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 Carleton, Concordia, Gustavus, St. Catherine, Saint John's, St. Olaf, and St. Scholastica 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
Jack Curtis
Carleton College
Sr. | Quarterback
Charlotte, N.C. / Ardrey Kell
Jack Curtis became the Knights' career passing yardage leader in a 35-28 victory over St. Olaf to reclaim "The Goat" trophy on 9/27. Curtis completed 29-of-42 for 396 yards and three touchdown passes in the win, bringing his career total to 6,555 yards. Curtis now ranks sixth among active NCAA Division III quarterbacks for career passing yards.
MIAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Jacob Pipho
Concordia College
Sr. | Safety
Decorah, Iowa / Decorah
Jacob Pipho came up with a trio of pivotal defensive plays for the Cobbers in a 14-13 victory over Gustavus on 9/27. In addition to leading the team with 7.0 solo tackles, Pipho intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, and blocked a punt in the win. His blocked punt gave Concordia the ball at the Gustavus 23-yard line and led to the Cobbers' game-winning touchdown. His interception came in the middle of the fourth quarter with the Cobbers holding on to the lead, while his forced fumble stopped a Gustie drive in Concordia territory.
MIAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Jacob Andrews
The College of St. Scholastica
Sr. | Kicker
Owatonna, Minn. / Medford
Jacob Andrews connected on field goals of 39 and 42 yards for kicking the game-winning 35-yarder in the second overtime of the Saints' 37-34 win over Macalester on 9/27. Andrews added four points on PAT tries and averaged 55.0 yards per kickoff in the win.
MIAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week
Leah Berg
Gustavus Adolphus College
Sr. | Outside Hitter
Kenyon, Minn. / Kenyon-Wanamingo
Leah Berg averaged 3.13 kills per set while hitting .351 in a pair of conference victories on 9/26-27. Berg had 12 kills on .323 hitting in a 3-1 win over Saint Benedict on 9/26 before collecting 13 kills on .385 hitting in a four-set win over St. Catherine on 9/27.
MIAC Volleyball Specialty Player of the Week
Paige Christophersen
St. Olaf College
Sr. | Setter
Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln
Paige Christophersen averaged 7.14 assists and 3.57 digs per set to help the Oles collect MIAC victories over Carleton and Bethel. Christophersen totaled 21 assists, eight digs, and a career-high-tying five aces in a sweep of Carleton on 9/24 before posting a 29-assist, 17-dig double-double in a four-set victory at Bethel on 9/27.
MIAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Axel Martin
Saint John's University
Fy. | Forward
Lakeville, Minn. / Rosemount
Axel Martin scored twice in the first half and once in the second for his first collegiate hat trick to give the Johnnies a 4-1 win over St. Scholastica on 9/22. Martin's second goal of the game was credited as the game-winner. This was the second hat trick of the season for SJU, marking the first time since 2004 that Saint John's has had multiple hat tricks in the same year.
MIAC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Jackson Baker
Gustavus Adolphus College
So. | Goalkeeper
Excelsior, Minn. / Holy Family Catholic
Jackson Baker led the Gusties to two victories last week, recording eight saves with an .889 save percentage in wins over Nebraska Wesleyan and Saint John's. The sophomore had four saves in a 3-1 win over Nebraska Wesleyan on 9/22 before collecting a four-save shutout against the Johnnies on 9/27.
MIAC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Lily Shure
Carleton College
Jr. | Midfielder
Evanston, Ill. / Evanston Township
Lily Shure scored the game-winning goal in the Knights' 3-2 victory over nationally-ranked and previously undefeated UW-La Crosse on 9/24. The goal was the first of Shure's collegiate career. She went on to assist on another game-winner three days later in Carleton's 3-0 road victory over Macalester on 9/27.
MIAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Brianna Valdez
St. Catherine University
So. | Goalkeeper
Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville
Brianna Valdez helped the Wildcats to a pair of road shutouts against UW-Eau Claire (9/23) and Augsburg (9/27) last week. Valdez collected seven saves in 180 minutes of action.