BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for baseball, softball, and tennis Monday. Student-athletes from Gustavus, Hamline, Saint Mary's, and St. Olaf claimed the Conference's weekly honors for February 27 - March 5, 2023.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by the Conference's sports information directors and selected by MIAC staff. Throughout the spring season, team sports (baseball, softball, and tennis) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (outdoor track & field and golf) announced on Tuesday afternoons. The winners of the latest Athlete of the Week awards are listed below, along with details on their outstanding performances.
To view each sport's 2022-23 Athlete of the Week home page, navigate to the 2022-23 Athlete of the Week archive for complete details on each week's selections and winners.
MIAC Baseball Player of the Week
Sam Lavin
St. Olaf College
Jr. | Designated Hitter
Algonquin, Ill. | Marian Central Catholic
Sam Lavin posted a slash line of .300/.462/.800 with a triple, a home run, two runs, three walks, and five RBI in the Oles' 2-1 opening weekend at Simpson. The junior did most of his damage in a 15-2 victory on 3/5, going 2-for-4 with a walk and connecting on his first collegiate grand slam to finish with a career-high five RBI in the run-rule victory. Lavin also started the game on the mound and struck out seven in three innings of two-hit, one-run ball.
MIAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Parker Leipzig
Hamline University
So. | Right-handed Pitcher
Cedar, Minn. | St. Francis
Parker Leipzig registered 10 strikeouts and allowed two hits and one walk over five innings of work in an 11-0, seven-inning victory over North Central on 3/2. Opposing batters went down swinging on six of his 10 Ks.
MIAC Softball Player of the Week
Heather Nordlund
Saint Mary's University
So. | Designated Player
Byron, Minn.
Heather Nordlund was the offensive leader for the Cardinals in their eight-game spring trip to Winter Haven, Fla. last week. Nordlund hit .500, going 10-for-20 with a double and a home run while scoring twice and driving in seven runs. The junior walked four times and boasted a team-leading .704 slugging percentage.
MIAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Piper Otto
Gustavus Adolphus College
Jr.
Brooklyn Park, Minn. | Champlin Park
Piper Otto picked up her first win of the season by throwing a five-inning no-hitter against North Central on 3/4. Otto struck out 12 of the 15 batters she faced as the Gusties cruised to a 12-0 victory over the Rams. Otto then helped Gustavus to its second win of the year with three more innings in the circle in an 11-5 victory over UW-Eau Claire on 3/5.
MIAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Bogdan Vizoli
St. Olaf College
Fy.
Woodbury, Minn.
Bogdan Vizoli picked up victories at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles to help the Oles sweep UW-Stevens Point, 9-0, on 3/4. The first-year recorded his fourth-straight singles win by rallying from a set down for a 4-6, 6-1, 10-2 victory atop the lineup after pairing with Henry Smith for an 8-5 victory at No. 1 doubles.
MIAC Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week
Olha Zubarieva
St. Olaf College
So.
Kyiv, Ukraine | Research School Basis
Olha Zubarieva won both of her matches in the Oles' 6-3 loss to No. 38-ranked Gustavus on 3/4 in the closest match in the series between the two programs since 2014. The sophomore improved to 5-2 overall in singles this season with a 4-6, 6-1, 10-6 victory at No. 1 singles after teaming with Allie Prokosch for an 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles.