BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for football, volleyball, and soccer on Monday. Student-athletes from Augsburg, Bethel, Hamline, Macalester, Saint Benedict, and St. Olaf claimed the Conference's weekly honors.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by the Conference's sports information directors and selected by MIAC staff. Throughout the fall season, team sports (football, soccer, and volleyball) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (cross country 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.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week archive has complete details on each week's selections and winners.
MIAC Football Offensive Player of the Week
Joey Kidder
Bethel University
Gr. | Wide Receiver
New Richmond, Wis.
Joey Kidder tied a single-game program record with four touchdown receptions in the Royals' 51-30 victory over UW-Eau Claire on 9/21. Kidder finished with 126 yards on 11 receptions. With his 34-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter, Kidder became Bethel's career leader in touchdown grabs. His four touchdown catches in the game are the most by a Bethel receiver since 2014. Kidder also moved into third in program history for receiving yards in the win.
MIAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Matt Jung
Bethel University
So. | Safety
Neenah, Wis.
Matt Jung led the Royals with two interceptions and a game-high 10 tackles in a 51-30 victory over UW-Eau Claire on 9/21. Jung's second interception of the game came in the end zone, preventing a potential game-tying score. Five of his ten tackles were unassisted.
MIAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Austin Auld
Bethel University
Sr. | Return Specialist
Rogers, Minn.
Austin Auld returned six kickoffs for a total of 164 yards in the Royals' 51-30 win over UW-Eau Claire on 9/21. Auld averaged 27.3 yards per return, helping Bethel begin each drive in prime field position.
MIAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week
Adisa Preston
Macalester College
Sr. | Outside Hitter
Eden Prairie, Minn.
Adisa Preston averaged 3.88 kills and 2.88 digs per set in a 2-2 week for the Scots. In a five-set loss to Bethany Lutheran at the UW-La Crosse Tournament on 9/21, Preston tallied career highs of 24 kills and 24 digs. Earlier that day, Preston had 15 kills and seven service aces in a 3-1 win over Luther.
MIAC Volleyball Specialty Player of the Week
Audrey Spolidoro
College of Saint Benedict
Sr. | Setter
Cottage Grove, Minn. | East Ridge
Audrey Spolidoro averaged 10.21 assists per set and 4.14 digs per set across three matches for the Bennies at the Wartburg Invitational on 9/20-21. Spolidoro had 52 assists in a five-set match against Simpson on 9/20 before adding assist totals of 47 and 44 against Coe and Wartburg, respectively, on 9/21. Spolidoro added double-digit digs in each match and totaled 14 blocks as well.
MIAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Mitchel Munzing
Augsburg University
Jr. | Midfielder
Portland, Ore. | Grant
Mitchel Munzing extended his goal-scoring streak to six straight games with a five-goal, four-assist week to open MIAC play for the 8-1-1 Auggies. On 9/17, he scored a goal with two assists in the Auggies' 5-2 win over Hamline. On 9/21, he scored another goal in Augsburg's 4-2 win over Saint Mary's. On 9/22, he claimed his third career hat trick, and second in an 11-day span, figuring in five of Augsburg's six goals in a 6-2 win over UW-River Falls. He scored three goals with two assists for an eight-point afternoon against the Falcons.
MIAC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Sam Price
Macalester College
Sr. | Goalkeeper
Chicago, Ill. | Lane Tech
Sam Price registered six saves in a 1-0 shutout victory at Saint John's in the MIAC opener on 9/17. Four of his saves came after the Scots had scored what would be the game-winner. It was the fifth shutout of the season for Price, who now has 16 shutouts in his career.
MIAC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Sadie Klassen
St. Olaf College
Sr. | Forward
Eagan, Minn. | Holy Angels
Sadie Klassen scored the second hat trick of her career in the Oles' 7-0 win at Bethel to open MIAC play on 9/18. The senior scored twice in the span of 1:39 in the first 10 minutes before finishing off the hat trick with a penalty kick early in the second half to run her goal-scoring streak to four games at the time.
MIAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Isabella Jensen
Hamline University
Jr. | Goalkeeper
Apple Valley, Minn.
Isabella Jensen recorded back-to-back shutouts with seven saves for the Pipers with a scoreless tie against Augsburg on 9/18 and five stops in a 0-0 draw against Saint Benedict on 9/21. Jensen faced 41 shots while playing all 180 minutes in the two games.