CORVALLIS, Ore. – The following eleven CCC student-athletes have been recognized as the Rize Laboratory Players of the Week for their performances during competition from Sept. 25 – Oct. 1, 2023.
Men’s Golf – Golfer
No. 2 University of British Columbia’s Manu Gandhi was named the Rize Laboratory Men’s Golfer of the Week.
Gandhi (73-69-69 – 211), a freshman from West Vancouver, B.C., was the individual champion and led British Columbia to another team victory at the second CCC Golf event of the season. At the Warrior Fall Invitational, he won the three-round tournament by seven strokes and was the only golfer to finish under par as he shot -5.
Women’s Golf – Golfer
University of British Columbia’s Abigaille Chow was named the Rize Laboratory Women’s Golfer of the Week.
Chow (76-76 – 152), a sophomore from Coquitlam, B.C., won the two-round Warrior Fall Invitational by five strokes as she shot +8 to claim the individual championship. By posting lower rounds than anyone else managed, her impressive performance allowed the T-Birds to come back after a day one deficient to claim the second CCC Golf team title by two strokes.
Men’s Cross Country – Runner
(RV) Corban University’s Robert Swoboda was named the Rize Laboratory Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week for the second time this season.
Swoboda, a graduate student from Ukiah, Calif., was cruising at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational, taking fifth overall against 244 runners and besting the closest NAIA finisher by over 20 seconds. He finished with a time of 24:18.1, breaking the Corban school record in the 8k set back in 2005 by nearly 20 seconds.
Women’s Cross Country – Runner
No. 3 College of Idaho’s Sage Martin was named the Rize Laboratory Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week for the second time this season.
Martin, a senior from Meridian, Idaho., finished first at the 48th Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday. She covered the 5k course in 17:17.9 to lead the Yotes to a team victory. There were 222 total runners across NCAA and NAIA collegiate athletics.
Men’s Soccer – Defensive Player
University of Providence’s Teddy Benbow was named the Rize Laboratory Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.
Benbow, a freshman goalkeeper from Philomath, Ore., led the Argos to two more wins against Corban University (2-1) and Bushnell University (4-0). He played the second half of both games, not allowing a single goal, and recorded four total saves to complete his weekend clean sheet.
Men’s Soccer – Offensive Player
College of Idaho’s Grant Embree was named the Rize Laboratory Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.
Embree, a junior midfielder from Eagle, Idaho, made his only shot this weekend which resulted in the Yotes 1-0 victory over (RV) Southern Oregon University. C of I also defeated Oregon Tech with a final score of 3-2 and are currently undefeated in CCC action while on top of the conference standings.
Women’s Soccer – Defensive Player
Southern Oregon University’s Ashlynn Hernandez was named the Rize Laboratory Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Hernandez, a junior goalkeeper from Roseville, Calif., played two back-to-back games, ending the weekend with 14 total saves for a .933 percentage. The Raiders lost to No. 17 College of Idaho (1-0) and defeated (RV) Eastern Oregon University (1-0).
Women’s Soccer – Offensive Player
No. 17 College of Idaho’s Natasja Davis was named the Rize Laboratory Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.
Davis, a sophomore forward from Kuna, Idaho, scored once in each of the Yotes weekend victories for the team to remain undefeated in CCC action and on top of the conference standings. College of Idaho shut out Southern Oregon University (1-0) and Oregon Tech (3-0) as she ended with a .667 sog%. Davis currently leads the CCC in goals with nine in 11 total games played.
Volleyball – Attacker
Lewis-Clark State College's Juliauna Forgach Aguilar was named the Rize Laboratory Volleyball Attacker of the Week for the second time this season.
Forgach Aguilar, a sophomore outside hitter from Morenci, Ariz., led the Warriors to three straight wins over the weekend, averaging 4.89 kills per set. She recorded a .333 attack percentage across the matches on top of 44 total kills. Forgach Aguilar also landed five digs and three blocks in LC State's wins over Walla Walla University, Warner Pacific University, and Multnomah University.
Volleyball – Defender
Oregon Tech’s Kaley Whalen was named the Rize Laboratory Volleyball Defender of the Week.
Whalen, a sophomore defensive specialist from Reno, Nev., set a new OIT single-match record with 41 digs in a 5-set victory over The Evergreen State College. On the weekend she recorded 54 total digs (6.75 per set), 42 service receptions (with just one error), and two service aces.
Volleyball – Setter
No. 4 Eastern Oregon University’s Alexis McMurtrey was named the Rize Laboratory Volleyball Setter of the Week for the second consecutive week and the third time this season.
McMurtrey, a junior setter from Idaho Falls, Idaho, led Eastern Oregon with 34 assists this weekend, averaging 5.67 per set. She also contributed 19 digs (3.17 per set) and two service aces in the Mounties two straight sweeps over No. 5 Corban University and Bushnell University.