PORTLAND, Ore. – As fall sports reach the heart of the conference schedule, the latest Great Northwest Athletic Conference Players of the Week helped fuel their teams to important wins over league opponents.
WOMEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dariella Lopez – Simon Fraser University
First-career player of the week.
Lopez led all GNAC players last week with four goals scored, helping propel the Red Leafs to a pair of conference victories. Logging a brace in each contest, she started her big week with two goals in her team’s 5-0 blowout of Saint Martin’s on Thursday. She struck again on Saturday in a 3-0 triumph over Western Oregon, finding the back of the net two more times. Lopez played just 92 total minutes last week, averaging a goal every 23 minutes during her efficient time on the pitch. Lopez has scored six goals in her last four matches, propelling her conference-leading total to nine goals scored in 10 games played so far this season. The 2024 GNAC Freshman of the Year, Lopez now has 18-career goals in 33 matches – including 18 starts – during her tenure at SFU.
SFU Head Coach Carlo Basso: “I’m really proud of Dariella given everything she went through last year with her injury. Dariella was clinical with her finishing this week and provided important goals for the team. I am excited for both her and the group as we step into the second half of conference play.”
Also Nominated: Kylee Schreck, Central Washington; Natalie Carroll, Seattle Pacific; Chloe Van Wey, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alex Barrass – Northwest Nazarene University
First-career player of the week.
Barrass was instrumental in hoisting the Nighthawks up the GNAC standings with four points on the road last week. She picked up her third shutout in the last four matches on Saturday, making three crucial saves in her team’s narrow, 1-0 win at Montana State Billings. That came after she totaled five saves to help NNU salvage a 1-1 draw at Seattle Pacific last Thursday. The senior is averaging 3.8 saves per game this season and upped her career count to 159 saves and eight shutouts with her latest performances.
NNU Head Coach Jenny Jaggard: “Alex came out with some big saves last weekend. She has been owning her box and leading her back line with confidence. She is also a key player for us in building our offense. She has put together four excellent performances in the past two weeks.”
Also Nominated: Danika Galbraith, Central Washington; Tenley Leffler, Montana State Billings; Celia Ramos, Seattle Pacific; Abbey Simpson, Simon Fraser; Olivia Connell, Western Washington.
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jayden Armstrong – Simon Fraser University
First-career player of the week.
Armstrong’s attack was eponymous in a pair of Simon Fraser victories last week, as she smashed down 22 kills on a .288 attack percentage. The junior kicked things off with a season-high 13 kills in a sweep of Saint Martin’s on Thursday, and completed her first-career double-double adding 10 digs. She followed that with a clean stat line against Western Oregon, chipping in nine kills with no errors on 19 swings for a .474 attack percentage. It was the best hitting percentage by a GNAC player in a three-set match so far this season, and she just missed a second double-double finishing with nine digs.
SFU Head Coach Gina Schmidt: “It has been great having Jayden back on the court with us. I know it was very difficult for her to be sidelined for the first part of the season, so it was great to see her perform at such a high level last weekend. She demonstrated the ability to score in a variety of ways across the two matches and was a consistent presence in the back court as well.”
Also Nominated: Hannah Trotter, Alaska Anchorage; Cori Leavitt, Alaska; Kailey Willsey, Central Washington; Allie Dorman, Montana State Billings; Abby Black, Northwest Nazarene; Sophie Fast, Saint Martin’s; Maiya Lester, Seattle Pacific; Delaney Speer, Western Washington.
VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hanna Ligons – Saint Martin’s University
Second-career player of the week, first this season.
Ligons led all GNAC players in last week’s matches in total blocks with 16 and blocks per set with 2.29. In the Saints’ four-set win over Western Washington on Saturday, the sophomore tied her career high with 11 total blocks, marking the third double-digit blocking performance since debuting last fall. Ligons also had five total blocks in SMU’s defeat against Simon Fraser last Thursday. Ligons now ranks fourth in the conference in 2026 with 1.15 blocks per set and she has racked up 197.0 total blocks through the first 41 matches of her collegiate career.
