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, April 6 through Sunday, April 12.
Men's Volleyball Players of the Week
Attacker of the Week
Michal Bak, Georgetown | Sr. - Outside Hitter - Kamienna Gora, Poland
Bak smacked 29 kills in the 3-1 win over Cumberland and finished the week with 36. He hit .431 for the week with 15 digs, two service aces and a block solo. His best performance came Saturday, when he averaged more than seven kills per set in a win over Cumberland.
Setter of the Week
Alonzo Vega, Campbellsville | Jr. - Setter - Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
Vega masterfully directed the Tigers' high-powered offense, dealing out exactly 90 total assists to guide Campbellsville to back-to-back conference victories. The junior orchestrator navigated a perfectly balanced attack that saw three different Tigers reach double-digit kills in both contests, featuring a monumental 60-assist masterclass to pull his team through a grueling five-set battle at Cumberland.
Defender of the Week
Andrew Ovalle, Campbellsville | So. - Libero - Miami, Florida
Ovalle anchored the Campbellsville backcourt defense with exceptional consistency, recording 25 total digs to average 3.13 digs per set against two of the top teams in the conference. His steady, reliable floor coverage kept the Tigers in system through extended rallies, highlighted by a match-high 13 digs to help facilitate a straight-set sweep over Georgetown and clinch the No. 1 overall seed.
Baseball Players of the Week
Player of the Week
Gabe Yonto, IU Southeast | Jr. - Outfield - South Bend, Indiana
Yonto had a career performance on Wednesday, leading the Grenadiers to a 14-12 win over Marian. He went 4-for-5 with a home runs and eight runs batted in. He then went 3-for-6 in three conference games against Brescia, driving in five more runs in a 15-1 victory in the series finale.
Pitcher of the Week
Weston Harvey, IU Southeast | Fr. - Pitcher - Indianapolis, Indiana
Harvey made sure the Grenadiers would leave the weekend with a win on Saturday, tossing a complete game against the Brescia Bearcats. The freshman righty struck out nine hitters across seven innings of work, picking up the win in a 15-1 triumph over the Bearcats
Softball Players of the Week
Player of the Week
Randi Delong, Midway | So. - Infield - Martin, Kentucky
Delong had another monster week, hitting .625 with eight RBIs. On Saturday against Shawnee, Randi hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning, which marked the fifth time in the last 14 games she had a game-tying or winning hit in the sixth inning or later.
Pitcher of the Week
Grace Butcher, Oakland City | Jr. - Pitcher - Washington, Indiana
Butcher had as impressive of a week as any pitcher in America, tossing 18.2 shutout innings across four appearances. The junior logged back-to-back complete games in starts against Brescia and WVU Tech, then added five more scoreless innings against Rio Grande on Saturday.
Tennis Players of the Week
Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Ferran Clapes Ballart, Midway | So. - Barcelona, Spain
The sophomore went undefeated in singles and doubles to help Midway to a 2-0 week than included a 4-3 upset of D-II Cedarville. Clapes Ballart played at second singles and third doubles against Cedarville, then played at the top spot of both against Shawnee State.
Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Berta Ladaga, Oakland City | Fr. - Barcelona, Spain
Ladaga played a major role in Oakland City's non-conference victory over (RV) Missouri Baptist. The freshman aided in an Oakland City win at the top doubles spot, then added a 6-4, 6-4 singles win at the second flight.
Golfers of the Week
Male Golfer of the Week
Sam Firebaugh, IU East | Sr. - Zionsville, Indiana
Sam Firebaugh finished second overall against NCAA Div. II schools at the Hampton Farms Collegiate in North Carolina. Firebaugh fired a pair of 74s at Beechwood Country Club, finishing just one shot off the lead.
Female Golfer of the Week
Kasey Cameron, Midway | So. - Richmond, Kentucky
Cameron finished second overall and first amongst 12 River States golfers at the Northeast Tennessee Spring Shootout, held at the Johnson City Golf Club in Tennessee. Cameron carded a 75-82 score, and helped the Eagles to a third place finish.
Outdoor Track Athletes of the Week
Male Track Athlete of the Week
Tristan Thomas, IU East | Sr. - Whiteland, Indiana
Thomas continued to be one of the River States Conference's top sprinters. The graduate student won the 100 meters at the Asbury Invitational, crossing the finish line in 10.67. He was also a finalist in the 200 meters, setting a time of 22.32 seconds.
Male Field Athlete of the Week
Jerahmia Smith, SMWC | Sr. - Phoenix, Arizona
Smith set a school record with 17.03 meters in the shot put to win the event at the Greenville Select. The senior currently is ranked No. 3 in the NAIA and No. 1 in the River States Conference this outdoor season and hits the NAIA A Standard
Female Track Athlete of the Week
Amanda Salmons, Shawnee State | Jr. - Wheelersburg, Ohio
Salmons earned a pair of silver medals at the Concord Open Track Invitational, finishing second in both the 800 and 1500 meters. The junior finished the 800 meters in 2:28.50, and ran the 1500 meters in 5:14.76 in Concord.
Female Field Athlete of the Week
Emerson VanScoy | Jr. - Teays Valley, West Virginia
The reigning NAIA Indoor pole vault runner-up secured a spot in outdoor nationals as well with an A standard jump of 3.60. The junior finished second to Mia Boule of D-I Miami of Ohio, the reigning champion of the MAC.