NAIA National Players of the Week

Football Honors

Roger Butler of Tabor College (Kan.), Marcus Klund of Lindenwood University (Mo.), and Shane Longest of St. Xavier University (Ill.) were named the NAIA Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, for the week of games for October 23.

Tabor running back Butler accumulated 258 yards and five touchdowns as Tabor defeated Southwestern College (Kan.) 45-28. The 5'9" senior had 40 rushing attempts and one reception for 47 yards. In the game, Butler broke several school records including career rushing touchdowns, season rushing yards, game rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in a game. The win improved Tabor's record to 7-0.

Klund led Lindenwood with 12 solo tackles and four assisted tackles as the Lions upset then-#19 Missouri Valley College 15-12 in double overtime. The junior strong safety from Cape Girardeau, Mo., had three tackles for a total loss of ten yards and forced two fumbles, the second of which ended the second overtime. Lindenwood improved to 4-4 on the season.

Longest helped lead then-#14 St. Xavier to a 38-31 overtime upset against then-#4 St. Ambrose University (Iowa.). Longest was five-for-five on PAT's and also made his lone field goal attempt of 30 yards. The 5'10" sophomore also had five kickoffs totalling 274 yards. St. Xavier is 6-2 on the year.

Other Football Offensive Nominees
Stephen Hatchell, Campbellsville University (Ky.) (MSC); James Jackson, William Penn University (Iowa) (MSMAMW); Josh Johnson, Montana Tech of the University of Montana (FC); Demetric Phillips, Evangel University (Mo.) (HAAC); Brad Reifsnyder, Malone College (Ohio) (MSFAME); Keith Sietstra, Northwestern College (Iowa) (GPAC); Art Solis, Dakota State University (S.D.) (DAC).

Other Football Defensive Nominees
Rick Borden, Eastern Oregon University (FC); Frank Hernandez, Geneva College (Pa.) (MSFAME); Rick King, St. Xavier University (Ill.) (MSFAMW); Kylan Klauzer, Dickinson State University (N.D.) (DAC); Gavin Kokel, Southern Nazarene University (Okla.) (CSFL); Dan Kontz, Friends University (Kan.) (KCAC); Brian Lauck, Midland Lutheran College (Neb.) (GPAC); Corey Wheeler, University of Virginia's College at Wise (MSC).

Other Football Special Teams Nominees
Jeff Aldrich, Nebraska Wesleyan University (GPAC); Ray Damm, University of Virginia's College at Wise (MSC); Jordan Ross, Haskell Indian Nations University (Kan.) (CSFL); Bill Schafer, Benedictine College (Kan.) (HAAC); Gary Trione, Kansas Wesleyan University (KCAC).

Soccer Honors

Jesse Miech of Morningside College (Iowa) and Rachel Gerdin of Indiana Wesleyan University were named the NAIA Men's and Women's Soccer Players of the Week, respectively, for the week ending October 23.

Keeper Miech led Morningside to a 3-0 record on the week as recorded three shutouts. The senior from Stevens Point, Wis. had 26 saves on 26 shots on goal, with 11 each in two of the games. The Mustangs improved to 11-7 on the year.

A native of Colorado Springs, Gerdin scored all three of then-ranked #15 Indiana Wesleyan's goals for the week. The freshman scored the lone goal in a 1-0 overtime victory against University of St. Francis (Ind.) and added two more against Grace College (Ind.). Indiana Wesleyan improved to 16-0-1.

Men's Soccer Region Players of the Week -

Noe Aparacio, University of Maine-Fort Kent (X); Justin Berbena, Ottawa University (Kan.0 (IV); Mkhokheli, Dube, Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.) (XI); Patrick Figueiredo, Missouri Valley College (V); Sergio Gomez, Texas College (VI); Greg Lehman, St. Ambrose University (Iowa) (VII); Scott Marshall, Corban College (Ore.) (I); Alvin Murray, St. Thomas University (Fla.) (XIV); Guilherme Souza, Holy Names University (Calif.) (II); Mitchell Thomas, King College (Tenn.) (XII); Brad Verburg, Cornerstone University (Mich.) (VIII); Andy Walton, Houghton College (N.Y.) (IX).

Women's Soccer Region Players of the Week -

Basilea Amoah-Tetteh, Robert Morris College (Ill.) (VII); Jen Burgei, Ohio Dominican University (IX); Jennifer Davis, Concordia University (Neb.) (III); Rocio Ferree, Holy Names University (Calif.) (II); Kellie Humbert, Tennessee Wesleyan University (XII); Jessica Potter, Flagler College (Fla.) (XIV); Nicole Revenaugh, William Jewell College (Mo.) (V); Annie Sherman, Central Christian University (Kan.) (IV); Meg Skidmore, Lyndon State College (Vt.) (X); Harumi Someya, Martin Methodist College (Tenn.) (XI); Debora Valeri, Northwood University (Texas) (VI); Megan Waunch, Corban College (Ore.) (I).

Volleyball Honors

Deanne Gonzalez of Bethel College (Ind.), Allison Kincheloe of Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) and Charity Gaston of Albertson College (Idaho) were named the NAIA Volleyball Player, Setter and Libero of the Week, respectively, for the week ending October 24.

Hailing from LaPorte, Ind., Gonzalez averaged 5.6 kills per game as Bethel won all three of its matches this week. The senior outside hitter also averaged 7.2 digs per game as the Pilots dropped only one game in the three matches. Bethel improved to 27-3 on the year.

A freshman, Kincheloe recorded 108 assists for an average of 18 per game in then-ranked #15 Azusa Pacific's two victories. The 5'10" setter from Irvine, Calif., added 12 digs and five blocks as the Cougars improved to 19-5 on the season.

Gaston, a 5'8" senior from Harrisonberg, Va. led Albertson to a 2-0 record as she tied her season-high mark of 31 digs in a match. Gaston averaged 8.2 digs per game in the two victories as the Coyotes are off to their best start in school history with a record of 16-4.

Volleyball Region Players of the Week -

Celeste Bauer, Hastings College (Neb.) (III); Luren Baylon, Iowa Wesleyan College (VII); Julie Bradley, Cedarville University (Ohio) (IX); Marquessa Chappell, Brevard College (N.C.) (XII); Nicholette Le Bel, Southern Oregon University (I); Colleen Mahoney, Park University (Mo.) (IV); Ana Mercado, Missouri Baptist University (V); Karina Souza, Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) (XI)

Holli Strompolis, Flagler College (Fla.) (XIV); Nicole Westerterp, Houston Baptist University (Texas) (VI); Verania Willis, California Baptist University (II).

Volleyball Region Setters of the Week-

Desiree Arredondo, Texas A&M International University (VI); Lindsay Balfour, Montana Tech of the University of Montana (I); Amanda Bowling, Union College (Ky.) (XII); Gabriel Carvalho, Park University (Mo.) (IV); Kelsey Jones, Cedarville University (Ohio) (IX); Karin Krieger, Concordia University (Neb.) (III); Tina Kruckenberg, Iowa Wesleyan College (VII); Lindsay Neal, Graceland University (Iowa) (VII); Katie Pommier, Flagler College (Fla.) (XIV); Martha Ray, Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) (XI).

Volleyball Region Liberos of the Week-

Tracey Abell, Missouri Baptist University (V); Suzannah Behnken, Union College (Ky.) (XII); Alisha Dials, Ohio Dominican University (IX); Amy Eckenfels, Campbellsville University (Ky.) (XI); Renee Faimon, Hastings College (Neb.) (III); Natalie Rentz, Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) (II); Cyndi Rucker, Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) (VII); Nancy Salb, Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) (XIV).