SLIAC Players of the Week - September 5

SLIAC MEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - SEPT. 5

Kornell Hilliard, Spalding University

Kornell Hilliard, a sophomore forward from Louisville, Ky., stepped up for the Golden Eagles in the opening weekend by leading his team to a 9-0 win in their season opener against Bluffton. Hilliard played a role in all five of his team's first five goals, netting three and assisting on two more. Hilliard completed the hat trick in the 57th minute of the game and finished three goals on just four shots. 

SLIAC MEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - SEPT. 5

Leslie Chu, Spalding University

Chu, a sophomore from New Albany, Ind., helped the Golden Eagles defense record a shutout in their 2017 opener. Chu also added his second career goal against Bluffton, netting the mark in the 67th minute. On the week the Spalding defense allowed just two goals in two games. 

SLIAC WOMEN'S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - SEPT. 5

Olivia Osterhage, Webster University

Osterhage, a sophomore from St. Louis, Mo., was busy in her team's three games last week; finishing with one goal and two assists. Osterhage set up the game-winning goal in her team's win over Illinois College. She then tallied the opening goal against Benedictine (Ill.) and later added an assist on the game winning goal. 

SLIAC WOMEN'S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - SEPT. 5

Sydney Tedesco, Webster University

Tedesco, a senior from Belleville, Ill., anchored a Gorlok defense that recorded two shutouts in the team's first three games. Both shutouts came on the road, with Webster topping Illinois College 2-0 and Concordia-Chicago 2-0. The defense allowed just 15 shots on the week and Tedesco also added the game winning goal in the team's win over Illinois College.

SLIAC VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - SEPT. 5

Sophia Hathaway, Principia College

Hathaway, a junior outside hitter from South Pasadena, Calif., led the Panthers attack in picking up two wins on opening weekend. Despite getting over 100 swings, Hathaway committed just seven errors while finishing with 39 kills. She averaged 4.3 kills per set, hitting .317 on the week. She had a high of 22 kills against Monmouth, adding three service aces. In addition, Hathaway averaged 3.9 digs per set. 

SLIAC VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - SEPT. 5

Mia Gill, Principia College

Gill, a junior from Elgin, Ill., helped the Panthers rally from deficits and pick up a pair of wins on the opening weekend. Gill averaged 5.4 digs per set on the week, finishing with a total of 49 over two matches. She tallied a high of 29 digs in a 3-1 win over Lincoln Christian and followed with 20 digs in a five set win over Monmouth (Ill.) 

SLIAC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PLAYER OF THE WEEK - SEPT. 5

Shane Witters-Hicks, Principia College

Witters-Hicks, from Golden, Colo., took 4th place at the Principia Open, finishing just behind three competitors that raced in the 2016 NCAA Division III Nationals. Witters-Hicks finished the 6K course in a time of 18:41 in a field that included the defending national champions, North Central. 

SLIAC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PLAYER OF THE WEEK - SEPT. 5

Jessie Kuykendall, Westminster College

Kuykendall, a junior from Warsaw, Mo., wasted little time in returning to last season's form. Coming off a conference title last fall Kuykendall took first place in this year's opening event, the Principia Open.; setting a new personal best time and school record. Kuykendall took first place on the 4K course, finishing with a time of 14:56. 

Other Notables: 

• Maria Cline, Blackburn College (Women's Soccer) Cline recorded 28 saves in two games last week for the Beavers including 15 saves against Salem.
• Victoria Curtice, Fontbonne University (Volleyball) Curtice was a force on both ends, averaging 2.47 kills and 0.93 blocks per set including an 11 kill, 10 block effort against Knox.
• Kelsie Huffman, Spalding University (Women's Soccer) Huffman played a role in both of her team's goals in a 2-1 win over Illinois College, scoring the game-winner in overtime and assisting on the game's first goal.
• Tyler Kendrick, Webster University (Men's Soccer) Coming off the bench, Kendrick netted his team's only goal in a 1-0 win over Monmouth (Ill.)
• Kendall Knop, Blackburn College (Volleyball) Knop recorded 12 kills and 18 digs in helping her team to a win over Anderson. 
• John Mangold, Greenville University (Men's Cross Country) Mangold took second place at the WashU Dual. He finished with a time of 19:20, just eight seconds out of first-place. 
• Allyson Mitchell, Greenville University (Volleyball) Mitchell tallied three double digit kill performances on the week, including an 11 kill and 10 digs outing against Culver-Stockton.
• Jenna Murphy, Iowa Wesleyan University (Volleyball) Named to the Monmouth Invite All-Tournament team.
• Alex Phillips, Fontbonne University (Men's Soccer) Phillips tallied a goal and an assist in his team's 3-1 season opening win over Rockford. 
• Claire Sease, Fontbonne University (Volleyball) Sease, a freshman, improved as the weekend went on closing out with 34 digs in a 3-1 win over Knox; her team's first win of the season.