SFU's Kian Proctor (15) scored four goals last week including a hat trick in the Red Leafs' 4-2 win over Saint Martin's (Gordon Kalisch/FastTrackSportsPhotography).
PORTLAND, Ore. – Simon Fraser sophomore striker
Kian Proctor posted the second hat trick of the 2024 Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s soccer season last week, highlighting the latest list of player of the week selections announced on Monday.
MEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kian Proctor – Simon Fraser University
First-career player of the week.
On the final weekend of his sophomore season, Proctor came to life with four goals and an assist to propel the Red Leafs to a pair of victories. Proctor notched the GNAC’s second hat trick of 2024 in the season finale against Saint Martin’s, scoring three times in Saturday’s 4-2 triumph. Proctor’s effort was crucial against the Saints, who led 2-1 before he scored the first of his three goals in the 32nd minute. After equalizing, he gave his team a 3-2 halftime lead with his second goal in the 38th minute and capped the win with his hat trick in the 89th minute. That came after he scored and provided an assist in SFU’s 3-0 blanking of Montana State Billings last Thursday. Proctor finished his debut season at SFU with five goals and two assists while playing in 15 matches and making six starts.
SFU Head Coach Clint Schneider: “Kian has all the ability to become one of the top forwards in the GNAC. He is very athletic, has great size and very good technical ability, and now it is about putting it all together. We finally started to see it at the end of the season and thankfully for us, we have him for two more years.”
Also Nominated: So Nagano, Montana State Billings; Sullivan Smith, Northwest Nazarene; Raymundo Mendez, Seattle Pacific.
MEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jordan Thorsen – Simon Fraser University
Second-career player of the week, second this season.
Thorsen, who was limited to 12 games due to injury this season, was magnificent in the Red Leafs’ 3-0 triumph over MSU Billings last Thursday. The sophomore came away with eight saves on the way to recording his third shutout of the season. Thorsen was one of two GNAC goalkeepers to allow zero goals last week, and his eight saves were the most of any goalkeeper who kept a clean sheet. Thorsen led the GNAC with 4.58 saves per game and a save percentage of .764, while ranking third in the league with a goals-against average of 1.42.
SFU Head Coach Clint Schneider: “I think he is one of the best shot stoppers we have ever had at SFU. It has been unfortunate not to have him healthy all season, but we are excited to get him back next year too.”
Also Nominated: Fred Reiter, Montana State Billings; Pierluca Carnovale, Seattle Pacific.
Jordan Thorsen made eight saves in last week's 3-0 shutout over Montana State Billings (Gordon Kalisch/FastTrackSportsPhotography).
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Madison Hornback – Western Oregon University
Third-career player of the week, first this season.
Hornback had an explosive weekend for the Wolves, averaging 4.25 kills per set while posting a hitting percentage of .329. The senior started her week with 16 kills against just three attack errors to help the Wolves defeat Montana State Billings 3-1. She followed with 18 kills – her fourth-highest total of the year – in WOU’s defeat against Seattle Pacific. Putting forth a strong all-around performance, Hornback also collected a dozen digs in each match giving her 12 double-doubles on the season. In her final collegiate campaign, Hornback ranks fourth in the conference with 3.22 kills per set and has 965 career kills with two matches left on the schedule.
WOU Head Coach Kaiao Nahale-a: “Madison is one of the best offensive players in the west region. She is on everyone’s scouting report and she still puts up over four kills per set on teams. She works hard, is a film junkie and loves the game. Her performance is indicative of everything she’s put into the sport this season.”
Also Nominated: Josie Jansen, Alaska Fairbanks; Marianna Payne, Central Washington; Jahsita Fa’ali’i, Montana State Billings; Abby Black, Northwest Nazarene; Emily Garten, Saint Martin’s; Eva LaRochelle, Seattle Pacific; Brooke Dexter, Simon Fraser; Delaney Speer, Western Washington.
Madison Hornback had double-doubles in each of WOU's matches at home last week (Photo: Clayton Jones).
VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emma Daoud-Hebert – Central Washington University
Sixth-career player of the week, second this season.
