FARMINGTON, Utah (Feb. 9, 2026) – The Big Sky Conference announced its Player of the Week honors, presented by
JAMBAR, with men's indoor track & field, women's indoor track & field, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's tennis, women's tennis, women’s golf and softball all in action.
Big Sky Softball Player of the Week (February 9, 2026)
Softball Player of the Week: Jenna Kearns, Idaho State (C, Jr., Pocatello, Idaho.)
Jenna Kearns delivered a standout performance at the Fresno State Kickoff Classic, leading Idaho State to a 3-2 record while anchoring the lineup throughout the five-game weekend. Kearns hit .625 (10-for-16) with a tournament-high seven runs scored and six extra-base hits, including four doubles and two triples. She consistently set the tone offensively, reaching base and driving scoring opportunities in multiple games, including a 3-for-4 performance with a triple and an RBI in the tournament finale against SIUE.
Other's Nominated for Softball Player of the Week
Grace Lopez (UM), KK Christie (UNC), Nichole Orozco (PSU), Lafulafu Malepeai (SAC)
Big Sky Softball Pitcher of the Week (February 9, 2026)
Softball Pitcher of the Week: Alexa Ortiz, Sacramento State (P, Jr., Chandler, Ariz.)
Junior Alexa Ortiz helped lead Sacramento State to a 4-1 record in the opening week of the season. In three appearances (two starts), the right-hander was dominant. She posted a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA, allowing just four hits and no runs with 17 strikeouts over 15.0 innings. Opponents hit just .080 when she was in the circle, and Ortiz took no-hitters into the fifth inning of both her starts.
In Saturday’s 4-0 win over Saint Mary’s, the Chandler, Ariz., native tossed a one-hit shutout while walking two and striking out a career-high 11 batters over seven innings. She faced just four batters over the minimum, and the only hit allowed was a two-out infield single in the sixth inning.
In the season opener at UC Davis, Ortiz allowed just one hit with a walk and five strikeouts over five innings. She took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before allowing a single. Her third and final appearance came in relief on Sunday in the Hornets’ 7-0 loss to Colorado State, as she yielded just two hits with no runs over three innings.
Other's Nominated for Softball Pitcher of the Week
Kasey Aquinaga (ISU), Cameryn Ortega (UM), Anna Wilming (UNC), Gracie Walters (PSU)
Big Sky Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week (February 9, 2026)
Men's Track Athlete of the Week: Keenan Kuntz, Idaho (So., Richland, Wash.)
Setting a new Big Sky Conference Record in the 60-meter dash has earned Idaho’s Keenan Kuntz Men’s Track Athlete of the Week honors. Kuntz clocked a time of 6.61 at the Idaho Team Challenge this weekend, outpacing the field by .30 seconds. The previous Big Sky record was held by Southern Utah’s Tre James, who ran a 6.62 at the 2018 Big Sky Indoor Track & Field Championships. Kuntz is a Washington State transfer in his first season with the Vandals.
Others Nominated for Men's Track Athlete of the Week
Karsen Beitz (UM), Josiah Johnson (NAU), Daniel Beckford (UNC), Ari Smith (PSU), Tim Edwards Jr. (SAC), Weber State 4x400 Relay Team
Men's Field Athlete of the Week: Easton Hatleberg, Montana State (So., Grandview, Texas)
Securing the top spot in the Big Sky for shot put has earned Montana State’s Easton Hatteberg Men’s Field Athlete of the Week honors. At the Carignan Classic, the Bobcat won the event by over five feet with a toss of 18.35m (60-2.5) to take over a three-foot lead on the rest of the conference.
Others Nominated for Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Merci Migani (EWU), Carson Hegele (UM), Justin Cardoza (NAU), Tyler Rogers (UNC), Brock Gross (SAC), Wyatt Larkins (WSU)
Women's Track Athlete of the Week: Callie Wilson, Montana (Fr., Bonney Lake, Wash.)
