BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for baseball, softball, and tennis on Monday. Student-athletes from Bethel, Hamline, St. Catherine, Saint John's, and Saint Mary's 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 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.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week archive has complete details on each week's selections and winners.
MIAC Baseball Player of the Week
Ryan Csida
Saint Mary's University
Jr. | Center Field
Kimberly, Wis. / Kimberly
Ryan Csida hit .625 (5-for-8) in the Cardinals' games against Dubuque and Marian on 3/14. After collecting a single and a double against Dubuque, Csida finished a single shy of the cycle while driving home four runs in a 12-2 win over Marian. He also logged six catches and six putouts for the weekend.
MIAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Max Edwards
Saint John's University
Fy. | Right-Handed Pitcher
Rockford, Minn. / Rockford
Max Edwards made his first collegiate start and allowed one run on five hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks in seven innings of the Johnnies' 6-2 win over UW-Stevens Point on 3/15. Edwards has earned two wins and a save in his three appearances this season.
MIAC Softball Player of the Week
Helen McKinnon
St. Catherine University
Sr. | Shortstop
Farmington, Minn. / Rosemount
Helen McKinnon hit .565 (13-for-23) with ten RBI and four extra-base hits in the Wildcats' 6-2 week in Florida. McKinnon logged five multi-hit games during that stretch, including a 3-for-4 day against Fitchburg State on 3/10 that resulted in five RBI. McKinnon finished that game one home run shy of the cycle. Her homer came later in the week when she drove a pitch over the centerfield fence for a grand slam in an eventual 14-1 win over Rutgers-Newark on 3/14.
MIAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Taylor Graf
St. Catherine University
Jr. | Pitcher
Prescott, Wis. / Prescott
Taylor Graf recorded two wins in the circle for the Wildcats on their spring break trip to Florida last week. Graf put in 13 innings of work over four games, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out 14 batters in wins over Fitchburg State (3/10), St. Mary's College of Maryland (3/11), Wisconsin Lutheran (3/13), and MCLA (3/14).
MIAC Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Carter Sheard
Bethel University
Jr.
Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove
Carter Sheard helped the Royals to a sweep of St. Norbert on 3/15. After collecting a 6-1 victory at No. 1 doubles, Sheard earned a 6-0, 6-1 decision at the top singles spot.
MIAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Christine Muller
Hamline University
Sr.
Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley
Christine Muller picked up a pair of tiebreaker wins in singles play for the Pipers during their spring break trip to Orlando last week. After a 6-1 triumph at No. 2 doubles, Muller earned a 7-5, 3-6, 10-7 win at No. 4 singles against Roger Williams on 3/9. She went on to add a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles before collecting a 7-5, 4-6, 10-7 singles win against UW-Eau Claire on 3/13.