JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The United Athletic Conference (UAC) has announced its weekly award winners for Women’s Soccer, Volleyball and Cross Country for Monday, October 19.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Player of the Week: Jessica Baires, Tarleton State
Baires posted six points after recording a goal and an assist in each match, helping the Texans to a pair of shutout victories over EKU and West Georgia. Baires leads the UAC this season in points (25) and assists (9) while splitting the conference lead in goals (8).
Defensive Player of the Week: Emily Nahon, Little Rock
Nahon anchored the Little Rock back line during an unbeaten week, helping the Trojans earn a draw against North Alabama and a 1-0 victory over Austin Peay. Nahon played all 90 minutes in both matches, leading a defensive unit that allowed just one goal across the two contests.
Goalkeeper of the Week: Bella Medrano, Abilene Christian
Medrano tallied 16 saves and a .941 save percentage in an unbeaten week for ACU. Medrano matched a season-high nine saves and notched her league-leading fifth shutout against West Georgia, then accumulated seven saves in a 1-1 draw with EKU. Medrano leads the UAC in goals against average (0.68), saves (94) and save percentage (.904) this season.
VOLLEYBALL
Player of the Week: Emilee Hill, EKU
The nation-leader in triple-doubles extended her lead after recording a triple-double in both EKU sweeps. Hill posted 10 kills, 16 assists and 10 digs versus West Georgia and followed with 11 kills, 18 assists and 13 digs against ACU. Hill finished the week averaging 2.50 kills, 5.67 assists, 3.83 digs and 1.33 blocks per set while hitting .370.
Player of the Week: Reese Ricketts, North Alabama
Ricketts totaled 50 kills over a pair of victories for North Alabama including a career-high 32 kills versus UT Arlington, the sixth-most kills in a single five-set match in NCAA DI this season. In UNA's match against Austin Peay, the Lions were down 13-7 in the fifth set and Ricketts recorded all nine of UNA's final points to complete a 16-14 comeback win. Ricketts leads the UAC in points (4.38) and kills (3.99) per set.
Setter of the Week: Rachel Koss, Abilene Christian
Koss led the UAC last week with 11.67 assist per set after notching 37 assists against Austin Peay and 33 assists versus EKU. Koss led ACU to a sweep over the Governors as she helped the Wildcats hit .312 as a team. Koss leads the league in assists per set (11.57) in conference play.
Defensive Player of the Week: Samantha Glenn, UT Arlington
Glenn tallied 60 digs last week to average 6.67 digs per set. Glenn notched 27 digs in a five-set battle with UNA and followed with 33 digs in UTA's victory over West Georgia, matching the UAC's season-high digs in a four-set match.
Freshman of the Week: Alyssa Todd, Abilene Christian
Todd posted 3.33 kills per set for ACU last week, the most among UAC freshmen. Todd led the Wildcats to a 3-0 sweep over Austin Peay with 12 kills, and notched eight kills and a block against EKU.
Cross Country
Men's Runner of the Week: Brian Kimutai, EKU
Kimutai made his season debut at the Texas A&M Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station on Friday finishing eighth out of 369 runners with an 8K time of 23:11.1.
Men's Freshman of the Week: Dillon Millard, EKU
Millard finished fourth out of 50 competitors in the men's 8K race at the Eagle/Knight Invitational on Friday clocking a time of 25:23.66.
Women's Runner of the Week: Edna Chelulei, EKU
Chelulei won the women's 6K race at the Texas A&M Arturo Barrios Invitational on Friday in College Station, defeating a field of 403 competitors with a personal-best 6K time of 18:42.2. Her performance led the EKU women to a 2nd place finish out of 48 teams at the meet.
Women's Freshman of the Week: Brighter Jepchumba, EKU
Jepchumba finished third out of 403 runners at the Texas A&M Arturo Barrios Invitational on Friday, covering the 6K course in a time of 18:47.6 and helping the EKU women to a 2nd place finish at the meet.
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About the United Athletic Conference
The newly rebranded United Athletic Conference (UAC) is a competitive NCAA Division I conference sponsoring sixteen (16) sports and championships with nine (9) full member institutions including Abilene Christian University (Abilene, Texas), the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Little Rock, Ark.), Austin Peay State University (Clarksville, Tenn.), the University of Central Arkansas (Conway, Ark.), Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond, Ky.), the University of North Alabama (Florence, Ala.), Tarleton State University (Stephenville, Texas), the University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, Texas), and the University of West Georgia (Carrollton, Ga.) with the University of West Florida (Pensacola, Fla.) as an affiliate member in football.