovich (EWU), Joelie Spelts (MSU), Zoe Gibbs (UNC), Alivia Eikenberg (PSU), Victoria Marthaler (SAC), Ashley Gneiting (WSU)
Defense: Sydney Pierce (UM), Joelie Spelts (MSU), Reese Ampi (SAC)
Big Sky Soccer Players of the Week (Sept. 30, 2025)
Big Sky Soccer Players of the Week (Sept. 30, 2025)
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Avery Ott, Northern Arizona (M, Sr., Centennial, Colo.)
Ott delivered her second multi-goal match of the season as she registered a brace in NAU's 2-1 win over the Griz. The senior is second on the team in scoring with five goals, with one assist for 11 points. She ranks fifth in the conference in goals and points, and third in shots (38).
The Lumberjacks went 1-0-1 on the week, recording a 2-1 win over preseason-favorite Montana on Friday before drawing Sacramento State on the road, 1-1, on Sunday to begin Big Sky play.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Lily Blum, Weber State (F, Jr., Salt Lake City, UT.)
The Salt Lake City, Utah started off hot in conference play, scoring both Weber State goals in the 2-1 victory over Eastern Washington on Thursday.
They were Blum's 2nd and 3rd goals of the season and moved her career total to 8 goals, with 4 of them being game-winners.
Defensive Player of the Week: Dalen Lau, Sacramento State (D, Jr., Honolulu, HI.)
Spearheaded a defense that limited Northern Colorado to just four shots on goal and gave up only two second half attempts against Northern Arizona in a 1-1 draw. Marked the Bears' leading scorer Lexi Tuite to the tune of just two shot attempts in a 1-0 Hornet road victory. Did not allow NAU a goal during the run of play, allowing just a goal on a PK in the second half of a 1-1 draw. Also helped Sacramento State successfully defend 15 corners – 10 of those in the match at UNC alone.
Others Nominated for Big Sky Soccer Player of the Week
Offense: Chloe Pattison (EWU), Reagan Brisendine (UM), Tea Reyes (SAC)
Defense: Kamryn Willoughby (EWU), Taryn Rea (UNC), Isabella Sackett (WSU)
Big Sky Cross Country Athletes of the Week (Sept. 30, 2025)
Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week: Erik Le Roux, Northern Arizona (RJr., Colorado Springs, Colo.)
After pacing the No. 14-ranked Lumberjack men to an eighth place finish at the Gans Creek Classic, Northern Arizona’s Erik Le Roux has been named Big Sky Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week. Le Roux finished the 8K course in a time of 23:03.0, making him the top finisher from the Big Sky in a field that featured No. 1 Iowa State, No. 6 Virginia, No. 11 Alabama, No. 13 Colorado and No. 4 BYU as its top five respectively. He was the 21
st athlete to cross the finish line. He joins Ford Washburn as Lumberjacks to claim the title this season.
Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week: Agnes McTighe, Northern Arizona (RSr., Valais, Switzerland)
Leading the No. 8-ranekd Lumberjack women to a runner-up finish at the Gans Creek Classic has earned Northern Arizona’s Agnes McTighe Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week honors. McTighe finished 12
th overall, running the 6K course in 19:35.6. In the meet the Lumberjacks only finished behind No. 12 Florida, and secured victories over No. 2 Oregon, No. 18 Virginia and No. 22 Utah. She joins Hayley Burns as Lumberjacks to claim the title this season.
Others Nomination for Big Sky Cross Country Athlete of Week
Men’s: Marcus Lemon (EWU), Farhan Ibrahim (PSU), Ryan Martin (SAC), Peter Visser (WSU)
Women’s: Rylee Brandon (EWU), Emma Stolte (PSU), Tia Oliver (SAC), Hailey Day (WSU)
Big Sky Men's Golfer of the Week (Oct. 1, 2025)
TBD
Big Sky Women's Golfer of the Week (Oct. 1, 2025)
TBD
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