SMU Head Coach Haley Domeck: “Hanna was instrumental in our team’s success last weekend. She continues to contribute on both offense and defense in meaningful ways. Her blocking has continued to be a key contributing factor to success for our team. Hanna is always hungry to continue to grow and this honor is a testament to her hard work. The positive energy that Hanna brings to the court is something her teammates rely on throughout matches.”
Also Nominated: Martina Riba, Alaska Anchorage; Cynphany Henderson, Alaska; Hayli Tri, Central Washington; Avarey Stuff, Montana State Billings; Hailey Cheney, Northwest Nazarene; Christina Lopez, Seattle Pacific; Macyn Unger, Simon Fraser; Finnley Claeys, Western Washington.
MEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brady Reed – Seattle Pacific University
First-career player of the week.
Reed played the role of facilitator in the Falcons’ noteworthy 4-1 triumph over Western Washington on Saturday, delivering the first points of his collegiate career. With SPU leading 1-0 in the 36th minute, Reed fed a pass to
Marcos Bravo who doubled the Falcons’ advantage with a goal. Reed then provided the helper on
Cooper Schneider’s 76th-minute finish, which sealed a win in which four different SPU players scored. Earning his first GNAC appearance of the campaign, Reed made a massive impact in just 25 minutes on the pitch. The sophomore defender has now played in nine total matches since debuting in the fall of 2025.
SPU Head Coach Kevin Sakuda: “Brady was fantastic on Saturday. He’s a special talent with the ball and he showed that quality in setting up the two goals. We talk a lot about being ready when your opportunity comes, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way he stepped up and made an impact on the game.”
Also Nominated: Daniel Jackson, Simon Fraser; Erick Chavez, Western Oregon.
MEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Pablo Perera – Simon Fraser University
First-career player of the week.
Perera helped the Red Leafs climb to the top of the GNAC men’s soccer standings with four points in last week’s matches. The sophomore defender played all 180 minutes on the back line, helping SFU draw Seattle Pacific 1-1 on Thursday before a 2-0 clean sheet victory over No. 19 Northwest Nazarene on Saturday. Perera also supplied his first-career assist in the win over the Nighthawks, delivering a pass to Arin Garza on what proved to be the game-winning goal. A two-year starter for SFU, Perera now has 27 caps with the Red Leafs since his debut in 2025.
SFU Head Coach Kevin Harmse: "Pablo was excellent for us last week. He was a big part of keeping two clean sheets and showed solid composure over 180 minutes. He also contributed at the other end with an assist, so it was a complete week from him."
Also Nominated: Isaac Ketcham, Seattle Pacific; Eli White, Western Oregon.
MEN’S GOLF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nathan Widjaya – Simon Fraser University
First-career player of the week.
Widjaya was the GNAC’s top performer at last week’s Western Washington Invitational, finishing second among a field of 84 competitors. The freshman notched back-to-back rounds of 4-under-par 68, finishing with a two-round score of 8-under-par 136. That was two strokes behind medalist Bradley Mulder of Colorado Christian, with the third and final scheduled round canceled due to inclement weather. Mistakes were few and far between for Widjaya, who offset two bogeys and one double-bogey with a dozen birdies throughout the 36-hole event. After carding a 2-under-par 70 in the second round of the Kevin Bishop Invitational on Sept. 26, Widjaya has now eclipsed par in three of the first four rounds of his collegiate career.
Head Coach Trevor Van Hoof: "Nathan hit the ground running with an impressive performance in just his second event as a university student-athlete. His preparation, emotional resilience and steadfast commitment to his gameplan were evident throughout the tournament. Nathan's composure and discipline resulted in an outstanding finish. He may be early in his university career, but he competed with the poise and maturity of a seasoned player."
Also Nominated: Aubrey Kelley, Montana State Billings; Kasey Gaff, Northwest Nazarene; Jacob Parker, Saint Martin’s; Daniel Blankenburg, Western Washington.