ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — The GSAC announced its latest Players of the Week presented by Athletic Solutions on Monday, recognizing seven student-athletes for their performances from Oct. 12-18.
La Sierra’s Maylynn Mitchell earned her third consecutive Women’s Volleyball Attacker of the Week award after recording 22 kills in a sweep of Arizona Christian. The Master’s Kate Wagner collected her conference-leading fifth Setter of the Week honor, while OUAZ’s Hannah Allman received her first Defender of the Week award.
In men’s soccer, Embry-Riddle’s Nitai Bental was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week after scoring twice in a win over OUAZ. The Master’s goalkeeper Franco Barba earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after making 13 saves across an unbeaten week.
The Master’s Maddy Traylor collected her second Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week award of the season, while Park Gilbert goalkeeper Journey Morimoto received her second Defensive Player of the Week honor.
Below is a closer look at this week’s GSAC Players of the Week presented by Athletic Solutions.
Women’s Volleyball
Attacker of the Week: Maylynn Mitchell, La Sierra
Mitchell earned the award for the third consecutive week after producing an efficient performance in La Sierra’s three-set victory at Arizona Christian.
The sophomore outside hitter recorded 22 kills while committing only five errors on 34 attacks for a .500 hitting percentage. She averaged 7.33 kills and 7.7 points per set, finishing the match with 23 points.
Mitchell also contributed three digs and two blocks while successfully handling 24 of her 25 reception attempts.
Setter of the Week: Kate Wagner, The Master’s
Wagner received her fifth GSAC Setter of the Week award of the season after totaling 116 assists across three matches.
The junior averaged 10.55 assists per set, including 47 against Indiana Wesleyan and 39 during a three-set conference victory at Hope International. She also recorded 30 assists against IU Kokomo.
Wagner contributed 35 digs for the week and reached double figures in all three matches, finishing with 11, 14 and 10 digs, respectively.
Defender of the Week: Hannah Allman, OUAZ
Allman collected her first GSAC Defender of the Week honor after anchoring the Spirit’s back row in a four-set road victory over Benedictine Mesa.
The junior recorded 25 digs, averaging 6.25 per set, and completed all 37 of her reception attempts without an error. Her play helped OUAZ secure an important conference victory away from home.
Allman also contributed seven kills and two blocks during the win.
Men’s Soccer
Offensive Player of the Week: Nitai Bental, Embry-Riddle
Bental earned his first GSAC Offensive Player of the Week award after scoring two goals in Embry-Riddle’s 4-0 victory over OUAZ.
The senior forward scored both goals during 45 minutes of action, including the game winner. He placed three of his five shots on goal and finished the match with four points.
Defensive Player of the Week: Franco Barba, The Master’s
Barba received his first GSAC Defensive Player of the Week honor after recording 13 saves and helping the Mustangs finish the week unbeaten.
The goalkeeper made two saves while posting a clean sheet in a 3-0 road victory over OUAZ. He followed that performance with 11 saves in a 2-2 draw at Benedictine Mesa.
Barba finished the two matches with an .867 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average across 180 minutes.
Women’s Soccer
Offensive Player of the Week: Maddy Traylor, The Master’s
Traylor earned her second GSAC Offensive Player of the Week award of the season and her first since Sept. 21 after totaling four goals and three assists in a pair of conference victories.
She scored the game-winning goal in the Mustangs’ 1-0 victory at OUAZ. Traylor then recorded a hat trick and three assists for nine points during a 9-0 win at Benedictine Mesa.
Traylor finished the week with 11 points, 21 shots and 12 shots on goal as The Master’s went 2-0.
Defensive Player of the Week: Journey Morimoto, Park Gilbert
Morimoto collected her second GSAC Defensive Player of the Week award of the season after leading Park Gilbert to two victories. She previously received the honor on Oct. 5.
The junior goalkeeper made nine saves—one shy of her career high—in a 2-1 comeback victory over Hope International. After allowing a goal in the opening minute, Morimoto kept the Royals scoreless for the remainder of the match.
She added two saves in a 4-0 victory over Life Pacific to secure her fourth clean sheet of the season. Morimoto finished the week with 11 saves, a .917 save percentage and a 0.50 goals-against average.
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