OXFORD, Ohio - The River States Conference is pleased to announce the Player of the Week honorees for the past week.
All awards represent contests played from Monday, September 15 through Sunday, September 21.
Women's Volleyball Players of the Week
Attacker of the Week
Ella Brooks, IU Southeast | Sr. - Outside Hitter - Carmel, Indiana
Brooks led the Grenadiers to a 3-0 week, including a pair of wins in River States Conference play. The senior logged 43 kills in a trio of sweeps, averaging 5.38 kills per set. She was efficient at the net, logging a .348 attack percentage, and added ten digs and four blocks on the defensive side.
Setter of the Week
Elle McLoughlin, Rio Grande | Sr. - Setter - Zanesville, Ohio
The reigning RSC Setter of the Year was a gig part of Rio's 3-0 week, including back-to-back 41-assist outings against Shawnee State and (RV) Cumberland. McLoughlin racked up 105 assists on the week, averaging just shy of nine per set, all while adding 15 digs, 13 blocks, 11 kills, and six aces.
Defender of the Week
Averie Bruce, Rio Grande | Jr. - Middle Blocker - Baltimore, Ohio
Bruce was big at the net - both offensively and defensively - in a trio of RedStorm wins. The junior logged 17 total blocks in three matches, averaging 1.31 per set. On the attack, she logged 33 kills and a .271 attack percentage, leading Rio Grande to wins over Kentucky Christian, Shawnee State, and Cumberland.
Men's Soccer Players of the Week
Offensive Player of the Week
Ben Banton, Midway | Sr. - Forward - Franklin, Kentucky
Had two goals and an assist during the week, including a second-half goal to break a scoreless tie in what became a 2-0 Midway win over Cincinnati Clermont on Saturday. He also contributed to both of Midway's goals against Campbellsville, scoring one goal and assisting on the other.
Defensive Player of the Week
Toby Forsythe, Shawnee State | Jr. - Goalkeeper - Gahanna, Ohio
Forsythe was again terrific in Shawnee State's match against No. 15 Marian (Ind.), making six saves including four in the second half to preserve the 1-1 tie. Forsythe, who has a 0.93 GAA for the season, is currently on pace to obliterate the single-season program record for goals against average.
Women's Soccer Players of the Week
Offensive Player of the Week
Kaiya Money, IU Kokomo | So. - Forward - Tipton, Indiana
Sophomore Kaiya Money continued her run of dominance offensively for a young IU Kokomo squad, scoring two of the Cougars three goals in a 3-2 win over Cincinnati-Clermont last week. Money leads the Cougars in both goals scored and shots on goal.
Defensive Player of the Week
Alba Vilades Marin, Rio Grande | Sr. - Goalkeeper - Barcelona, Spain
Vilades Marin did everything she could for the RedStorm, making seven saves in a clean sheet effort against Mount Vernon Nazarene. The result was a positive one for the RedStorm, claiming a draw from an MVNU team that came into the match with a 5-1-1 record.
Cross Country Runners of the Week
Male Runner of the Week
Tyler Jenkins, Rio Grande | Sr. - Barnesville, Ohio
The race to the finish line at the All-Ohio Championships was a dramatic one, as Jenkins beat Mount Vernon Nazarene's Will Baker to the finish line by a tenth of a second to claim victory. Jenkins crossed the finish line first in a field of 383 runners, logging an 8k time of 24:37.
Female Runner of the Week
Amarissa Kerns, Rio Grande | Sr. - Lancaster, Ohio
Kerns was the top NAIA runner at the All-Ohio Championships, finishing the 6k course with a time of 22:02. The senior was topped only by a runner from NCAA Division I Akron and five runners from event host NCAA Division II Cedarville.
Golfers of the Week
Male Golfer of the Week
Sean Cooper, WVU Tech | So. - Jumping Branch, West Virginia
Cooper claimed individual medalist honors at the Dr. Wally Edgell Invite, winning by two strokes with a one-over score of 217. Cooper's best round of the week was his first one, as the sophomore carded a three-under 69 in the opening round, giving him a lead he held to the end.
Female Golfer of the Week
Sophia Curry, IU East | Jr. - North Vernon, Indiana
Sophia Curry dominated the field this past weekend at the Randy Sadler Invitational, winning by four shots over fellow Red Wolf Jalyn Bruns. Curry logged a 36-hole score of three-over, which included an even par round on the first day of the tournament. The Red Wolves won the team event by 50 strokes.