PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of men’s soccer standouts who each led their respective teams to an upset of No. 4 Point Loma and a perfect 4-0 start to their seasons headlined the latest list of Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week selections, announced on Tuesday.
MEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rafael Lucio – Seattle Pacific University
First-career player of the week.
Lucio led all GNAC players with three goals scored in last week’s matches, helping the Falcons extend their winning streak to four games to begin the 2026 season. Perhaps the biggest goal of his young career, the sophomore came through in the 84th minute against No. 4 Point Loma to break a scoreless deadlock and give the Falcons a 1-0 triumph. That came after he notched a brace in Thursday’s 3-2 win over Westmont, as he tucked home a penalty kick in the 17th minute and added what proved to be the game-winner in the 74th minute. Lucio has already equaled his freshman-season goal total of four, finding the net in three of the Falcons’ first four games of the campaign.
SPU Head Coach Kevin Sakuda: “I can’t speak highly enough of Rafa. He’s been battling an injury and to continue to show up and deliver those types of performances is a testament to his character. He is one of the best attacking players in this league and brings a level of creativity that you can’t teach. We trust him in big moments, and he made plays when it counted last weekend.”
Also Nominated: Tommy Carroll, Western Washington.
MEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sam Hough – Western Washington University
First-career player of the week.
Anchoring the Vikings’ back line to its second straight 2-0 weekend, Hough played all 180 minutes while helping his team concede just one goal. That came in WWU’s 2-1 upset of No. 4 Point Loma, before he went on to contribute another total-90 effort in Saturday’s 2-0 shutout of Westmont. Hough has played all but 10 minutes across WWU’s first four matches of the year.
WWU Head Coach Greg Brisbon: “Sam has had a great start to the season. He has a great presence in our defense, and his will to win and leadership are big parts to our team’s success.”
Also Nominated: Elijah Brockl, Northwest Nazarene; Willem Ficek, Seattle Pacific; Nick MacKinnon, Simon Fraser.
WOMEN’S SOCCER OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kassie Carpenter – Western Oregon University
First-career player of the week.
Carpenter delivered WOU’s biggest goal of the season thus far, turning in the game-winner in Friday’s 1-0 triumph over Chico State. With the game scoreless shortly after halftime, Carpenter found the back of the net in the 55th minute to giver her team its first victory of the season. Carpenter, a transfer from Cal State San Bernardino, earned her first start of her WOU career and found the goal with her lone shot on frame.
WOU Head Coach Nate Ulness: “Kassie was fantastic this past week for us in the midfield. She held things down and protected her defenders, won her battles and punched a game-winner to boot. She does the little things right and it’s those things you want from an older player showing the younger ones that grit and hard work will always triumph. We are proud of her and the work and leadership she is showing.”
Also Nominated: Shannah Mellick, Central Washington; Emmersyn Burckley, Montana State Billings; Andie Buckley, Seattle Pacific.
WOMEN’S SOCCER DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ayanah Soon – Western Oregon University
First-career player of the week.
While Carpenter came through with the offense, Soon was critical as the last line of defense in putting together the Wolves’ first win of 2026. She made five saves among the eight shots the Wildcats managed, which was good enough to come away with her first collegiate clean sheet. The sophomore has played every minute of the young season in net for the Wolves.
WOU Head Coach Nate Ulness: “What a start for her between the stakes in her first year. She has really grown into the role and has owned it, and she still wants to train more and keep getting better. She is calm, collected and confident, and she doesn’t get flustered. That’s exactly how a top goalkeeper should be. She earned every bit of that first shutout and has made some game-changing saves for us early in the season as this young team grows.”
Also Nominated: Danika Galbraith, Central Washington; Peyton Tarabokija, Montana State Billings; Landry Schoennauer, Seattle Pacific; Alyssa Clark, Simon Fraser; Ellie McGowan, Western Washington.
VOLLEYBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kyana Gabriel – University of Alaska Anchorage
First-career player of the week.