Breaking her own school record with a time of 7.35 (7.37 after altitude adjustment) in the 60-meter dash has earned Montana’s Callie Wilson Women’s Track Athlete of the Week honors. The freshman ran a 7.36 earlier this season. She currently has the Big Sky lead by .05 seconds. She also ran the 200-meter in a time of 23.66.
Others Nominated for Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Jordyn Grady (EWU), Jana Willems (UI), Jordann Germain (NAU), Alexia Austin (UNC), Irina Lopez (PSU), Ava Fitzgerald (SAC), Angelyca Chapman (WSU)
Women's Field Athlete of the Week: Hanna Tait, Idaho (So., Grafton, New South Wales, Australia)
Breaking the Idaho school record, and leaping up to No. 29 in the NCAA, Hanna Tait’s performance in the long jump this past weekend has earned her Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honors. Tait had a mark of 6.31 (20-8.5) at the Idaho Team Challenge to position herself second in the Big Sky, behind only conference record holder Hailey Coey (Montana State). Tait was the Big Sky Freshman of the Year in 2024.
Others Nominated for Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Manthita Wague (EWU), Scout Nadeau (UM), Sydney Brewster (MSU), Brenna Rodriguez (NAU), Camaria Corder (UNC), Merle Weber (SAC), Shannan Fonua (WSU)
Big Sky Women's Basketball Player of the Week (February 10, 2026)
Women's Basketball Player of the Week: Kourtney Grossman, Eastern Washington (G, So., Roberts, Mont.)
Kourtney Grossman continued to dominate the glass this week and again averaged a double-double, with 15.0 points and 14.5 rebounds in two games. Grossman shot 54.4 percent from the floor, adding 2 assists and 2 steals. Grossman was the engine for Eastern's 76-72 win over Montana posting her 15th double-double of the season with 21 points - matching her career-best - and 15 rebounds. The sophomore nearly had another double double against Montana State, finishing with 14 rebounds and 9 points.
Grossman is 3rd in the NCAA with 13.1 rebounds per game and 6th in double doubles. She is tied for 12th in the Big Sky with 13.6 points per game.
Other's Nominated for Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Debora Dos Santos (UI), Naomi White (NAU), Aniah Hall (UNC), Hannah Chicken (PSU), Taylee Chirrick (MSU)
Big Sky Men's Basketball Player of the Week (February 10, 2026)
Co-Men's Basketball Player of the Week: Quinn Denker, Northern Colorado (G, Sr., San Jose, Calif.)
After leading the Bears to a pair of road victories, Northern Colorado’s Quinn Denker has been named Co-Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Denker averaged 22.5 points per game against both Idaho State and Weber State, along with racking up 13 total assists to further his lead in the Big Sky stat report for that category. Northern Colorado is on a four-game winning streak. He is currently fifth on the Northern Colorado single season all-time list for assists with 161. This is the fourth weekly honor for Denker this season, and the first since Big Sky Conference play started in January.
Co-Men's Basketball Player of the Week: Keyon Kensie Jr., Portland State (G, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif.)
Following an impressive double-double against Sacramento State, and securing a victory with a block, Portland State’s Keyon Kensie Jr. has been named Co-Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Kensie had 14 points and 16 rebounds. That rebounding total was a career-high and was tied for the third most in a single-game in the Big Sky so far this season. He scored the go-ahead basket with 1:50 left for the Vikings, then blocked a potential Sacramento State go-ahead basket with one second left to save the game. PSU handed Sac State its first loss at home in Big Sky play. Kensie is the fourth different Portland State Viking to earn Player of the Week status from the Big Sky Conference, with all of them coming since the beginning of league play.
Other's Nominated for Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Alton Hamilton IV (EWU), Money Williams (UM), Prophet Johnson (SAC), Tian Saine Jr. (WSU)
Big Sky Men's Tennis Player of the Week (February 11, 2026)
TBA
Big Sky Women's Tennis Player of the Week (February 11, 2026)
TBA
Big Sky Women's Golfer of the Week (February 12, 2026)
TBA
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