MIAA Announces Athletes of the Week for Nov. 7

Football

Defensive
Player of the Week

Javon Walker, Olivet

Junior, DB
Lansing, Mich.

• Led Olivet with nine tackles in win over Adrian Nov. 5

• Added an interception for a 69-yard touchdown

• Tallied a forced fumble and recovery on a key play late in the contest while adding a 17-yard tackle for loss

Offensive
Player of the Week

Dylan Zaborowski, Alma

Junior, QB
Jackson, Mich.

• Led Alma to 41-33 win at Trine Nov. 5, with a key play late in the game to evade a sack and convert on game-winning touchdown throw

• Finished with three touchdowns passing on 12-of-25 passing for 208 yards

• Also rushed for a touchdown, finishing with 250 total yards of offense

Special Teams
Player of the Week

Darren Ford, Hope

Junior, P/K
Howell, Mich.

• Set Hope football record with 46-yard field goal Saturday at Albion, added a second 46-yard kick later in the game

• Finished MIAA play with 11 field goals, tying the conference record set in 2010; also set season Hope record for field goals in a season

• Went 3-for-4 for field goals and 1-for-1 in extra points

Volleyball

Player of the Week

 
Katie Rietberg, Hope

Sophomore, OH
Holland, Mich. 

• Was a key factor in Hope's five-set victory over Calvin Nov. 5 to clinch the MIAA Tournament title

• In title match, led the Flying Dutch with 16 kills and .282 hitting percentage

• Added seven digs and three blocks against Calvin

• Had 15 kills and .267 hitting percentage in four-set win over Saint Mary's in the semifinals

Specialist of the Week

Alexis Thompson, Hope

Senior, L
Monroe, Mich. 

• Was a key factor in Hope's five-set victory over Calvin Nov. 5 to clinch the MIAA Tournament title

• Tallied a match-high 22 digs in five sets to anchor the defense

• Her digs effort held Calvin to .100 attack percentage in the title match

• Against Saint Mary's Nov. 4, had 25 digs in four-set win in the semifinals

Men's Soccer

Defensive
Player of the Week

Trent Vegter, Calvin

Sophomore, D
Hudsonville, Mich. 

• Was a key defender in aiding Calvin claim the 2016 MIAA Tournament title

• Part of Calvin defense that gave up just nine shots and one corner kick against Albion in the semifinals Nov. 3

• Added a goal in the first half in win over Albion

Offensive
Player of the Week

Bobby McCaw, Calvin

Sophomore, M
Dubuque, Iowa

• Had a hat trick in title match against Alma Nov. 5 to give Calvin the MIAA Tournament title

• Scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 51st minute while adding goals in the 18th and 61st minutes

• Had a goal and an assist in semifinal win over Albion 

Women's Soccer

Defensive
Player of the Week

Molly Miedema, Hope

Senior, D
Spring Lake, Mich. 

• Helped Hope defensively in the team's MIAA Tournament title run

• Was a key factor in holding Alma without a shot or a corner kick in the second half of the championship game

• Aided the defense in posting shutout win over Calvin Nov. 3 to advance to the title game

Offensive
Player of the Week

Natalie Curry, Hope

Senior, M
Grand Rapids, Mich. 

• Scored a key first-half goal in aiding Hope win the 2016 MIAA Tournament title

• Provided leadership in the attack, helping distribute and provide direct runs 

• Had two shots on goal in win over Calvin Nov. 3

Men's
Swimming
& Diving

Swimmer/Diver of the Week

Ben Holstege, Calvin

Sophomore
Keswick, Va. 

• Helped Calvin to a second-place finish at Calvin Quad Nov. 4-5 with two of the team's five individual wins (100 back, 100 free)

• Posted multiple times that are now fastest in the MIAA this season, including 50 free (21.70) 

• Was on three relay winning teams, including two that posted times that are among the top times nationally

Women's
Swimming
& Diving 

Swimmer/Diver of the Week

Abby VanHarn, Calvin

Junior
Grand Rapids, Mich.

• Won the 50, 100, and 200 free events at Calvin Quad Nov. 4-5; was the only swimmer on all four teams to do so

• Her times in the sprint freestyle races last week rank first in the MIAA this season

• Also part of three relay victories, including the anchor of the 200 free relay that posted the eighth-fastest time in the NCAAs this season