FARMINGTON, Utah (March 16, 2026) – The Big Sky Conference announced its Player of the Week honors, presented by
JAMBAR, with men's tennis, women's tennis, men's golf, women’s golf and softball all in action.
Big Sky Softball Player of the Week (March 16, 2026)
Softball Player of the Week: Sydney Groves, Idaho State (INF, Sr., Meridian, Idaho)
Sydney Groves powered Idaho State to a 3-1 record during the nomination window, batting .462 with two home runs and five RBI across four games on the road.
The first baseman went 6-for-13 with a .923 slugging percentage, providing the decisive blow in multiple Bengal victories. Groves capped a 13-2 run-rule win at Utah State with a two-run home run in the fifth inning, then delivered again in the series opener at San Diego with another two-run shot to deep center field in the seventh inning to complete a 3-0 shutout victory.
Groves also drew two walks and scored three runs across the four-game stretch, finishing with a .563 on-base percentage for the week.
Others Nominated for Softball Player of the Week
Grace Lopez (UM), Ella Gonzales (UNC), Apollonia Maldonado (WSU)
Big Sky Softball Pitcher of the Week (March 16, 2026)
Softball Co-Pitcher of the Week: Kasey Aguinaga, Idaho State (P, Sr., Brentwood, Calif.)
Kasey Aguinaga turned in a dominant performance during the nomination window, earning the win in a complete-game shutout against San Diego on March 13 as part of a doubleheader sweep.
The junior right-hander threw all seven innings, striking out eight and walking none while holding San Diego to five hits and a .200 batting average. Working on 85 pitches, Aguinaga stranded six baserunners and did not allow a run, finishing the outing with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP for the week. Aguinagas 8 Ks were a career-high for the Bengal pitcher
Softball Co-Pitcher of the Week: Grace Algrim, Northern Colorado (P, Sr., Elburn, Ill.)
Grace Algrim anchored Northern Colorado in the circle with a 0.00 ERA across 8.2 innings of work, earning both a win and a save during the week. She allowed just one unearned run while striking out six and holding opponents to a .200 batting average without issuing a walk.
Others Nominated for Softball Pitcher of the Week
Cameryn Ortega (UM), Kendall Freidinger (WSU)
Big Sky Men's Tennis Player of the Week (March 18, 2026)
Men's Tennis Co-Player of the Week: Chetanna Amadike, Idaho (Sr., Calgary, Canada)
Chetanna Amadike went 4-0 for Idaho over the weekend, leading the Vandals to conference wins over Idaho State and Sacramento State. Amadike played at the No. 1 spot in singles and No. 2 position in doubles play, clinching both wins for the Vandals against the Bengals and Hornets by scores of 5-2 and 7-0. The weekly honor for Amadike is the third of the season for the Vandal.
Men's Tennis Co-Player of the Week: Baltazar Wiger-Nordas, Montana (Sr., Bergen, Norway)
Baltazar Wiger-Nordas went 4-0 for Montana over the weekend, as he propelled the Griz to road wins over Portland and Portland State. The win against Portland was the first in program history. Wiger-Nordas earned a pair of straight-set wins at the No. 2 spot in singles, and two wins at the No. 1 spot in doubles action. Alongside partner Duncan McCall, Wiger-Nordas opened the weekend with a 6-4 doubles win against UP's Fernando/Keremedechiev, who were the reigning West Coast Conference Doubles Team of the Week. The weekly honor is the first of the season for Wiger-Nordas, whose Grizzlies were picked to win the Big Sky in 2026 and defend last season's tournament title.
Others Nominated for Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Andre Stewart (MSU), Nick Bowles (SAC)
Big Sky Women's Tennis Player of the Week (March 18, 2026)
Women's Tennis Player of the Week: Irene Riva, Sacramento State (Jr., Parma, Italy)
Irene Riva went 4-0 for Sacramento State over the weekend, as the junior propelled the Hornets to wins over conference rival Northern Arizona and Cal State Fullerton. Riva won in straight sets at the No. 3 spot in singles play, while posting a pair of wins in doubles at the No. 2 position. Sacramento State downed NAU 6-1 and defeated Cal State Fullerton 4-2. Riva has now won weekly honors five times during her three-year career with the Hornets, and two this season alone.
Others Nominated for Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Stefanya Shalakhova (ISU), Angel Bean (MSU), Patrycja Niewiadomska (NAU), Marta Giglio (PSU)
Big Sky Men's Golfer of the Week (March 18, 2026)
Men's Golfer of the Week: Leander Neuhaus, Francis Marion (So., Hamburg, Germany)
After finishing as Francis Marion’s top performer at The Seminole Intercollegiate, Leander Neuhaus has been named Big Sky Men’s Golfer of the Week. This marks his fourth weekly award from the Big Sky office. He shot a 226 (73, 77, 76) at the event to finish tied for 40
th in a 112-player field. The 54-hole event was played on the 7,505-yard, par-72 Seminole Legacy course.
Others Nominated for Men's Golfer of the Week
N/A
Big Sky Women's Golfer of the Week (March 19, 2026)
Women's Golfer of the Week: Amy Hodgkins, Northern Arizona (Jr., Queensland, Australia)
After claiming Co-Champion honors at the Red Rocks Invitational, and leading Northern Arizona to a team victory, Amy Hodgkins has been named Women’s Golfer of the Week. She shot a 6-under 210 at Oakcreek Country Club in Sedona, finishing tied with Gonzaga’s Grace Lee. She shot a career-low 65 (-7) in the opening round, which was also a new tournament record by two strokes. Hodgkins joins teammate Lizzie Neale as Lumberjacks that have claimed Women’s Golfer of the Week titles so far this season.
Others Nominated for Men's Golfer of the Week
Kate Bogenschutz (UM), Caithlyn Ong (PSU), Tova Hatton (SAC)
Follow Us
Follow the Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) on X, Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky, YouTube and TikTok for all the latest news around the league and use the hashtag #ExperienceElevated to stay connected.