The Great American Conference named its volleyball Players of the Week as Oklahoma Baptist outside hitter Malia Leatherland secured offensive player, Oklahoma Baptist middle blocker Audrey Poupard captured defensive player and Harding sophomore Sarah Morehead picked up the setter accolade.
Leatherland was vital in wins over Newman, No. 20 Washburn and No. 11 Nebraska-Kearney and garnered 15 kills and hit .433 against the No. 20 Ichabods. Against the Lopers, who were top-ranked in the preseason, she picked up 13 kills plus a match-deciding kill.
Poupard racked up seven blocks of the team's 13 in the game against Washburn and amassed eight blocks in the five-set victory over Nebraska-Kearney. Poupard averaged 1.38 blocks per set for the week.
Morehead had an average of 14 assists per set in Harding's win over Arkansas-Monticello while tacking on nine digs and a set of aces. The Lady Bisons are 5-0 for the first time since their 2017 season where they had 11-win streak.
East Central defensive specialist/libero Thalianette Garcia, Ouachita Baptist middle blocker Emily Low, Henderson State outside hitter Violeta Mendoza Quintana, Harding outside hitter Logan Smith and Arkansas Tech outside hitter Rilie Vote were also nominated for offensive player. For defensive players, OBU libero Lexie Castillow, Arkansas Tech libero Madison Grantham, East Central outside hitter Darcie Kaiser and Harding defensive specialist Emma Winiger were also considered. OBU's Kellen Church, East Central's Sydney Dungen and Southern Arkansas' Morgan Schuster were nominated for setter.
GAC MEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
In its first weekly soccer awards of the season, the GAC awarded Fort Hays State forward Blake Arndt the offensive award, Fort Hays State defender Kieran Brown received the defensive award and Northeastern State' James Doyle earned the goalkeeper honor.
Arndt picked up a pair of scores, one in each half, in Fort Hays' win over Newman Thursday. The sophomore's first tally arrived in minute nine on a header off of a cross by Taisei Arima and in minute 80, headed home a cross from Viktor Robertsson.
In Fort Hays' 2-1 win over Southern Nazarene, Brown played full time and won the match with a goal in the 81st minute of the match. The goal was his fourth game winning score.
Brown saved three shots in NEOSU's 4-0 win over Newman, and in two career starts againts the Jets, the sophomore has yet to give up a goal and has conceded only one goal or less in six of his seven starts.
Rogers State midfielder Jesus Ramirez, Southern Nazarene forward Juan Rodarte and NEOSU midfielder Tom Singhgolden were considered for the offensive player accolade. Fort Hays defender Alec Beis and Rogers State defender Jaime Ponce were nominated for defensive player while Rogers State goalkeeper Austin Wormell was considered for the goalkeeper's award.
GAC WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
The GAC named Oklahoma Baptist forward Kaylee Swaner Offensive Player of the Week while Southwestern Oklahoma State defender Elizabeth Moreno garnered the defender accolade and Oklahoma Baptist's Mia Pendleton captured Goalkeeper of the Week.
Swaner picked up the first set of goals of her career in Oklahoma Baptist's 5-0 win against Southern Nazarene. Her first goal kickstarted the Bulldogs scoring in the 23rd minute with her second coming in the 59th minute off a cross from Keely Hampton and flick from Emily Griffith.
Playing 172 of 180 minutes, Moreno only allowed four shots on goal in a 1-0 win over East Central and a 2-0 win over NWOSU.
In just her third career start, Pendleton collected her first shutout as she made seven saves during a 5-0 win over Southern Nazarene. The clean sheet managed to lower her goals against average to 0.67 as her save percentage went up to .875.
SWOSU forward Brianna Benitez and OBU forward Jamie Fowler were nominated for offensive player, OBU defender Hanna Thompson was considered for the defender honor and SWOSU goalkeeper Ashley Hughes was nominated for the goalkeeper award.