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 March 11 – 17, 2024.
Beach Volleyball – Pair
No. 2-ranked Corban University’s Megan Dennis and Emma Bischoff were named the Rize Laboratory Beach Volleyball Pair of the Week.
The junior and freshmen duo remained perfect in conference play and picked up a massive 3-2 match win over (RV) Southern Oregon University (17-21, 21-16, 15-12), handing the Raiders their first loss of the season. They also defeated the top pairs from Northwest University (21-15, 21-16) and Bushnell University (21-11, 21-14).
Baseball – Player
(RV) Oregon Tech’s Tyler Horner was named the Rize Laboratory Baseball Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Horner, a junior catcher from Twin Falls, Idaho, had a huge offensive weekend against No. 23-ranked University of British Columbia, leading the Owls to a 3-1 series to open conference play. He had 10 hits, including a triple and a homerun to record a .526 batting average and a .789 slugging percentage. Across the weekend he tallied four RBIs, four runs, and touched 15 total bases. Behind the plate he managed a stellar .857 fielding percentage.
Baseball – Pitcher
(RV) Oregon Tech’s Cody Dubray was named the Rize Laboratory Baseball Pitcher of the Week.
Dubray, a senior from La Grande, Ore., had an impressive performance on the mound against No. 23-ranked UBC. He did not allow a run and only let up two hits while striking out nine batters in six innings to lead the Owls to a 1-0 victory over the Thunderbirds.
Softball – Player
No.6-ranked Oregon Tech’s Kaila Mick was named the Rize Laboratory Softball Player of the Week for the third time this season.
Mick, a graduate student shortstop from Klamath Falls, Ore., had a record setting weekend, leading the Owls to a series sweep over No. 8-ranked Southern Oregon University. She recorded 10 hits in 11 at bats for a near perfect .909 batting average and 1.636 slugging percentage. Half her hits were for extra bases while she added four RBIs and six runs. She was also errorless in the field with four putouts and 11 assists.
Softball – Pitcher
No. 6-ranked Oregon Tech’s Kacie Schmidt was named the Rize Laboratory Softball Pitcher of the Week.
Schmidt, a junior from Beaverton, Ore., had a dominant weekend in the circle, leading OIT to a series sweep over No. 8-ranked SOU. She threw 16.1 total innings and only allowed one earned run while striking out 10 batters for an impressive .43 ERA.
Men’s Golf – Golfer
Lewis-Clark State College’s Bryden Brown was named the Rize Laboratory Men’s Golfer of the Week for the second consecutive week.
Brown (69-70 – 139), a sophomore from Moscow, Idaho, won his second straight tournament on Sunday with another playoff win. He carded rounds of 69 and 70 to finish 5-under at the Willamette Valley Cup over the weekend for a 139 two-round total against 83 total golfers.
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Athlete
Eastern Oregon University’s Hunter Nichols was named the Rize Laboratory Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week.
Nichols, a graduate student runner from Heppner, Ore., made his steeplechase debut, finishing 1st with a time of 9:23.73 for a B standard at the Lewis & Clark Electric Forest Collegiate Open.
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Athlete
Oregon Tech’s Jose Ignacio was named the Rize Laboratory Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week.
Jose Ignacio, a senior thrower from Wilsonville, Ore., recorded a personal record by over a meter in the Javelin at the PNW invite. He reached a distance of 66.95m for a 3rd place finish and an A standard which is currently ranked 2nd in the NAIA.
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Track Athlete
Multnomah’s Trinity Montgomery was named the Rize Laboratory Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week.
Montgomery, a freshmen runner from Portland, Ore., won the 100m (11.81) and 200m (24.34) at the Lewis & Clark Electric Forest Collegiate Open. The two races were against more than 20 athletes and both her marks reached A standards. In the NAIA she is currently ranked at the top of the 100m and is 3rd in the 200m.
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – Field Athlete
Corban University’s Kayla Morgan was named the Rize Laboratory Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week.
Morgan, a redshirt sophomore jumper from Sisters, Ore., became the first women's high jumper in the NAIA to hit the A standard for the event this outdoor season, leading the nation with a 1.68m leap and a 1st place finish. She also placed 6th in the long jump with a distance of 4.99m at the Rich Allen Classic.