PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of first-place finishes by Great Northwest Athletic Conference golfers headlined the latest batch of GNAC Players of the Week, announced on Monday.
Montana State Billings’
Orraya Tipasathien collected her seventh-career tournament victory, the most of any women’s player in conference history, after winning the Yellowjacket-hosted Briarwood Shootout on Tuesday in Billings, Mont. Western Washington’s
Conrad Brown earned medalist honors at the Cal State Monterey Bay Otter Invitational last week, helping the Vikings also capture the team tournament title.
MEN’S GOLF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Conrad Brown – Western Washington University
Third-career player of the week, first this season.
Brown emerged with a win among a field of 95 players at the CSU Monterey Bay Otter Invitational, posting a three-round score of 2-under-par 214 (72-73-69). Brown had nothing worse than a bogey on his scorecard at the tournament, and notched 11 birdies including five in his final round. The junior’s big effort moved his name to the top of the GNAC scoring average leaderboard, as he sits at 70.3 strokes per round across his first 12 rounds of the 2025-26 campaign.
WWU Head Coach Luke Bennett: “He is an exceptional ball striker, and you don’t see many weaknesses in Conrad’s game. He is doing a better job of staying patient, compared to his younger years, and understanding the quality and value of a par. On a course like this, pars are going to do wonders. His experience and staying patient throughout the round helped him be a contender.”
Also Nominated: Kaopun Akmaneenin, Montana State Billings; Jack Duffy, Northwest Nazarene; Justin Bjornson, Simon Fraser.
WOMEN’S GOLF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Orraya Tipasathien – Montana State University Billings
Fourth-career player of the week, second this season.
Tipasathien topped a field of 33 players at the Briarwood Shootout, carding a two-round score of 3-over-par 147 (75-72) on the par-72, 5,967-yard course. Her even-par 72 in the final round was the top individual score of the tournament, and she won the event by six strokes ahead of teammate and runner-up Ella Tannenberger. Tipasathien lowered her season scoring average to 73.6 strokes per round, moving her to the top spot in the conference.
MSUB Head Coach Adam Buie: “Jan played superbly in some tough conditions at the Briarwood Shootout. A rain system came through bringing cold temperatures, and we even had a little snow Monday morning. She shot 75-72 to run away with the event and pick up her second win of the year. Jan has taken a step forward this year with her short game and is playing great.”
Also Nominated: Lynea Kelsey, Northwest Nazarene; Lauren F. Lee, Western Washington.
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mikala Henderson – University of Alaska
First-career player of the week.
Henderson propelled the Nanooks to a pair of victories last week with a dominant performance on the attack. The senior led all GNAC players last week with 4.43 kills per set while posting a hitting percentage of .339. In the Nanooks’ sweep of Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Henderson posted her second-highest kill total of the season with 18 while adding nine digs defensively. She followed that with a 13-kill, 13-dig double-double in her team’s four-set victory over Central Washington on Saturday. Henderson has reached double figures in kills in five consecutive matches, upping her mark to 2.64 kills per set this season.
UAF Head Coach Brian Scott: “What an amazing athlete. Mikala has the ability to create momentum swings and completely take over a match. She is an extremely smart player who knows how to score points with lots of different shots. Mikala is extremely good at taking and giving feedback to improve her game and the play of others around her.”
Also Nominated: Lee Ivakina, Alaska Anchorage; Ellie Marble, Central Washington; Addie Holcomb, Montana State Billings; Emmy Hansen, Saint Martin’s; Megan Omlid, Seattle Pacific; Megan Hawkins, Simon Fraser; Maela Honma, Western Oregon; Delaney Speer, Western Washington.
VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kailey Willsey – Central Washington University
First-career player of the week.
Willsey was the conference’s top blocker last week, leading all GNAC players with 2.12 blocks per set – 17 total in her team’s two matches. That total included a season-high 12 blocks in CWU’s four-set affair against Alaska on Saturday, marking the second-highest single-match total by a GNAC player in 2025. The freshman also had five important blocks to help lead her team to a four-set win over Alaska Anchorage on Thursday. In addition to her defensive dominance, Willsey contributed seven kills in each match. In her first collegiate season, Willsey ranks third in the GNAC with 1.26 blocks per set.
CWU Head Coach Mario Andaya: “Kailey is such a competitor and is a big presence for us at the net. Kailey is learning the art of blocking and the importance of details that it takes to succeed. The GNAC has so many puzzles to solve each week and the amount of time she studies and dives into the opponent indicates she is very mature for her age. It is great to see her preparation pay off with awesome results.”
