PORTLAND, Ore. – Rachael Watkins claimed her second cross country race victory of the 2025 season, as the Simon Fraser senior headlined the latest batch of Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week award winners announced on Monday.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Rachael Watkins – Simon Fraser University
Second-career runner of the week, second this season.
Watkins topped a field of 96 competitors at Western Washington’s Bill Roe Classic on Saturday morning in Bellingham, Wash. Keeping pace with the lead group throughout the race, Watkins kicked things into a higher gear on the back half to streak past the competition. She finished with a time of 21:00.2 minutes on the 6k course, finishing 3.2 seconds ahead of teammate and runner-up
Raiya Makonovich. Watkins helped the Red Leafs to a runner-up team finish, as SFU totaled 53 points among the field of nine teams competing. Her other win this fall came at the Biola Invitational on Sept. 12, when she ran a 5k time of 17:46.6 minutes to best a field of 152 competitors. Watkins is a reigning All-American, after finishing 35th at the 2024 NCAA Championships, 10th at last year’s regional meet and seventh at last year’s GNAC Championships.
SFU Head Coach Brit Townsend: “Rachael continues on her quest to lead her team to the national championships. She ran a smart race and was patient on the first half before she passed the leader. Her time was about 15 seconds faster than last year on the same course, so I know that she is ready for her best year ever. Her journey continues in two weeks in Dallas, where they are expecting 42 teams on the start line. This will be the biggest race of the season so far for her.”
Also Nominated: Alexandra Otto, Alaska Anchorage; Lucca Duke, Alaska; Payton Conover, Central Washington; Hazel Kunkel, Northwest Nazarene; Kekaihulali Halpern, Saint Martin’s; Maya Ewing, Seattle Pacific; Kyla Potratz, Western Oregon; Ella Edens, Western Washington.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Brody Kemble – Northwest Nazarene University
Fourth-career runner of the week, third this season.
Kemble made it three wins in three races this fall, as he topped the field at the Mike Johnson Classic in Monmouth, Ore., on Saturday. He ran an 8k time of 23:40.3 minutes, narrowly holding off teammate
Grady Mylander who crossed the line in 23:40.6 minutes. That put Kemble’s name atop a field of 161 competitors, as he helped the Nighthawks to a team score of 40 points to finish second among 13 teams competing. After sweeping the top three individual spots, NNU finished only behind No. 7 Chico State which scored 34 points. Kemble has been on fire to start his senior campaign, also earning wins at the Dr. Thad Scholes XC Classic on Sept. 5 in Twin Falls, Idaho and at the NNU Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 19 in Nampa, Idaho.
NNU Head Coach Greg Mitchell: “We had conversations his freshman year about his goals and dreams, and that was back when we placed ninth in the conference. He bought into what we were trying to do, and has done everything I have ever asked. Brody has been consistent and healthy, and he is very confident in himself but also in what we are doing as a program. He recognizes that the end is in sight, and so the culmination of those goals and dreams is there for the taking. He is making the most of it.”
Also Nominated: Ty Elliott, Alaska Anchorage; Dexter Delaney, Alaska; Kellen McInelly, Central Washington; Matthew Resnik, Western Oregon; Sten Brakstad, Western Washington.
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Delaney Speer – Western Washington University
First-career player of the week.
Speer led the Vikings to a pair of victories on their home floor last week, pacing an offense that topped Montana State Billings 3-0 and beat Seattle Pacific 3-1. Speer led all GNAC players with 5.0 kills per set and a total of 35 kills in last week’s matches, while posting a hitting percentage of .382. Speer, who has reached double figures in kills in all but one match and 10 in a row this fall, kicked things off with 18 against just one error on a .531 attack percentage in the win over the Yellowjackets. It was her second-highest single-match total of the season. She followed that up with 17 kills in the victory over the Falcons. Speer completed double-doubles in both matches, with 11 digs against MSUB and 14 more against SPU. She has posted eight double-doubles this fall, with an average of 3.05 digs per set. Speer ranks third in the GNAC with 3.64 kills per set, and her attack percentage of .276 is 10th-best in the league this season.
WWU Head Coach Diane Flick-Williams: “Delaney had yet another great weekend in all facets of the game. She is such a competitor when it comes to improving her skillset and she stays the course working towards the next level.”
