Western took multiple Great Northwest Athletic Conference player of the week honors for Sep. 26-Oct. 2 and Oct. 3-Oct. 9.
Sierra Shugarts
Junior defender Sierra Shugarts received the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for two consecutive weeks for her steady play anchoring Western’s back line.
Shugarts leads position players in minutes played and has helped the Vikings lead the league with a 0.39 goals against average. Shugarts scored her first career goal against Concordia University Saturday, Oct. 1, before providing game-winning goals against Montana State University Billings and Northwest Nazarene University.
“It feels great,” Shugarts said. “It’s really fun to get those awards, and they’re very much team awards as much as they are individual awards. It’s cool we get to share it together.”
Caitlyn Jobanek
Senior midfielder Caitlyn Jobanek earned the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week award for Sep. 26-Oct. 2. Jobanek helped the Vikings to a pair of wins with three goals in two matches.
The senior is tied for second in the GNAC with four goals including two in Western’s 4-1 win over Saint Martin’s University, Thursday, Sept. 29, and a second-half goal against Concordia.
“It’s a great honor, but it’s a team effort.”
Caitlyn Jobanek
“It’s a great honor, but it’s a team effort,” Jobanek said. “We come out every game hoping to get those big goals and defend well.”
Abby Phelps
Sophomore outside hitter Abby Phelps spiked and dug her way to GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for Sep. 26-Oct. 2.
Phelps averaged 3.38 kills and 3.62 digs per game and scored a team-high 33.5 points. The 2015 GNAC Freshman of the Year is tied for the GNAC lead with 10 double-doubles.
“Practice every single day; that’s what’s starting to show in the games. That’s really nice,” Phelps said after her team swept Central Washington University Thursday, Oct. 6.
Isaac Derline
Junior Isaac Derline was named GNAC Cross Country Male Athlete of the Week Oct. 3-9.
Derline took first place at the WWU Classic with a time of 31:13.2.
He is Western’s first individual men’s champion since 2009.
