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, Carleton, 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
Jevon Williams
The College of St. Scholastica
So. | Running Back
Willmar, Minn. / Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City
Jevon Williams had 31 carries for 227 yards and four touchdowns in the Saints' 41-27 road win over Wisconsin Lutheran on 9/6. Williams' four rushing scores are the most by a MIAC player since 2022, and the most by a St. Scholastica back since the 2014 campaign. Williams also caught a pair of passes for 57 yards and returned two kickoffs for 38 yards, giving him a total of 322 all-purpose yards in the game. His four rushing touchdowns are tied for the most by any player in an NCAA Division III game this season, while his 322 all-purpose yards represent the second-highest single-game total in D-III this year, and his 227 rushing yards rank third in the country.
MIAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Ian Strusz
The College of St. Scholastica
Sr. | Cornerback
Albertville, Minn. / St. Michael-Albertville
Ian Strusz came away with three interceptions in the Saints' 41-27 season-opening victory against Wisconsin Lutheran on 9/6. He is the only defensive player in any NCAA division with three interceptions in a single game this season. His three picks also match the single-game program record and tie for the third-highest single-game total by a MIAC player in recorded conference history. He added three tackles in the win.
MIAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Ethan Hess
St. Olaf College
So. | Kicker
Marshall, Minn. / Marshall
Ethan Hess went 3-for-3 on field goals and 3-for-3 on PAT tries in the Oles' 32-7 season-opening victory over Northwestern-St. Paul on 9/6. The sophomore connected on field goals of 21, 42, and 28 yards to account for 12 points, with the 42-yarder matching the longest field goal made by an Ole since 2013.
MIAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week
Ava Carlson
Augsburg University
So. | Outside Hitter
Cloquet, Minn. / Cloquet
Ava Carlson hit .296 with 76 kills (4.22 per-set), 51 digs (2.83 per-set), and 11 service aces (0.61 per-set) in a 4-1 week for the Auggies. Carlson tallied 17 kills, four service aces, and eight digs in a three-set win over Bethany Lutheran on 9/3 before adding 16 kills and 12 digs in a four-set win over UW-La Crosse to open the Auggie Invitational on 9/5. She posted a career-high 19 kills, three aces, and 17 digs for her 10th career kill-dig double-double in a five-set loss to Minnesota Morris on 9/5, and went on to register 12 kills and eight digs in a three-set win over Lakeland in addition to 12 kills, three aces, and six digs in a three-set win over Grinnell on 9/6.
MIAC Volleyball Specialty Player of the Week
Morgan Ryan
St. Olaf College
Sr. | Libero
Chanhassen, Minn. / Minnetonka
Morgan Ryan recorded 89 digs (6.36 per set), 13 assists, and five service aces in three matches against nationally notable squads on 9/5-6 to earn a spot on the KTIS Classic All-Tournament Team. Morgan had at least 25 digs in all three matches, including 35 in a five-set loss to Northwestern-St. Paul and 29 in a four-set victory over nationally-ranked Millikin on 9/6. Her 35 digs against UNW are tied for the 14th-most in any five-set Division III match this year. Ryan's work in the back line helped the Oles hold their opponents to a .160 attack percentage for the tournament.
MIAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Ronan O'Connor
Saint John's University
So. | Forward
Woodbury, Minn. / Hill-Murray
Ronan O'Connor scored four goals – two in each game, including both game-winners – in a 2-0 week at home for the Johnnies. O'Connor also added an assist for nine points in the two victories. O'Connor scored the second and fourth goals in a 4-1 win over Crown on 9/3 and tallied both scores, 4:03 apart, in a 2-0 shutout of Bethany Lutheran on 9/7. He has scored at least once in each of the Johnnies' four games so far this fall.
MIAC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Christian Hodges
Augsburg University
Fy. | Goalkeeper
New Albany, Ohio / Tree of Life Christian School
Christian Hodges stopped all 13 shots he faced in three shutout victories to keep the Auggies not only unbeaten, but unscored upon in the first five games of the 2025 season. Hodges had two saves in 70 minutes of the team's 7-0 win over Northwestern-St. Paul on 9/3. He added two more saves in Augsburg's 2-0 win at Luther, which included staring down a penalty kick attempt that hit the crossbar in the 32nd minute. He went on to tally a season-high nine saves in a 1-0 home win over Wartburg on 9/7, making a pair of dramatic, diving saves on a penalty kick attempt three minutes into the second half.
MIAC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Jayla Ponce
Augsburg University
Sr. | Forward
Kuna, Idaho / Kuna
Jayla Ponce claimed the fourth hat trick of her collegiate career with a four-goal, two-assist effort in the Auggies' 10-0 win over Bethany Lutheran on 9/6. Ponce recorded career-highs in both goals (four) and points (10), scoring goals in the fourth, 12th, 17th, and 51st minutes. It was the ninth multi-goal game of her career. The 10-point performance ties for the most in a game by any women's soccer player in NCAA Division III this season, while her four goals are tied for the third-most in any D-III women's soccer game this fall.
MIAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Zaraya Jordan
Carleton College
Jr. | Defender
Los Angeles, Calif. / New Roads
Zaraya Jordan anchored a backline that helped the Knights register two shutouts against a pair of previously undefeated squads last week. After keeping Hope College - which entered the contest averaging 3.0 goals per game - off the scoreboard on 9/5, Jordan was key in disrupting the attack for Simpson College, a program that received votes in the preseason United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll. The Knights limited the Storm, who averaged 15.7 shots per game entering the matchup on 9/7, to three shots and only one shot on goal.