Also Nominated: Bella Burney, Alaska Anchorage; Cynphany Henderson, Alaska; Scottie Ellsworth, Central Washington; Addison Holcomb, Montana State Billings; Abby Black, Northwest Nazarene; Sophie Fast, Saint Martin’s; Eva Person, Simon Fraser.
VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Emily Vossenkuhl – Western Washington University
First-career player of the week.
Vossenkuhl was a force at the net in the Vikings’ two wins last week, leading all GNAC players with 2.0 blocks per set and 14 total across her seven sets played. The third-year starter for WWU had a season-high nine total blocks to propel her team in the win over the Falcons on Saturday. That performance came after a sturdy five total blocks in the three-set sweep of the Yellowjackets. In addition to her defensive presence, Vossenkuhl contributed 10 kills on a .250 attack percentage. The junior ranks seventh in the GNAC with 1.14 blocks per set, playing a major role in the Vikings’ current 10-match winning streak.
WWU Head Coach Diane Flick-Williams: “Voss’s instinct on the block is one of the best I have ever seen. She has such a nose for the ball and can fly to get there. While she made some big moves to get the stats in the box score, it really is the touches that don’t get the stats that are really impressive.”
Also Nominated: Madison Galloway, Alaska Anchorage; Tessa Onaga, Alaska; Kailey Willsey, Central Washington; Jordin Taulua, Montana State Billings; Kayci Spray, Northwest Nazarene.
WOMEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kiera Scott – Simon Fraser University
Second-career player of the week, second this season.
Last year’s GNAC Championships MVP was at it again last week, scoring the game-winning goal in each of Simon Fraser’s road victories. Scott helped her team open the conference schedule with six points, finding the net in a 1-0 win at Central Washington and again in a 2-1 triumph over Northwest Nazarene. Her finish against the Wildcats came in the 27th minute on Thursday and proved to be the game’s only goal in the narrow win. Scott then scored her team’s second goal in the 40th minute of Saturday’s win over the Nighthawks, proving to be a crucial finish as NNU got one goal back in the second half. Scott is now tied for the GNAC lead with six goals scored in her six games this season. She has scored the game-winning goal in four consecutive matches for the Red Leafs and upped her career count to 14 goals and 33 points across her three seasons at SFU.
SFU Head Coach Carlo Basso: “I am very delighted to see Kiera continue her fantastic run of form as we transition into conference play. She scored two important goals for us this week and has been a key part of our early season success.”
Also Nominated: Jaylee Reynolds, Central Washington; Liberty Palmer, Montana State Billings; Kaslee Roskelley, Northwest Nazarene; Ashlyn Valdovinos, Seattle Pacific; Kyra DiBenedetto, Western Oregon; Morgan Manalili, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Danika Galbraith – Central Washington University
First-career player of the week.
Galbraith made the most of her opportunity against reigning GNAC champion Western Washington on Saturday, keeping the Vikings out of the net to collect her second shutout of the season. The junior was instrumental in the scoreless draw, making a season-high nine saves to help the Wildcats earn their first point of the season within the GNAC standings. Facing a season-high 18 shots – half of which landed on frame – Galbraith passed every test that came her way. It was the fourth-career shutout for Galbraith, who ranked 10th in Division II soccer last fall with an average of 7.64 saves per game.
CWU Head Coach John Hawks: “Our goalkeeping trio has been a microcosm of our team and commitment to one of our team values of ‘team over me.’ Danika, Leighton (Menge) and Rhiannon (Teasley) have embodied this reality all season with a healthy competitive approach to GK 1 and doing what is best for the team. To see Danika perform in Saturday’s match is a testament to her humility and hard work as well as their collective approach as individuals, the goalkeeper position and the total team.”
Also Nominated: Kayden Harwood, Montana State Billings; Mercedes Cullen, Seattle Pacific; Abbey Simpson, Simon Fraser; Leah Heugly, Western Oregon; Emily Rice, Western Washington.
MEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Joar Tidblom – Western Washington University
First-career player of the week.
Tidblom posted the league’s second hat trick of 2025, taking matters into his own hands in the Vikings’ 3-0 win over Dallas Baptist on Saturday. The senior headed home his first finish of the night in just the ninth minute of play, getting on the end of a free-kick service from teammate Riley Buri-Brown. Doubling his tally in the 35th minute, Tidblom tucked a low free-kick strike around the wall and into the back of the net to put the Vikings ahead 2-0. He sealed the deal with six minutes left in the game, converting a penalty kick. It was the first-career hat trick for Tidblom, a defender who had four goals total in his first three collegiate seasons playing on the back line. In addition to his offensive contributions, Tidblom played a major part in the team’s first shutout of the year and in WWU earning its first two victories of the 2025 campaign.