Daoud-Hebert fueled the Wildcats to two of their biggest wins of the season, helping her team knock off Western Washington in five sets and sweep Simon Fraser to move a game clear at the top of the GNAC standings. The fifth-year senior averaged 1.62 blocks per set, leading all GNAC players with 13 total on the weekend. Her big performance started with six total blocks in the win over the Vikings, and she followed with seven more – her second-highest total of the year – in the win over the Red Leafs. Not only was Daoud-Hebert a force at the net, but she smashed down 21 kills on a .462 hitting percentage to help lead the offense. In her final collegiate campaign, Daoud-Hebert ranks fourth nationally with a hitting percentage of .433 and her 1.13 blocks per set rank her fourth in the GNAC. She is fourth in GNAC history with 474 career blocks and fifth with 1.33 blocks per set.
CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya: “Emma was locked in all weekend, as were all her teammates. Emma showed a competitive edge that comes from years of experience and it was fun to watch. Emma continued to work hard the week before these matches, so she could be at her best, and it showed. Emma and our leaders prepared the team well for these matches and are consistently getting us ready to play each week.”
Also Nominated: Tessa Onaga, Alaska Fairbanks; Christine Funk, Montana State Billings; Ezawa Malish, Simon Fraser; Devyn Oestreich, Western Washington.
Emma Daoud-Hebert (16) propelled the Wildcats to a pair of huge victories last week to move into sole possession of first place in the GNAC (Photo: Nevaeah Capetillo).
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aspen Giese – Montana State Billings
First-career player of the week.
Rock-solid all-around play from Giese, a senior guard, helped extend the Yellowjackets’ winning streak to five games with a pair of victories last week. Giese averaged 16.0 points per game, 8.5 rebounds per game, 3.5 steals per game and 2.5 assists per game, while committing just two turnovers in 63 minutes on the floor. In MSUB’s 77-60 triumph over Chadron State on Friday, Giese scored a season-high 19 points while adding four assists, six rebounds and three steals. She followed that by matching her career high with 11 rebounds, collecting her second double-double of the year in a runaway 85-54 win over Colorado Mines. The four-year starter from Fort Benton, Mont., is averaging 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and ranks fourth in the conference with 2.7 steals per game.
MSUB Head Coach Kevin Woodin: “Aspen is a tremendous student-athlete and leader in our program and has put in the extra work needed to improve on and off the court. Our team has played a challenging schedule so far, and with our balanced attack it is very hard to stand out individually. Aspen simply is the type of player and person you want to surround yourself with.”
Also Nominated: Taylor Pilot, Alaska Fairbanks; Asher Cai, Central Washington; Jada Travis, Saint Martin’s; Hunter Beirne, Seattle Pacific; Sophia Wisotzki, Simon Fraser; Natalie Brown, Western Oregon; Alyson Deaver, Western Washington.
Aspen Giese put together an all-around standout performance in last week's two victories for the Yellowjackets (Shi Robison Photography).
MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Louis Grante-Halliday – Western Washington University
First-career player of the week
Grante-Halliday helped lead his team to a pair of big west region road victories last week, as the Vikings topped Cal State San Marcos 76-61 and Azusa Pacific 88-82 to improve to 4-0 on the season. The sophomore from London, England averaged 20.0 points, 3.0 steals, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists, while committing just one turnover in 68 total minutes on the floor. Grante-Halliday connected on 13 of 22 field goal tries (59.1%) and went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line on the weekend. Posting a breakout performance against Azusa Pacific, Grante-Halliday made 9 of 14 field goals for a season-high 23 points. Through his first four games in a Viking uniform, he is averaging 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
WWU Head Coach Tony Dominguez: “Louis has really grown as a player and leader. He has worked at being a valuable asset in all facets of the game, and is willing to do whatever is needed for the team’s success. He has worked to be a leader and has a tireless work ethic.”
Also Nominated: Cavin Holden, Central Washington; Jalen Tot, Montana State Billings; Ryzin Bergersen, Northwest Nazarene; Dae’Kwon Watson, Saint Martin’s; Owen Moriarty, Seattle Pacific; Luke Howard, Simon Fraser.
Louis Grante-Halliday racked up a well-rounded stat line last week to help the Vikings improve to 4-0 on the season (Photo: Ubayy Elnogoumi).