PORTLAND, Ore. – Tone-setters
Liam Herrera of the Northwest Nazarene baseball team and
Hailey Rath of the Western Washington softball team headlined the latest group of Great Northwest Athletic Conference Players of the Week with standout performances.
Posting near-identical stat lines, that duo combined to reach base in 26 of 33 plate appearances for their respective teams.
BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Liam Herrera – Northwest Nazarene University
First-career player of the week.
Herrera was a near-impossible out in the Nighthawks’ series at Central Washington, reaching base in all but three plate appearances across his four games played. He posted a slash line of .786/.813/1.000, going 11-for-14 at the plate and driving in five runs. Three of Herrera’s knocks were doubles, and he also scored six times throughout the series. The junior capped his huge week by going 5-for-5 with two doubles in the series finale, tying for the most hits in a single game by any GNAC player this season. He boosted his season on-base percentage to .515 which leads the GNAC, and he now ranks fourth in the conference in hitting with a .388 batting average.
NNU Head Coach Joe Schaefer: “Liam had an excellent weekend. He had big hits in every game for us and drove in some pivotal runs. He has been getting better every week and is turning into one of the better hitters in the league.”
Also Nominated: Andre Garza, Central Washington; Alex Harden, Western Oregon.
SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hailey Rath – Western Washington University
Fourth-career player of the week, second this season.
Rath sparked the Vikings to a four-game sweep of Central Washington, reaching base in 13 of 17 plate appearances. The senior shortstop posted a slash line of .429/.765/.857 in the series, with all three of her hits going for doubles. Rath drew seven total walks including at least one in each game and was also hit by a pitch three times. She stole a pair of bases to up her perfect line to 9-for-9 on the base paths this season. Rath also scored four runs and drove in a pair, while playing error-free defense in nine chances up the middle. The 2024 GNAC Player of the Year ranks second in the conference this season with an on-base percentage of .555, her .407 batting average is eighth in the GNAC and she leads the league with 10 homers and 38 RBIs.
WWU Head Coach Sheryl Gilmore: “Hailey continues to be a catalyst in our lineup and on our team Seven walks and three hit by pitches in one series shows that she’s not someone Central wanted to pitch to. When she did get a chance to swing, she capitalized with two run-scoring doubles including the run-rule walk-off in Game 4. Hailey will do whatever it takes for the team to win, whether it’s walking and getting hit by pitches and then being a menace on the bases, or getting the big hits with runners on. She finds a way to contribute and it’s all a product of her incredible work ethic. She is a phenomenal leader and a gritty competitor. I can’t wait to watch her continue to make her mark in the GNAC.”
Also Nominated: Kayla Brusseau, Central Washington; Danica Butler, Montana State Billings; Kaylee Walker, Saint Martin’s; Ella Booth, Simon Fraser.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Ayden Holker – Western Oregon University
Second-career pitcher of the week, second this season.
Holker had perhaps his best outing of the 2026 season in last week’s series opener against Saint Martin’s. The right-hander had a season-high eight strikeouts in a season-high seven innings, while allowing just six baserunners and limiting the Saints to a single, unearned run. Holker’s 105-pitch effort set the tone in what turned into a series sweep for the Wolves, as he earned his third victory of the season. It was Holker’s fourth quality start, his third in a row, and his second time this season allowing no earned runs in a start.
WOU Head Coach Kellen Walker: “Ayden got us off to a good start in the series. He had pretty good command during his outing and gave us seven quality innings.”
Also Nominated: Austin Cupic, Central Washington; Cobrin Talley, Northwest Nazarene.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Monica Bourque – Simon Fraser University
Third-career pitcher of the week, first this season.
Bourque was at her best when the Red Leafs needed it most, as she delivered a shutout in a series split against Northwest Nazarene. Bourque struck out five while allowing just six baserunners across the seven-inning effort on Saturday, silencing the Nighthawks in a 4-0 triumph for her sixth win of the year. That came after she delivered a stellar six innings in the series opener, allowing zero earned runs and six baserunners across six frames. Overall in 16 innings pitched last week, Bourque allowed a single earned run for an ERA of 0.44, while posting a WHIP of 0.94 and striking out 12 hitters. The junior now ranks seventh in the GNAC with a season ERA of 2.94 and she is third in the league with 83 strikeouts this spring.
SFU Head Coach Stacy Fournier: “I am so happy for Monica and proud of the work she consistently puts in to be able to compete week in and week out. When she pitches with confidence and gets big outs, our defense feeds off of that and we’re a tough team to beat. I feel like a broken record saying it, but she truly gives us a chance to win every time she’s in the circle and she did just that all weekend for us.”
Also Nominated: Alex Flohr, Central Washington; Riley McGee, Northwest Nazarene; Kayla Vaughan, Saint Martin’s; Alanna Wirtala, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Bec Bennett – Western Washington University
Fifth-career track athlete of the week, first this season.
Bennett ran the fastest 400 meters time in Division II so far in 2026, clocking in at 53.78 seconds at the NC State-hosted Raleigh Relays last week. Among a total of 129 competitors in the event, Bennett placed fifth with only runners from NCAA Division I South Carolina and Duke finishing ahead of her. Bennett is fresh off her second-straight All-America performance in the indoor 400 meters, and she is the reigning GNAC champion in the outdoor 400 meters as well. Bennett’s mark should hold up to earn her second straight trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where she finished 11th in the preliminary round last year. She is the GNAC record holder in the event, running a personal-best 53.11 seconds during the 2025 outdoor season.
WWU Head Coach Ben Stensland: “It was great to see Bec take advantage of an excellent competition opportunity at the Raleigh Relays. She posted a great opening time and I think she’s ready to build on it in her next race.”
