FARMINGTON, Minn. -- The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for volleyball, soccer, and tennis on Monday. Student-athletes from Carleton, Gustavus, 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 Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week
Kali Jones
College of Saint Benedict
Sr. | Outside Hitter
Annandale, Minn. / Annandale
Kali Jones recorded 53 kills, nine service aces, 48 digs, eight blocks, and two assists for 66 total points to lead Saint Benedict to a 3-1 week. After opening the weekend with a 12-kill, 10-dig double-double in a four-set loss to Asbury on 9/11, Jones contributed 18 kills and 22.5 points in a five-set win over Elmhurst later in the day. She went on to post nine kills and 12 digs in a sweep of No. 5-ranked Berry on 9/12 before closing the weekend with 14 kills and a career-high five blocks in a sweep of Transylvania.
MIAC Volleyball Specialty Player of the Week
Megan Smith
Carleton College
Jr. | Setter
Salem, Ore. / Sprague
Megan Smith totaled 126 assists, 37 digs, eight kills and three aces across three matches to help the Knights go undefeated at the St. Paul Invitational on 9/11-12. The junior recorded assist-dig double-doubles in all three matches, including a career-high 53-assist performance in a five-set win over Minnesota Morris on 9/12. Smith's 53 assists against the Cougars are tied for the seventh-most in any NCAA Division III five-set match this season, while her 49 helpers against UW-Superior are the eighth-most in any four-set D-III match this fall.
MIAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Jack Soares
St. Olaf College
Jr. | Forward
Waxhaw, N.C. / Cuthbertson
Jack Soares scored five goals and added an assist to help the No. 3-ranked Oles extend their undefeated start to the season to 6-0-0 with three wins last week. The junior found the net in every contest, including a hat trick in a win over Bethany Lutheran on 9/11. Soares also recorded a goal and an assist against Carroll on 9/8 and closed the week with another goal in a 2-0 win at Carthage on 9/13.
MIAC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Justin Ratner
Macalester College
So. | Goalkeeper
Chicago, Ill. / Francis W. Parker
Justin Ratner made eight saves to preserve a scoreless tie for the Scots against UW-Whitewater in a battle of unbeaten teams on 9/13. Ratner has allowed one goal in three starts and four total appearances this season. The 90-minute shutout against the Warhawks was the first of his collegiate career.
MIAC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Emily Johnson
St. Olaf College
Sr. | Forward
Vadnais Heights, Minn. / Mounds View
Emily Johnson recorded a goal and an assist in each of the Oles' two games last week to help extend their unbeaten start to the season to five games. Johnson scored and assisted in a 3-3 tie at Luther on 9/9, then played a role in both St. Olaf goals in a 2-2 tie at UW-Platteville on 9/12. Johnson has now scored at least one goal in each of the Oles' last four games.
MIAC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Avery Trapp
Carleton College
Sr. | Goalkeeper
Barrington, Ill. / Barrington
Avery Trapp posted a pair of shutouts for the Knights last week, backstopping a 1-0 win over Claremont-Mudd Scripps on 9/11 and a 3-0 win over Simpson College on 9/13. She has allowed just one goal in three starts this season and has been credited with a shutout in 14 of her last 25 appearances, dating back to last season.
MIAC Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Owen Skanse
Gustavus Adolphus College
Jr.
Edina, Minn. / Orono
Owen Skanse went 2-1 in singles play and collected a doubles win for the Gusties while competing in the Augustana Invite on 9/12-13. Skanse advanced to the semifinal round of the singles draw after earning a 3-6,6-4, 10-6 win against NCAA Division II Nebraska-Kearney in the quarterfinals. After a 1-6, 3-6 loss in the semifinals to an NCAA Division I player from Creighton, Skanse bounced back with an 8-3 pro set singles victory against another Creighton competitor. He was also part of a 6-3 doubles win over a tandem from NCAA Division II Augustana.
MIAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Adel Schneider
Macalester College
Fy.
Appleton, Wis. / St. Mary's Catholic
Adel Schneider went 2-0 in both singles and doubles action in her collegiate debut for the Scots. Schneider occupied the No. 2 spot in the Macalester lineup, winning 6-4, 6-2 against Concordia on 9/12 and 6-3, 6-1 against Saint Mary's on 9/13 to help the Scots earn a pair of early-season conference victories. Schneider was also part of two 6-1 triumphs at No. 2 doubles.