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, March 16 through Sunday, March 22.
Men's Volleyball Players of the Week
Attacker of the Week
Joao Infante, Cumberland | Sr. - Outside Hitter - Lisbon, Portugal
Infante led Cumberland offensively, averaging 5.57 kills per set with 39 total kills while hitting .342 across two conference matches. The senior outside hitter recorded a dominant 27-kill performance in a road win over previously undefeated No. 4 Campbellsville and reached a major milestone, surpassing 1,000 career kills.
Setter of the Week
Alonzo Vega, Campbellsville | Jr. - Setter - Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
Vega masterfully commanded the Campbellsville offense, dealing out a massive 96 assists to average 12.00 helpers per set. His pinpoint distribution set up multiple Tigers for double-digit kill performances in both contests, including a 51-assist masterclass against Cumberland and a 45-assist effort to guide the team to a .324 hitting clip in the victory over Georgetown.
Defender of the Week
Yammiel Martinez, SMWC | Sr. - Middle Hitter - Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Yammiel Martinez anchored the defense for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in a pair of conference victories over Indiana East and Rio Grande. Martinez totaled 16 blocks across eight sets, averaging 2.00 blocks per set, including a dominant 13-block performance against Indiana East. He also contributed offensively with 16 kills on a .667 hitting percentage, showcasing his efficiency and two-way impact at the net. Martinez’s presence was instrumental in controlling the front row and limiting opposing attacks throughout the week.
Baseball Players of the Week
Player of the Week
Rodney Rachel, IU Kokomo | Jr. - Outfield - Colerain Township, Ohio
Rodney Rachel reached base safely in all three games at IU Columbus over the weekend, collecting six hits, including four extra-base hits and two home runs, while driving in eight runs to help lead the Cougars to their fourth straight RSC series win to open the season.
Pitcher of the Week
Tommy Johnson, Oakland City | Sr. - Pitcher - Blythe, California
Johnson was almost unhittable for the Mighty Oaks in his start on Saturday, leading Oakland City to a 7-1 victory. The senior tossed seven innings, allowing just one hit and striking out eight hitters. Johnson surrendered just one walk and one unearned run in the victory.
Softball Players of the Week
Player of the Week
Carli Hosler, IU Columbus | Sr. - Outfield - Tell City, Indiana
Hosler led a dominant week for the Crimson Pride, who scored 52 runs across four games in sweeps of Midway and Kentucky Christian. The senior belted three home runs and drove in 13 runs on the week, with five of her seven hits on the week going for extra bases.
Pitcher of the Week
Emma Davis, IU Southeast | So. - Pitcher - Loogootee, Indiana
Davis again proved to be one of the top pitchers in the River States Conference. In league games against WVU Tech and Rio Grande, Davis allowed just one run across 14 innings of work in back-to-back complete games. She tossed a complete game shutout Friday against WVU Tech before firing nine innings against Rio Grande on Saturday.
Tennis Players of the Week
Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Sachin Vanaraja, IU East | Sr. - Chennai, India
Sachin Vanaraja was able to help the Red Wolves grab two road victories this week over Shawnee State and Alma. He didn't drop a set in the two matches at No. 1 Singles and No. 1 Doubles, winning 6-3, 6-3 in singles and 6-4 in doubles in a conference win over Shawnee State, then winning 6-1, 6-3 in singles and 6-4 in doubles against Alma.
Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Gracie Helms, IU East | Jr. - Centerville, Indiana
Gracie helped the Red Wolves pick up their first conference win on the season, leading the way against Shawnee State. Helms was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over the top player from Shawnee State, and contributed to a 6-1 win over the Bears at the top doubles spot.
Golfers of the Week
Male Golfer of the Week
Westin Allen, IU Southeast | So. - Henryville, Indiana
In an event loaded with some of the top golfers in the River States Conference, Allen earned medalist honors at the Alice Lloyd College Spring Invitational. The sophomore shot a three-under 67 in the first round, then fired an even-par 70 in the final round to claim victory by two strokes.
Female Golfer of the Week
Renae Jaeger, SMWC | Sr. - Kalamazoo, Michigan
Renae Jaeger earned medalist honors and led Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College to the team title at the Great Lakes Intercollegiates at The Country Club of Terre Haute. Jaeger shot a two-round total of 145, improving from a 75 in round one to a tournament-best 70 in round two. Behind her standout finish, the Pomeroys surged to the championship with a 611 team total, including a dominant 279 in the final round, to win by 44 strokes.
Outdoor Track Athletes of the Week
Male Track Athlete of the Week
Isaiah Lanoy, Shawnee State | Jr. - Lancaster, Ohio
Lanoy set the early NAIA standard in the steeplechase, placing first at the Charlotte 49er Classic in North Carolina. Lanoy won the event with a "B" Standard time of 9:17.16, which currently leads the NAIA as one of just two "B" standard times so far this spring.
Male Field Athlete of the Week
Jerahmia Smith, SMWC | Sr. - Phoenix, Arizona
Smith hit the NAIA "B" standard in the shot put at the Rose-Hulman Early Bird, winning the gold medal in Terre Haute. The senior logged a toss of 16.31 meters, almost five feet longer than the nearest competitor. Smith currently ranks fifth in the nation in the event.
Female Track Athlete of the Week
Becca Spohn, Rio Grande | Sr. - Barnesville, Ohio
The River States Conference indoor champion in the race walk picked up where she left off in indoor, placing second in the race walk at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational in South Carolina. Spohn clocked in with a time of 28:08.50 in the 5,000 meter race.
Female Field Athlete of the Week
Trinity Gottler, Midway | Jr. - Lexington, Kentucky
After sitting out all indoor season, Gottler came out strong with four top-three finishes in the outdoor opener, including a 'B' standard throw of 41.65 meters in javelin at the Pioneer Invitational, hosted by Transylvania University.