Crossroads League Announces Athletes of the Week | August 22-28

Crossroads League Athletes-of-the-Week Page

JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League Athletes of the Week were announced on Monday, recognizing the league's top individual performances from August 22 through 28. Sports Information Directors from the league institutions nominate student-athletes for the awards and vote on each week's winners.

Volleyball Attacker of the Week
Eva Joldersma, Indiana Wesleyan
Joldersma made an impression in her collegiate debut, slamming 23 kills and adding 15 digs and four blocks in No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan's five-set upset of No. 3 Bellevue. Joldersma went on to post three 20-kill outings and two double-doubles to help IWU score a trio of wins over teams ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Top-25.

Volleyball Defender of the Week
Grace Ieremia, Taylor
Ieremia was a force at the net for No. 22 Taylor during its 4-0 showing over the weekend. The sophomore middle tallied 26 total blocks for the Trojans, highlighting her 1.5 blocks per set with a nine-block performance in a 3-1 win over Saint Thomas.

Volleyball Setter of the Week
Kacy Bragg, Taylor
Bragg tossed up a career-best 61 assists in a five-set win over Thomas More and closed a 4-0 week for No. 22 Taylor with 174 assists, 43 digs, 17 kills, 10 blocks and six aces. The returning CL Setter of the Year tossed up at least 30 helpers in each match and posted two double-doubles.

Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
JJ Aalbue, Grace
Aalbue fueled No. 24 Grace to shutout wins over Indiana Tech and Ohio Christian with three goals and one assist on the week. The senior forward scored once in the 2-0 win over Indiana Tech, before playing a part of three of GC's seven strikes against Ohio Christian.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Simone Castaneda, Grace
Castaneda helped the No. 24 Lancers to a pair of shutout victories, as the Grace defense allowed just three total shots in the two contests. In addition to helping a dominant defense, the freshman scored her first collegiate goal in GC's 7-0 blanking of Ohio Christian.

Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Winter Casseus, Indiana Wesleyan
Casseus scored three goals in a pair of lopsided wins for Indiana Wesleyan, netting two in an 8-1 win over Anderson and adding another in a 5-0 shutout of Grace Christian. Casseus made the most of limited action, playing just 40 minutes in each affair.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Matteo Conci, Grace
Conci posted a pair of clean sheets in net for RV Grace, helping the Lancers to shutout victories over RV Cumberlands and RV Southeastern. The junior racked up 11 saves over the pair of matches.