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 22 through Sunday, September 28.

Women's Volleyball Players of the Week

Attacker of the Week
Karla Melendez, St. Mary-of-the-Woods | Jr. - Outside Hitter - Caguas, Puerto Rico
Melendez fueled the Pomeroys' 3-0 week with dominant attacking play, averaging 4.40 kills per set while hitting an impressive .321. Melendez opened the week with a perfect showing against UHSP on Sept. 23, tallying 5 kills on 11 swings (.455). She followed with 15 kills versus IU Columbus on Sept. 26, then erupted for a career-best 24 kills in a five-set victory over IU Southeast on Sept. 27, hitting .364 in the match. 

Setter of the Week
Aislyn Hogan, IU East | So. - Setter - Fort Wayne, Indiana
Hogan averaged more than ten assists per set on the week, hitting that mark in matches against Shawnee State and Kentucky Christian. The sophomore racked up 51 assists in a five-set match against Shawnee State, then added another 40 assists in a four-set win over the Knights of Kentucky Christian.

Defender of the Week
Ella Bickel, IU East | Sr. - Defensive Specialist - Fort Wayne, Indiana
In two River States Conference matches, Bickel logged more than six digs per set to lead the Red Wolves' back line. Bickel racked up 46 digs in a five-set matches against divisional rival Shawnee State - good for more than nine digs per set - then added another 15 digs in a four-set victory over Kentucky Christian. 

Men's Soccer Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week
Ross O'Brien, Oakland City | Jr. - Midfielder - Kilcullen, Ireland
O'Brien added to the scoresheet in both of Oakland City's matches this week, helping the Mighty Oaks to a 2-0 start in RSC play. The Irishman scored two goals in a 5-2 victory over IU East on Thursday, then added a goal and an assist in a 6-1 victory over St. Mary-of-the-Woods on Saturday.

Defensive Player of the Week
Toby Forsythe, Shawnee State | So. - Goalkeeper - Gahanna, Ohio
Forsythe continued to stand tall in Shawnee State's 3-0 victory over Indiana-Columbus in the River States Conference's Game of the Week, making seven saves -- including four in the first half and three of those between the 35th to 43rd minute -- to collect his second clean sheet in 2025. Forsythe lowered his goals against average mark from 0.93 to 0.81 following the clean sheet.

Women's Soccer Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week
Jana Mueller, Oakland City | So. - Midfielder - Nierstein, Germany
Mueller played a leading role in a pair of dominant Oakland City wins this past week. The reigning RSC Newcomer of the Year scored three goals and assisted on four others in wins over IU East and St. Mary-of-the-Woods. She had a goal and two assists against the Red Wolves, then added two of each against SMWC.

Defensive Player of the Week
Harlee Brand, Shawnee State | So. - Goalkeeper - Winchester, Ohio
Brand accumulated 10 saves -- the third-most of her career and her most in a shutout performance -- in a 4-0 victory over Indiana-Columbus in the River States Conference opener for Shawnee State. Brand made eight saves in the opening half alone, helping keep IUC at bay as Shawnee State took a 2-0 halftime lead.

Cross Country Runners of the Week

Male Runner of the Week
Luke Neibert, IU Columbus | Fr. - Morgantown, Indiana
Luke Neibert kicked off the season with an outstanding performance, earning a remarkable fourth place finish at Asbury University's Justin Spoon Invitational with a time of 29:37. He also helped his team to a 3rd place finish. Neibert was one of six runners in the race to finish the 8k course in under 30 minutes.

Female Runner of the Week
Phoebe Dowty, IU Columbus | Fr. - Trafalgar, Indiana
Phoebe Dowty led the way for IU Columbus at the Justin Spoon Invitational with an impressive 6th place finish overall, clocking a strong 25:14 in the 6k. Four of the five runners that finished ahead of the freshman hailed from NCAA Division I Eastern Kentucky. Phoebe's finish helped her team grab fourth place in the meet.

Golfers of the Week

Male Golfer of the Week
Alvaro Iglesias Pascual, WVU Tech | So. - Castellon, Spain
Iglesian Pascual was the individual medalist at the Roger Merb Invitational, held at Elks Country Club in McDermott, Ohio. The Spaniard shot a 68 in the first round and a 71 in the second round, then won in the first hole of a playoff. His efforts helped WVU Tech claim the team title in a 19-team field.