INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletes of the week for September 25th, 2023 are based on student-athlete performance from September 18th, 2023- September 24th, 2023.
 
Football
Defense: Jesse Connell / Tiffin University / Jr. / Linebacker / Lancaster, Ohio
Jesse Connell registered eight tackles for the Dragons in a 55-30 win over Ashland University. Connell led a defense that held the Eagles to convert only three of 12 third-down conversions. He finished the day with eight tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack.
 
Offense: Jacob Barlage / Northwood University / R-Jr. / Quarterback / Moreno Valley, Calif.
Northwood’s Jacob Barlage led the Timberwolves to a 68-14 win over Lake Erie. He went 13-19 passing at a 68.4 completion percentage. Barlage threw for a total of 288 yards and accounted for three of Northwood’s touchdowns while adding 25 rushing yards.

Special Teams: Elgin Phillips / Thomas More University/ Jr. / Punter / Fairfield, Ohio
Elgin Phillips of Thomas More recorded five punts for a total of 226 yards in the Saints second conference victory over Walsh. He averaged 45.2 yards per punt, with his longest punt being 62 yards. Three of Phillips’ five punts surpassed 50 yards. He currently leads the league in punting, with 991 yards this season and 43.1 yards per punt.

Women’s Golf
Mary Kelly Mulcahy / University of Findlay / Jr. / Lima, Ohio.
For the second consecutive week, Mary Kelly Mulcahy has earned women’s golf athlete of the week honors after leading the Oilers to a first-place finish at the DBU Invitational. In a field of national-ranked opponents, Mulcahy fired rounds of 71,70, and 69 to finish with a total score of 210 (-6). Overall, Mulcahy finished T2, going under par in all three rounds and tied the program 54-hole record.
 
Men’s Soccer
Defense:  Davide Frezzi / Tiffin University / Jr. / Defender / Ancona, Italy
Davide Frezzi scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in a 2-1 win at Walsh. He led a defense that allowed just three shots on goal as the Dragons went 2-0 on the week, including a 1-0 shutout at Findlay.

Offense: Jacob Sieber / Trevecca Nazarene University/ Jr. / Defense / Rocklin, Calif.
Jacob Sieber of Trevecca Nazarene recorded two goals on the week, including the game-winner in a 3-1 win over Ashland. Sieber tabbed another game-winner at the 24:49 minute mark in a 3-1 win against Northwood.

Women’s Soccer
Defense: Kennedy Slovak / University of Findlay / Sr. / Goalkeeper / Oregon, Ohio
Slovak led the Oilers to a pair of wins on the week, including two shutouts over Tiffin and Thomas More. In 158:04 minutes of play, Slovak gave up no goals and recorded two saves to help the Oilers improve to 2-1 in the G-MAC.
 
Offense: Hannah Rybicki / University of Findlay / Sr. / Midfield/ Maumee, Ohio
The Oilers swept the women’s soccer awards this week as Hannah Rybicki claimed the offensive player of the week honors. Rybicki scored four goals on the week, with two in each game. She also tabbed one assist against Thomas More for a total of nine points.

Volleyball North Division
Defense: Arora Levengood / Walsh University / Jr. / Libero / Bolivar, Ohio
Arora Levengood helped the Cavaliers improve to 12-0 on the season, their best start in the Division II era. Levengood dished out 14 assists at 1.5 per set. Through six sets, she totaled 51 digs at 5.6 per set. Levengood is third in the conference in digs with 174 on the year and 4.58 per set.
 
Offense: Lauren Foerster / University of Findlay / So. / Outside Hitter / Salem, Wis.
The Oilers went 1-1 on the week, including a win over Ashland. Foerster led Findlay with 38 kills in two matches at a . 559 hitting percentage. She had a career game against Ashland with 26 total kills and a .735 hitting percentage.
 
Volleyball South Division
Defense: Katie Thompson / Ashland University / Sr. / Libero / Independence, Ohio
Katie Thompson totaled 51 digs at 5.67 per set for the Eagles. She also added one kill, eight assists, and three service aces.

Offense: Makenna Belcher / Ashland University / Jr. / Outside Hitter / Marengo, Ohio
The Eagles swept the south division awards as Makenna Belcher earned the offensive player of the week after registering 37 kills through nine matches. Belcher’s recorded a .245 hitting percentage, while also adding nine assists, 35 digs, and two block assists.