First Red Lion Athletes of the Week Announced
LA GRANDE, Ore. -- The first Red Lion Cascade Collegiate Conference Athletes of the Week of the 2012-13 season, were released by the conference office Monday.
The honorees:
VOLLEYBALL HITTER
Northwest’s Olivia Vandlac, a sophomore from Snohomish, Wash., has been named the Red Lion Volleyball Hitter of the Week for the period ending Aug. 26.
It was a great start to the 2012 season for the sophomore. Vandlac finished the inaugural Red Lion Cascade/Frontier Conference Challenge with a .282 attack percentage.
The outside hitter had 54 kills in the Eagles’ five matches, an average of 2.84 kills per set. Vandlac added 48 digs and six service aces.
Honorable mention: Devan Belshe, Warner Pacific; Casey Loper, Eastern Oregon.
VOLLEYBALL SETTER
Oregon Tech’s Kayleigh Whelchel, a junior from Sheridan, Ore, has been named the Red Lion Setter of the Week for the period ending Aug. 26.
Whelchel finished the weekend with 182 assists, including a career-high 51-set effort against Simpson. She averaged 7.91 assists per set during the Owls’ five matches over the weekend.
Oregon Tech finished 3-2 at the Paul Elliot Invitational hosted by Southern Oregon. The Owls begin the young season 6-5.
Honorable mention: Marchelle Bostic, Warner Pacific; Karly Stack, Eastern Oregon.
VOLLEYBALL LIBERO
Eastern Oregon’s Kaitlyn Duncan, a senior from Prineville, Ore., has been named the Red Lion Libero of the Week for the period ending Aug. 26.
Duncan helped the Mountaineers to a 4-1 finish in the first weekend of inaugural Red Lion Cascade/Frontier Conference Challenge. EOU had the best finish of any CCC team at the challenge.
Over the weekend, Duncan had 109 digs in the challenge. The school's all-time digs leader has double-digit digs in each match this season. The senior is third in the NAIA in total digs with 155 through eight matches.
Honorable mention: Marie Baumann, Oregon Tech; Heather Shulke, Northwest.
WOMEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE
Southern Oregon’s Stephanie Carr, a senior from Upland, Calif., has been named the Red Lion Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Aug. 26.
Carr helped the Raiders go unbeaten through the opening weekend of the season. Playing at home in their own tournament, the Raiders grabbed a win over Trinity Lutheran and a tie with The Master’s.
Carr found the back of the net in both games, finishing with two goals on the weekend.
Honorable mention: Jessica Oliver, Northwest; Emily Tsugawa, Corban.
WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE
Concordia’s Jenna Peterson, a senior from Federal Way, Wash., has been named the Red Lion Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Aug. 26.
The only field player to play all 180 minutes over the weekend, Peterson returned to competition after sitting out all of 2011 with an injury, and led No. 2 Concordia to a pair of wins at the Southern Oregon Tournament.
Peterson helped the Concordia defense allow just 11 shots and one goal in the two competitions.
MEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE
Concordia’s Jared Brace, a senior from Vancouver, Wash., has been named the Red Lion Men’s Soccer Offensive Player the Week for the period ending Aug. 26.
The senior forward scored the game-winner against The Master's College in the 52nd minute of play.
No. 16 Concordia picked up the 2-1 victory in its season opener.
MEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE
Concordia’s Arne Niermann, a freshman from Lippstadt, Germany, has been named the Red Lion Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Aug. 26.
Despite being outshot 12-to-6, Niermann helped No. 16 Concordia to a 2-1 win in its season opener over (RV) The Master's College.
Niermann, playing in his collegiate debut, stopped five shots to pick up a win.