Also Nominated: Avrey Campbell, Alaska Anchorage; Bella Klein, Montana State Billings; Hazel Kunkel, Northwest Nazarene; Jada Sarrys, Seattle Pacific; Veronica Dee, Simon Fraser; Jazmine Dotson, Western Oregon.
WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Kathryn Chapin – Western Washington University
Second-career field athlete of the week, second this season.
Chapin posted a pair of GNAC-leading throws last week at the UBC Open in Canada. She beat a field of 13 competitors in the shot put with a throw of 46-8.75 feet (14.24 meters), which stands as No. 14 on the NCAA Division II national performance list. She then won the hammer throw at 173-4 feet (52.84 meters) to put her name at the top of the conference performance list in both events. Chapin earned the gold medal in the shot put at the GNAC Indoor Championships and was the runner-up in the weight throw this winter.
WWU Head Coach Ben Stensland: “Kathryn is off to a great start this outdoor season. She has been working really hard and things have been coming together for her in training. We are all looking forward to her continuing to improve this spring.”
Also Nominated: Mya Campbell, Alaska Anchorage; Hannah Cooper, Montana State Billings; Madeline Gebers, Northwest Nazarene; Lysandra Plant, Seattle Pacific; Maddy Paugh, Simon Fraser.
MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jake Hall – Simon Fraser University
Second-career track athlete of the week, first this season.
Hall had a productive week at the UBC Open, posting a trio of strong performances in the sprints. He ran the GNAC’s second-fastest 200-meters time this outdoor season at 21.44 seconds, finishing second among a field of 31 runners. In the 100-meters, Hall clocked in at 10.69 seconds to top a field of 47 sprinters and log the third-best time in the conference in 2026. Hall also helped the Red Leafs’ 4x100-meter relay squad to a winning time of 40.99 seconds at the meet. Hall picked up silver medals in both the 100-meters and 200-meters at last year’s GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
SFU Head Coach Brit Townsend: “Jacob continues to impress us, improving every week. He is knocking on the door of making his first NCAA national championship team. He is such a great leader in the sprint group and is incredibly focused on his development. We are excited for what this outdoor season will bring to him.”
Also Nominated: Lennon Davis, Montana State Billings; Luke Stockett, Northwest Nazarene; Avery Erickson, Seattle Pacific; Nathan Reseigh, Western Washington.
MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Tawaf Aboudou – Seattle Pacific University
First-career field athlete of the week.
The Falcon freshman posted his best long jump of his debut outdoor season, clearing 22-11.75 feet (7.00 meters) at the Peyton-Shotwell Invitational on Saturday. That stands as the second-best long jump by a GNAC competitor so far this season. Emerging at the top among a field of 31 competitors, Aboudou picked up his second collegiate long jump victory. The freshman was the GNAC Indoor Championships high point award winner, winning the long jump, taking second in the triple jump and placing fourth in both the 60-meters and on Seattle Pacific’s 4x400-meter relay squad.
SPU Head Coach Karl Lerum: “Tawaf is having a great season, putting up exciting marks in both the sprints and the jumps. Tawaf’s best jump on Saturday came 10 minutes after he ran a new personal best in the 200-meters, so I believe that points toward even better results as he enters the middle of his outdoor season.”
Also Nominated: Tyler Drake, Alaska Anchorage; Goodness Okere, Montana State Billings; Gerohm Rihari, Northwest Nazarene; Zander Peck, Saint Martin’s; Thomas MacDonnell, Simon Fraser; Calvin Gutierrez, Western Washington.
WOMEN’S GOLF PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lauren F. Lee – Western Washington University
Sixth-career player of the week, fourth this season.
Lee continued her remarkable spring season last week, tying for second place at The Big Freeze in Richmond, Calif. Lee notched a two-round total of even-par 144 (70-74) on the par-72, 5,830-yard course to finish tied as the runner-up among a field of 56 players. Lee opened the tournament on fire on the back-nine, making an eagle on the par-5, 400-yard 15th hole, a birdie on the par-5, 496-yard 18th hole and adding seven pars for a 3-under-par 34. She made just one bogey to go along with eight pars on the front-nine to finish with a 2-under-par 70. On day two Lee carded another eagle – this time on the 18th hole – while adding in three more birdies on her way to a 2-over-par 74. Lee lowered her season scoring average to 73.5 strokes per round, which is an entire stroke lower than the next-closest GNAC player. She was ranked No. 26 nationally and eighth in the NCAA Divisino II West Region in the latest Clippd Scoreboard listing.
Also Nominated: Kyleigh McGowan, Montana State Billings; Lynea Kelsey, Northwest Nazarene; Kelsie Inouye, Saint Martin’s; Sara Rhodes, Seattle Pacific; Meera Minhas, Simon Fraser.
WOMEN’S ROWING CREW OF THE WEEK
University of Central Oklahoma Varsity 8+
Coxswain: Paige Ranney | Stroke: Eva-Louisa Eschbach
7: Rachel Harris 6: Jamie Cullen 5: Sawyer Schreiner 4: Carlota Martinez 3: Grace McConville 2: Adriana Hogan Bow: Tierney Westermier
Central Oklahoma had an impressive showing in last week’s race at the Central Boathouse. The Bronchos’ varsity 8+ boat clocked a time of 7:14.00 minutes in the opening race of the day, cruising to a 13-second victory margin ahead of Milwaukee School of Engineering. UCO’s top boat secured a sweep of the varsity 8+ races with a time of 7:26.00 minutes in the second race of the day.
UCO Head Coach Luke Reynolds: “We were really encouraged by the way the varsity eight competed last weekend. The group showed strong rhythm and composure, and we’re starting to see the connection we’ve been working toward translate into speed. There’s still another level for us, but this was an important step forward."
Also Nominated: Cal Poly Humboldt Varsity 4+.