FARMINGTON, Utah (March 9, 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 9, 2026)
Softball Player of the Week: Kira Day, Idaho State (OF, So., Phoenix, Ariz.)
Kira Day was a force in the middle of the Idaho State lineup as the Bengals went 5-0 at the Orange and Black Classic in Pocatello this week. Day hit .462 for the weekend with a 1.154 slugging percentage and a .500 percentage. Day was 6-for-13 across the five games with two home runs and a triple. Day drove in seven runs and provided a large part of the Bengal offense that outscored opponents 45-11 on the weekend.
Others Nominated for Softball Player of the Week
Grace Lopez (UM), Amailee Morales (UNC), Nichole Orozco (PSU), Saskia Raab (SAC)
Big Sky Softball Pitcher of the Week (March 9, 2026)
Softball Pitcher of the Week: Riley Wickum, Idaho State (P, Sr., Sutter, Calif.)
Riley Wickum was dominant in the circle during Idaho State's 5-0 weekend at the Orange and Black Classic in Pocatello. The right-hander made two appearances, including one start and finished the weekend 1-0. Over her 8.0 innings pitched in the weekend, Wickum did not allow a single run and only walked three batters while holding opponents faced to .222 Average ont he weekend.
Others Nominated for Softball Pitcher of the Week
Kaiana Kong (UM), Grace Algrim (UNC), Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung (PSU), Danyelle Leone (SAC)
Big Sky Men's Tennis Player of the Week (March 11, 2026)
Men's Tennis Player of the Week: Sep de Visser, Idaho State (So., Den Haag, Netherlands)
Idaho State's Sep de Visser led the Bengals to a 2-1 record over the weekend, with wins over Big Sky preseason favorites, Montana, and No. 65 Gonzaga. De Visser would finish the weekend 2-1 as well, going 2-0 in singles play and 0-1 in doubles action. In singles play, the ISU sophomore would go 2-0 at the No. 2 singles spot, after he defeated Montana's Baltaz Wiger-Nordas, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 7-5, and took care of business against No. 65 Gonzaga's Jay Fairclough, 6-3, 6-4. The conference weekly honor was the first of de Visser's career.
Others Nominated for Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Jakub Jedrzejczak (NAU), Nick Bowles (SAC)
Big Sky Women's Tennis Player of the Week (March 11, 2026)
Women's Tennis Player of the Week: Olivia Marais, Eastern Washington (So., Lodi, Calif.)
Eastern Washington's Olivia Marais had a strong weekend for the Eagles, going 2-0 in singles action to open up Big Sky play. Marais clinched a pair of 4-3 victories for the Eagles, winning against Montana State and Montana over the weekend. Adding to the winning effort, Marais played with Zoe Pradel at the No. 1 doubles, knocking off Meghna Anand and Kelsey Phillips 7-5 and helping the Eagles secure the doubles point. The conference weekly honor was the first of Marais' career.
Others Nominated for Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Kelsey Phillips (UM), Angel Bean (MSU)
Big Sky Men's Golfer of the Week (March 11, 2026)
Men's Golfer of the Week: Zach Mate, Sacramento State (Sr., Elk Grove, Calif.)
Zach Mate led Sacramento State and tied for 10th overall at the Bandon Dunes Championship on Wednesday to earn Men’s Golfer of the Week honors. Mate totaled 210 (68, 71, 71) to finish at 3-under par on the par-71 course. Mate was bogey-free in the opening round, finishing with three birdies and 15 pars. He concluded the tournament with 11 birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey. The senior led all players in the field by playing the par 5s at 8-under in the three rounds. He joins teammates Mason Benbrook and Max Thomas as Hornets to earn Men’s Golfer of the Week honors.
Others Nominated for Men's Golfer of the Week
N/A
Big Sky Women's Golfer of the Week (March 11, 2026)
Women's Golfer of the Week: Tova Hatton, Sacramento State (So., Svedala, Sweden)
Sacramento State’s Tova Hatton tied for first place at the highly competitive Juli Inkster Invitational at TPC Harding Park on Monday and Tuesday, earning Women’s Golfer of the Week honors from the Big Sky. Hatton shot a 213 (68, 72, 73) to finish at 3-under par. She entered the final round two shots off the lead but was able to make up the deficit on her way to her first collegiate victory. The sophomore recorded 10 birdies and had just seven bogeys. Hatton tied for the lowest score on par 3s, playing them at 1-under over the three rounds. She also tied for sixth in the field at 2-over on the par 4s. This marks her second weekly honor this season, and the fifth won by a Hornet from Sacramento State.
Others Nominated for Men's Golfer of the Week
Izzy Hassebrock (ISU), Jade Gruher (WSU)
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