WWU Head Coach Greg Brisbon: “Joar was very instrumental in helping us get the two wins last week. His play on both sides of the ball and his leadership are improving every day. It was great to see him get those three goals on Friday, as he is becoming more of an influence on the attacking part of the game for our team.”
Also Nominated: Derek Johnson, Northwest Nazarene; Daniel Rempel-White, Saint Martin’s; Kasey Toevs, Seattle Pacific; Michael Hennessy, Simon Fraser.
MEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Connor Leistiko – Saint Martin’s University
First-career player of the week.
Leistiko earned his first-career shutout on Thursday, keeping UT Tyler out of the net in the Saints’ 1-0 triumph. The key defensive effort helped SMU snap a 24-match losing skid as the Saints picked up their first win of the season. Leistiko totaled four saves among the 12 shots he faced in the match, playing all 90 minutes to earn his first win in a Saints uniform. None was more critical than his penalty-kick stop in the 70th minute, as he foiled the Eagles’ best chance to equalize. The junior has played every minute of the season thus far, and is averaging 3.63 saves per game.
SMU Head Coach Rob Walker: “Connor’s game versus UT Tyler on Thursday showed his toolbox: Solid shot stopping, handling of high balls and crosses and good attachment to the back-4 throughout the game. His penalty save was icing on the cake and gave us a great lift in a tight second half. Even though we’ve taken our lumps as a team this season so far, Connor’s overall competence has been solid and we’ve been able to count on him to make saves and decisions to keep the ball out of the net and help us maintain competitive margins. We are all confident in Connor and this award is a nice reward for his work last Thursday and throughout the season to date.”
Also Nominated: Brian Lanier, Seattle Pacific; Charlie Dyer, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S GOLF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lauren F. Lee – Western Washington University
Third-career player of the week, first this season.
Lee got her senior season started the right way, tying for second place at the Bob Grisham Memorial Shootout in DuPont, Wash., last week. Lee carded a 1-over par 145 (77-68) on the par-72, 5,810-yard layout at The Home Course. After a shaky start with six bogeys and one birdie in her opening round, Lee tore it up her second time through the course with five birdies and one bogey on her way to a 4-under-par 68. It was the lowest round of the tournament among a field of 68 players, and Lee matched her career-best score from a season ago. It also tied Cammie Decker of Concordia (Oct., 2019) and Megan Billeter of Western Washington (Sept., 2021) for the lowest round by a GNAC player during a fall tournament. Lee led the GNAC with a scoring average of 74.4 strokes per round last year and embarked on a remarkable postseason run that saw her tie for fourth place at the NCAA Championships. Her career scoring average of 75.83 strokes per round is third-best in GNAC history.
Also Nominated: Orraya Tipasathien, Montana State Billings; Ashley Bruland, Saint Martin’s; Anaya Bhandal, Simon Fraser.
MEN’S GOLF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Maxwell Corcoran – Simon Fraser University
First-career player of the week.
Corcoran tied for third among a field of 79 players at the Saint Martin’s-hosted Kevin Bishop Invitational last week in DuPont, Wash. The sophomore posted a three-round score of 8-under-par 208 (69-70-69), finishing just two strokes behind the tournament winner. Corcoran had nothing worse than a bogey on his scorecard, which he offset by making a dozen birdies and an eagle. Perhaps his most exciting moment of the week came in the final round on the par-5, 554-yard eighth hole, as he carded a three to remain in the mix for individual title contention. It marked the second-career top-five finish for the reigning GNAC Freshman of the Year, who ranked third on the team last year with a scoring average of 72.8 strokes per round
SFU Head Coach Krysta Schaus: “The Home Course was a great course for Max to showcase his strengths. Max’s shot shaping and creativity around the greens gave him many scoring opportunities. This is his second-best collegiate finish to date, as he builds momentum early in his second year.”
Also Nominated: Ryder Conner, Montana State Billings; Kasey Gaff, Northwest Nazarene; Rasmus Tamker, Saint Martin’s; Nick Ennis, Western Washington.