Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
AVON, Ohio – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the top athletes from the week of September 16 through 22. Sports Information Directors from the league nominate student-athletes for the award and vote on each week’s winners.
Volleyball Attacker
Marci Miller, Indiana Wesleyan
Miller fueled the attack for unbeaten No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan, hitting .298 and netting 4.2 kills per set in a trio of Wildcat victories. Miller reached double figures in all three matches, going for 19 kills against MVNU and 10 kills in 14 swings against Taylor.
Volleyball Defender
Havyn Gates, IWU
Gates piled up 65 digs and five aces in three wins for No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan, helping the Wildcats remain unbeaten with wins over RV USF, MVNU and Taylor. Gates turned in a 30-dig, three-ace effort in IWU’s sweep at Mount Vernon Nazarene.
Volleyball Setter
Alex Falcone, IWU
Falcone continued her strong play for No. 4 IWU, averaging 13.4 assists and 1.8 digs per set for the Wildcats in wins over RV Saint Francis, Mount Vernon Nazarene and Taylor. The setter reached 50 assists in the wins over USF and MVNU.
Men’s Soccer
Offensive Player
Anu Junior Alemanji, Bethel
Alemanji scored his first career goal in style, finding the net for the game-winner in Bethel’s 1-0 overtime upset of No. 15 Cardinal Stritch.
Men’s Soccer
Defensive Player
Finn Popescu, Bethel
Popescu did not yield a goal in 207 minutes of work in the net for Bethel, helping the Pilots to a 1-0 upset of No. 15 Cardinal Stritch and a scoreless draw with No. 11 Madonna. The freshman goalie notched four saves in each contest.
Women’s Soccer Offensive Player
Sam Castaneda, IWU
Castaneda highlighted RV Indiana Wesleyan’s week with 16 saves without a goal allowed in net for the Wildcats. Castaneda made five stops in a 2-0 win over Cincinnati Christian, before racking up 11 saves in a 0-0 draw with No. 11 Vanguard.
Women’s Cross Country
Sarah Harden, Taylor
Harden was the top NAIA finisher at the Ray Bullock Invite, placing second-of-103 on her home course for Taylor with a time of 18:11.
Men’s Cross Country
Chris Maxon, IWU
Maxon posted a time of 24:58 and took 24th of 268 runners at the John McNichols Invite, which featured teams from Stanford, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois among the 21-team field.
Women’s Tennis
Lena Golz, Indiana Wesleyan
Golz won the ITA Midwest Regionals in singles play and added wins against Grace at No. 2 singles and doubles to go 8-0 on the week for the No. 9 Wildcats.
