CORVALLIS, Ore. – The following nine CCC student-athletes have been recognized as the Rize Laboratory Players of the Week for their performances during competition from Sept. 18 – 24, 2023.
Men's Cross Country – Runner
No. 15 Southern Oregon University's Mason Weisgerber was named the Rize Laboratory Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week.
Weisgerber, a freshman from Wilsonville, Ore., earned his first collegiate race victory as Southern Oregon posted a perfect score at the Jessup Invitational on Friday. He made a time of 24:56.5 in the 8K against 22 other opponents.
Women's Cross Country – Runner
No. 8 Southern Oregon University's Alyssa Johnson was named the Rize Laboratory Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week.
Johnson, a freshman from Veneta, Ore., was the overall runner-up and top collegiate finisher by a margin of five seconds at the Jessup Invitational, leading Southern Oregon to its second team win. She made a time of 20:27.4 in the 5K against 20 other opponents.
Men's Soccer – Defensive Player
College of Idaho's Tom Baynard-Smith was named the Rize Laboratory Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.
Baynard-Smith, a junior goalkeeper from Melbourne, Australia, has yet to let in a goal this season. He led the Yotes to two more wins against Walla Walla University (9-0) on Friday and Rocky Mountain College (2-0) on Sunday. He completed five total saves in his two shutouts this weekend.
Men's Soccer – Offensive Player
University of Providence's Jose Vasquez was named the Rize Laboratory Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week.
Vasquez, a freshman forward from Acarigua, Venezuela, scored all four goals against Multnomah University in Providence's 4-1 victory on Friday. He ended the game with a .714 sog%.
Women's Soccer – Defensive Player
Bushnell University's Lexi Bates was named the Rize Laboratory Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.
Bates, a junior goalkeeper from Murray, Utah, got the clean-sheet victory for the Beacons with five saves. Bushnell defeated Oregon Tech on Friday, with a score of 1-0, for the first time in over nine years.
Women's Soccer – Offensive Player
Carroll College's Emily Funseth was named the Rize Laboratory Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for the second consecutive week.
Funseth, a senior forward from Great Falls, Mont., continued her great start to the season, scoring the game-winning goal with a penalty shot in the 69th minute in Carroll's 2-0, over Warner Pacific University on Friday. On Thursday, the Fighting Saints also completed a 1-0 win over Multnomah University and currently share a top spot in the CCC standings with an undefeated record.
Volleyball – Attacker
No. 4 Corban University's Rylee Troutman was named the Rize Laboratory Volleyball Attacker of the Week for the third time this season.
Troutman, a junior outside hitter from Powell Butte, Ore., had a whopping 50 kills in just two matches this weekend (5.00 kills per set) in a pair of massive road wins at Oregon Tech and No. 17 Southern Oregon University. She crushed two service aces, a .317 attack percentage, and added 20 digs with a double-double against OIT. She piled on six blocks on Saturday where the Warriors held SOU to a .153 attacking percentage, one of their lowest of the season thus far.
Volleyball – Defender
No. 4 Corban University's Allyson Reid was named the Rize Laboratory Volleyball Defender of the Week.
Reid, a junior middle blocker from Vancouver, Wash., was a brick wall this weekend as the Warriors added two more wins against OIT and No. 17 SOU. She recorded 16 blocks over ten sets with a career-high 10 blocks against SOU in the come-from-behind victory. She added two digs and 15 crucial kills from the middle of the net as Corban remains undefeated in conference play.
Volleyball – Setter
No. 1 Eastern Oregon University's Alexis McMurtrey was named the Rize Laboratory Volleyball Setter of the Week for the second time this season.
McMurtrey, a junior setter from Idaho Falls, Idaho, led Eastern Oregon with 56 assists this week, averaging 6.22 per set. She also contributed 32 digs (3.56 digs per set) and seven service aces in the Mounties three sweeps this week against College of Idaho, Walla Walla University, and Lewis-Clark State College.