Players of the Week (10/14)

Kornell Hilliard, Spalding University

Hilliard wins his 3rd Player of the Week award this fall after helping the Golden Eagles to a pair of conference wins last week, remaining undefeated in the SLIAC and in first-place in the standings. The senior forward set up the game-winning goal against Westminster and then netted both goals in a 2-0 win over Webster. On the week he tallied 2 goals and 1 assist on four shots on goal. 

Brantley Estes, MacMurray College

Estes, a sophomore goalkeeper, led the Highlanders to a pair of SLIAC wins last week. He played 180-minutes in net, making a total of 13 saves and finishing the week with a .867 save percentage. Estes stopped four shots against Blackburn, with the only goal coming on a penalty kick. He followed with a season-high 9 saves in a win over Greenville.

Melissa Kasper, Webster University

Kasper, a senior from Oswego, Ill., led the Gorloks to a pair of wins last week against conference foes. The forward recorded her 3rd career hat-trick in a win over Iowa Wesleyan, also adding one assist in the game. She followed with the game's lone goal in a win over Spalding, giving her 45 in her career. With her 9 points last week she now has 135 in her career, moving into the top 5 on the program's list.

Taryn Banfield, Webster University

Banfield picks up her 2nd Player of the Week award this fall after recording 135 scoreless minutes in two wins last week. Banfield, a freshman goalkeeper from Plano, Texas, worked a scoreless first-half against Iowa Wesleyan and continued that stretch during a 1-0 shutout win over Spalding. Banfield made 6 saves in the win over Spalding including a pair of stops late. She extends her shutout streak to 285-minutes.  

Ashley Kistaitis, Westminster College

Kistaitis, a senior from Lincoln, Neb., pounded out 58 kills over three matches last week; averaging 5.3 per set. She had a high of 27 kills against Greenville, adding five aces and 10 digs in the match. For the week she hit .248 while adding 10 aces and 26 digs. She tallied 68.5 points in the three matches, averaging 6.2 per set.

Carissa Smith, MacMurray College

Smith, a junior defensive specialist, takes home her first weekly honor this year. Smith totaled 83 digs in four matches, averaging 5.53 per set. She had a high of 35 digs against Blackburn and added a 22 dig outing against Fontbonne. She is currently tied for first in the SLIAC in total digs.

Abe Ott, Principia College

Ott raced his way to a 4th place finish at the Illinois College Invitational last weekend to pick up weekly honors. The senior from Durango, Colo. completed the 8K course in a time of 27:03, finishing as the top Division III runner in the race by over 90-seconds. His race time was also a full minute faster than his previous season-best time. 

Emme Schaefer, Principia College

Schaefer, a sophomore from Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., takes home weekly honors after her 7th place finish at the Illinois College Invitational. Schaefer completed the 6K race in a time of 24:24, her second-fastest mark this season. She was the top Division III runner in the race, which also featured two other SLIAC members, by nearly a minute.