Also Nominated: Madison Galloway, Alaska Anchorage; Tessa Onaga, Alaska; Allie Dorman, Montana State Billings; Zoey Crimin, Saint Martin’s; Christina Lopez, Seattle Pacific; Nina Kovacevic, Simon Fraser; Chloe Asciutto, Western Oregon; Devyn Oestreich, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Claire Potter – Western Washington University
Second-career player of the week, first this season.
Potter was at her best in the biggest match of the GNAC season thus far, scoring a goal and adding an assist in the Vikings’ 3-2 triumph over No. 19 Simon Fraser on the road Saturday. The senior midfielder helped get her team on the board just five minutes into play, delivering the assist on Morgan Manalili’s opening goal. Potter then found the net in the 25th minute, doubling WWU’s lead with her fifth goal of the year and 14th of her career. The three-point effort came after she scored the game-winning goal in Thursday’s 3-1 triumph over Northwest Nazarene on Thursday. Potter has started all 13 matches this season, helping the Vikings go unbeaten in their last 10 matches and climb to the top of the GNAC standings with 22 points through eight matches.
WWU Head Coach Travis Connell: “Claire is one of the engines of our team. She is relentless in her pursuit of plays that can tip a game into our favor. Her three goal contributions last weekend were a prime example of this.”
Also Nominated: Casey Park, Central Washington; Liberty Palmer, Montana State Billings; Attie Jo Westbrook, Northwest Nazarene; Briana-Jean Tanaka, Saint Martin’s; Kayla Wallace, Seattle Pacific; Kaitlin Taylor, Western Oregon.
WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bella Lopez – Western Oregon University
Second-career player of the week, second this season.
Lopez played a crucial role in the Wolves earning four points on the road last week, as she commanded a defense that surrendered just one goal in two matches. Facing a season-high 15 shots against Seattle Pacific on Thursday, Lopez came through with a season-high six saves to help her team to a hard-fought 1-1 draw. The lone goal she conceded was on a penalty kick. She followed that with three more saves on Saturday in a 3-0 win over Saint Martin’s, completing her sixth shutout of the year. Lopez leads the GNAC in goals-against average (.366) and save percentage (.895) and her shutout total is second-highest in the conference.
WOU Head Coach Kacey Bingham: “Bella has continued to be someone we can depend on for our defense. She had a great week last week. She is someone who takes her role seriously and pushes those around her as well.”
Also Nominated: Leighton Menge, Central Washington; Natalie Weinmaster, Montana State Billings; Emily Morandi, Seattle Pacific; Emily Rice, Western Washington.
MEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brady Fendrich – Seattle Pacific University
First-career player of the week.
Fendrich had the signature offensive performance of his collegiate career, netting his first-ever hat trick in the Falcons’ 8-1 triumph over Saint Martin’s on Saturday. In a match that was scoreless until the 52nd minute, Fendrich helped put the finishing touches on what turned into a runaway victory. After providing an assist to Orlando Erazo in the 72nd minute, Fendrich notched his first goal of the afternoon in the 78th minute to make the score 5-1. He followed with two goals in the span of one minute towards the end of the match, completing the seven-point performance on the day. The outburst upped Fendrich’s season count to four goals and his career count to nine goals and four assists across four seasons.
SPU Head Coach Kevin Sakuda: “Brady was outstanding on Saturday. When we were struggling to break that game open, he came in and made an immediate impact. His quality service in wide areas set his teammate up for a goal. He single-handedly scored another one with his running and pressing, and then he showed great composure in front of goal for another two. It was a fantastic performance and a well-deserved honor.”
Also Nominated: Baraka Dayi, Northwest Nazarene; Joar Tidblom, Western Washington.
MEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ousman Garba – Northwest Nazarene University
First-career player of the week.
Garba was a fixture on a Nighthawk back line that did not concede a goal in its two matches last week. The junior played all but six minutes in NNU’s 3-0 blanking of Saint Martin’s on Thursday, helping his unit limit the Saints to just four total shots and two on frame. On Saturday he played the full 90 minutes in a scoreless draw against reigning champion Western Oregon, helping his team total four hard fought points on the road. In his third full season with the Nighthawks, Garba has started 26 matches and played in 44 since 2023, including nine starts and 12 games played this fall.
NNU Head Coach James Williamson: “Ousman’s performance over the weekend was big time for us to keep clean sheets on the road. He consistently disrupted plays and won his tackles and duels in critical moments. He has developed into a big defensive leader for us and I am excited to see him continue to grow.”
Also Nominated: Isaac Ketcham, Seattle Pacific; Austin Valdez, Western Oregon; Jack Haegele, Western Washington.