Monday, November 2, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. – An individual game record-setting performance for Dixie State quarterback Blake Barney and a career record for Alaska middle blocker Sam Harthun leads the list of this week’s GNAC Player of the Week selections.

Barney, a freshman, was named the Football Offensive Player of the Week. He returned from injury to rush for a school-record 291 yards and finished with 384 all-purpose yards in the Red Storm’s 48-25 victory over South Dakota Mines. Barney led the way as Dixie State set GNAC single-game records with 593 rushing yards and 67 carries. Teammate Colton Olson was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week as he compiled nine tackles and an interception in the victory.

Harthun was named the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after she led Alaska to their first GNAC weekend road sweep since 2009. She finished with 47 kills, 27 digs, four aces and four blocks in five-set victories at Seattle Pacific and Saint Martin’s. In the process, the senior set the Alaska career record with 1,390 kills and moved up to No. 4 on the GNAC all-time list.

Saint Martin’s led GNAC schools this week with three selections, including a sweep of the final golf awards of the fall. Senior Jennifer Liedes was named the Women’s Golf Player of the Week after she won the Dennis Rose Invitational and led the Saints to a third place finish, one stroke out of a tie for first. Senior Ryan Pickthorn was named the Men’s Golf Player of the Week after he led Saint Martin’s with an 11th place finish at the Dennis Rose Invitational as the Saints placed fourth.

Saints’ goalkeeper Nick Rosato was named Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week. Rosato registered his first shutout of the season over Montana State Billings on Thursday and came up with seven saves in Saint Martin’s 3-2 win on Saturday over Mary.

A total of 11 student-athletes from seven member schools were recognized in this week’s Player of the Week awards. In addition to Saint Martin’s three selections, Simon Fraser and Dixie State each finished with two selections.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS – WEEK 9
FOOTBALL
Offensive: Blake Barney (Dixie State, QB, 6-0, 185, Fr., St. George, Utah - Dixie): Barney returned from injury to set a Dixie State record with 291 rushing yards and tied another with three touchdowns in the Red Storm’s 48-25 win over South Dakota Mines. Barney finished with 384 all-purpose yards as Dixie State set GNAC records with 593 yards rushing and 67 total carries. Also Nominated: Malik Braxton (Western Oregon), Ja’Quan Gardner (Humboldt State).

Defensive: Colton Olson (Dixie State, DB, 6-2, 205, So., Spanish Fork, Utah – Spanish Fork) Olson led the Dixie State offense with nine tackles, which included four solo tackles and an interception that led to the Red Storm’s third touchdown in the first quarter of their 48-25 win over South Dakota Mines. Also Nominated: Wilerton Brutus (South Dakota Mines), Jordan Herdman (Simon Fraser), Shane Kuenzi (Western Oregon).

Special Teams: Robbie Gerarden (South Dakota Mines, K, 5-10, 168, Fr., Black Diamond, Wash. – O’Dea): Gerarden connected on a 42-yard field goal and also went 2 for 2 on point-after attempts in the Hardrockers’ 48-25 loss to Dixie State. Gerarden is currently No. 2 in the GNAC in both field goals and point-after attempts. Also Nominated: Nate Stephens (Dixie State).

MEN’S SOCCER
Offensive: Adam Jones (Simon Fraser, M, 5-7, 140, Fr., Coquitlam, B.C. – Charles Best Secondary): Jones scored both goals in the Clan’s 2-0 road win on Saturday. He opened the week with an assist on the opening goal in Thursday’s 3-1 road win at Concordia. Also Nominated: Erik Anderson (Northwest Nazarene), Matt Paine (Concordia), Adam Talley (Western Washington), Kyle Witzel (Saint Martin’s).

Defensive: Nick Rosato (Saint Martin’s, GK, 5-10, 170, Sr., Tacoma, Wash. – Highline CC): Rosato record his first shutout of the season and was the winner in goal in the Saints’ two matches. He finished with five saves in a 2-0 shutout of Montana State Billings on Thursday and then had seven saves in their 3-2 victory over Mary. Also Nominated: Grant Alcorn (Concordia), Luke Broz (Northwest Nazarene), Tom Lohmann (Montana State Billings), Bryson Pavel (Seattle Pacific).

WOMEN’S SOCCER
Offensive: Catherine Miles (Western Washington, F, 5-7, Sr., Anacortes, Wash. - Anacortes): Miles scored three goals in two matches as the Vikings’ clinched the GNAC regular season championship. She scored two goals in Thursday’s 4-0 shutout of Northwest Nazarene and scored WWU’s lone goal in a 1-1 tie with Concordia. She moved into a tie for fourth on the WWU career list with her 42nd goal. Also Nominated: Bobbi Eckler (Concordia), Katelyn Erhardsen (Simon Fraser), Abby McFaul (Saint Martin’s), Alycia Wright (Montana State Billings).

Defensive: Katlyn Lokay (Montana State Billings, D, 5-5, Sr., Boulder, Colo. - Boulder): Lokay anchored the Yellowjackets’ back line for their biggest shutout of the season as Montana State Billings beat Central Washington 1-0 to help secure a spot in the GNAC Women’s Soccer Championship. She also completed a regular-season streak of 1,431 minutes played, having played every minute of the season. Also Nominated: McKayla Davidson (Concordia), Ashley Haden (Western Washington), Hattie North (Saint Martin’s), Shayla Page (Seattle Pacific).

VOLLEYBALL
Offensive: Sam Harthun (Alaska, OH, 6-1, Sr., Oregon City, Ore. – Oregon City): Harthun finished with 47 kills, four aces, 27 digs and four blocks as she led Alaska to a pair of five-set road victories, their first GNAC road sweep since 2009. She finished with 27 kills, 19 digs and a .205 hitting percentage in the Nanooks’ Thursday win over Seattle Pacific and added 20 kills in Saturday’s win at Saint Martin’s. In the process, Harthun set the Alaska career record for kills. Also Nominated: Kendra Bodine (Northwest Nazarene), Catie Fry (Central Washington), Caitlin Hanson (Alaska Anchorage), Kayleigh Harper (Western Washington).

Defensive: Alison McKay (Simon Fraser, DS/L, 5-6, Jr., Port Moody, B.C. – Heritage Woods): McKay finished with 53 digs and five assists in the Clan’s two matches. She finished with 31 digs in Tuesday’s match against Western Washington and added 22 digs and three assists in Thursday’s three-set sweep of Montana State Billings. Also Nominated: Miranda Grieser (Alaska), Abby Phelps (Western Washington), Elayna Rice (Northwest Nazarene), Breanne Wiekamp (Seattle Pacific), Katelynn Zanders (Alaska Anchorage).

GOLF
Men: Ryan Pickthorn (Saint Martin’s, Sr., Damascus, Ore. - Clackamas): Pickthorn led Saint Martin’s to a fourth place finish at the Dennis Rose Invitational to conclude the fall season. He finished in a tie for 11th place with a three-round score of 219, which included a first round score of 1-under-par 71. Also Nominated: Kyler Beebehiser (Concordia).

Women: Jennifer Liedes (Saint Martin’s, Sr., Olympia, Wash. - Olympia): Liedes completed the fall season by winning the Dennis Rose Invitational, carding a three-round score of 15-over-par 225. She led the Saints to a third place team finish, one stroke out of a tie for first place. Also Nominated: Lynsie Furuya (Concordia).