SLIAC Player of the Week - September 3rd

The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has announced their weekly Player of the Week award winners for the opening week of the 2013-14 season. Earning this week's honors are Ethan Jeffries, Webster University (Men's Cross Country); Heather Heisse, Webster University (Women's Cross Country); Jamie Lawrence, Webster University (Men's Soccer Offensive Player); Jacob Stieb, Webster University (Men's Soccer Defensive Player); Caroline Keppler, MacMurray College (Women's Soccer Offensive Player); Jessica Davis, Webster University (Women's Soccer Defensive Player); Tess Rountree, Principia College (Volleyball Offensive Player) and Summer Switzer, Principia College (Volleyball Defensive Player).

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Webster University'sEthan Jeffries, a senior from Peoria, Ill., is this week's Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week. Jeffries finished 6th in Gabby Reuveni Early Bird Invitational this weekend, running the 6,000 meter course in a time of 19:39 and taking nearly a full-minute off the school record.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Heather Heisse, a senior from Silex, Mo., was chosen as the Runner of the Week after finishing the 4k race in the Gabi Reuveni Early Bird Invitational with a time of 15:57. Her time set a personal best at the meet and she finished 20th out of a field of 95 runners.

MEN'S SOCCER - OFFENSIVE
Webster University freshman midfielderJamie Lawrence, from Florissant, Mo., earned Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week honors as the newcomer netted two goals in his first two collegiate games. Lawrence scored the Gorloks first goal of the 2013 season and helped his team to a 1-0-1 record this weekend. In addition Lawrence was named to the Illinois Wesleyan All-Tournament team.

MEN'S SOCCER - DEFENSIVE
Jacob Stieb, a junior from Highland, Ill., is this week's Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week. Stieb led the Gorlok defense in helping the team remain unbeaten through opening weekend. Stieb and his defensive partners held opponents to three goals and 12 shots in two games while he was named Co-MVP of the Illinois Wesleyan Tournament.

WOMEN'S SOCCER- OFFENSIVE
MacMurray College's Caroline Keppler, a sophomore from St. Louis, Mo., is this week's Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week. Keppler played a prominent role in helping her team to a 1-1 record on the week as she played a role in all three of her team's goals. Keppler assisted on MacMurray's lone goal in their season opener and followed with a two goal performance in a win over Finlandia.

WOMEN'S SOCCER- DEFENSIVE
Webster University's Jessica Davis, a junior from Belleville, Ill, picked up Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week honors after helping her team to a pair of road wins this past weekend. Davis recorded three saves in a 1-0 shutout win over Rose-Hulman and added another save in palying a scoreless first-half in a 6-0 win over Franklin.

VOLLEYBALL - OFFENSIVE
Principia College's Tess Rountree, a junior outside hitter from Paso Robles, Calif., earned Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week in helping the Panthers to a 3-1 record and earning Illinois College All-Tournament honors. Rountree powered the Panthers with 65 kills, averaging 5.42 per set and hit .308 on the week. In addition she added five service aces and finished with a week high 21 kills against Culver-Stockton.

VOLLEYBALL- DEFENSIVE
Summer Switzer, a junior from St. Louis, Mo. and Principia College, picked up Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week honors as the libero was all over the court for the Panthers. Switzer finished with 61 digs in 12 sets, averaging 5.08 per set. She continually got better as the weekend went on and finished the weekend with a week high 20 digs in a non-conference win over MacMurray.

SPECIAL MENTIONS

• Vickey Benhart, So., Eureka College (Women's Soccer Defensive)- Finished the week with 24 saves in two games including a career high 15 saves against Wisconsin Lutheran.
• Elisa Burkman, Jr., Spalding University (Volleyball Offensive)- Named Most Outstanding Player of the NYU Tournament while recording a team high 39 kills. 
• Josh Newell, Fr., Eureka College (Men's Soccer Offensive)- Freshman defender scored on his first collegiate shot attempt, netting his team's only goal of the week.
• Sammy Jo Petefish, Sr., MacMurray College (Volleyball Defensive)- Earned All-Tournament honors at Illinois College Tournament while finishing with 69 digs including 27 against Wisconsin-River Falls.
• Casey Richardson, So., Spalding University (Women's Cross Country)- Placed 5th at the Sodexo Grizzly Invitational, finishing the 5k course in a time of 21:02.