Gabriel dominated at the Denali State bank Ice Block Classic in Fairbanks, helping propel her team to a pair of victories. Gabriel ranked second among all GNAC players with 3.64 kills per set, third with an attack percentage of .420 and led all GNAC players with 0.82 service aces (nine total) among last week’s matches. In the tournament finale against No. 9 Fresno Pacific, the Tennessee Tech transfer delivered a season-high 23 kills and completed her second double-double of the year with 15 digs in a narrow five-set defeat. That came after she had six service aces to go along with eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage in a three-set win over Tiffin. Gabriel opened the tournament by hitting .692 with nine kills and no errors on 13 attempts in a sweep of Minnesota State.
UAA Head Coach Morgan Hooe: “Kyana was great at the Ice Block Challenge this weekend. She competed with confidence, made an impact in every game and showed why she was one of the top players in the tournament. She made big plays when her team needed them, battled at the net and continued to impact the game from start to finish.”
Also Nominated: Cori Leavitt, Alaska; Ellie Marble, Central Washington; Allie Dorman, Montana State Billings; Hailey Cheney, Northwest Nazarene; Emily Garten, Saint Martin’s; Megan Omlid, Seattle Pacific; Nina Kovacevic, Simon Fraser; Payton Davis, Western Oregon; Delaney Speer, Western Washington.
VOLLEYBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tessa Onaga – University of Alaska
Fourth-career player of the week, second this season.
Onaga earned her second weekly award of the 2026 season, coming through with the conference’s top performance by a libero thus far. In a five-set win over Minnesota State, Onaga posted 30 digs and completed her sixth-career double-double with 10 assists – both figures being season bests. Her 30 digs were the most by a GNAC player in a match this season, and it was the second-highest total of her career behind a 32-dig effort in 2024. With all 10 GNAC teams in action last week, Onaga’s average of 5.27 digs per set was more than a half-dig higher than the next-closest libero. Through the first three weeks of the season, Onaga ranks sixth in Division II volleyball with 5.79 digs per set.
Alaska Head Coach Brian Scott: “Tessa is so consistent at her position. Last weekend was no exception – she was great as usual leading our defense and serve-receive. I think she was especially good at giving out of system balls to our hitters whenever our setters defended. Her 10 assists against a very good Minnesota Mankato team was impressive.”
Also Nominated: Bella Burney, Alaska Anchorage; Kailey Willsey, Central Washington; Avarey Stuff, Montana State Billings; Kayci Spray, Northwest Nazarene; Tiffany Lam, Saint Martin’s; Christina Lopez, Seattle Pacific; Macyn Unger, Simon Fraser; Kate Klobas, Western Oregon.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Tabitha Williams – University of Alaska
First-career runner of the week.
Williams asserted herself as one of the conference’s top runners in the opening meet of the season, winning the Blue & Gold meet on her home course in Fairbanks. The senior completed the 6k course in 22:24.0 minutes, good enough for a 12-second margin of victory ahead of runner-up Natalie Allen of Alaska Anchorage. Williams has been a top-half finisher at both the GNAC and NCAA West Region Championships the last two years, twice earning all-region including a 6k personal best of 21:11.6 for 22nd place at last year’s regional championship in Monmouth, Ore.
Alaska Head Coach Conrad Haber: "It was a really impressive win by Tabby. For the past few years she's been able to lock in with her teammates and use them to help her gauge her effort when racing. Leading a race for the first time from start-to-finish is challenging, especially against talented competitors, so this past weekend represented a big step forward in Tabby's overall development as a runner."
Also Nominated: Natalie Allen, Alaska Anchorage; Maddy Harrison, Central Washington; Ally Coey, Montana State Billings; Hazel Kunkel, Northwest Nazarene; Kekaimalino, Halpern, Saint Martin’s.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Ben Browning – University of Alaska Anchorage
First-career runner of the week.
Browning topped a field of 19 runners at the Blue & Gold meet in Fairbanks, picking up a win in his 2026 season debut. He clocked an 8k time of 25:34.0 minutes, knocking off teammate Benjamin Peck – the runner-up – by 10 seconds. Browning narrowly missed all-conference last year, placing 13th at the GNAC Championships before taking 30th place at the NCAA West Region Championships.
UAA Head Coach Ryan McWilliams: “Ben had a great year last year and has made great progress as a runner. It is great to see him pick up where he left off. I am really excited to see what he and this group of guys can do as the season continues on.”
Also Nominated: Weston Breen, Central Washington; Logan Milek, Montana State Billings; Ian Stockett, Northwest Nazarene; Ryan Koenninger, Saint Martin’s.