Four Hilltoppers earn weekly C-USA honors
Big Red pauses for a moment of silence before a WKU football game on Sept. 10, 2011, in Smith Stadium. Big Red has been WKU’s mascot since 1979 when it was created by Ralph Carey. “Big Red is seen as a part of the spirit of Western,” Carey said.
October 21, 2022
Hilltoppers across the world of sports took home four Conference USA Player of the Week honors this past week.
WKU Volleyball fifth-year senior Katie Isenbarger was voted C-USA Defensive Player Of The Week following Isenbarger’s 11 blocks between WKU’s matches against North Texas and UTEP.
The middle hitter averaged 1.4 blocks per set in this past week’s matches. She leads WKU’s volleyball team in total blocks with 84 this season.
This is Isenbarger’s second time being named defensive player of the week, with her first coming in the 2021 season.
Over on the football field, freshman punter Tom Ellard was named C-USA Special Teams player of the Week. The WKU punter is averaging 46.6 yards per attempt this season with his record-long punt of 64 yards coming in the team’s game against Middle Tennessee.
WKU Golf had a big week with two players earning C-USA Player Of The Week honors. The awards were announced as both the men’s and women’s teams were competing on the road.
Men’s golf sophomore Riley Grindstaff was given C-USA Golfer Of The Week after finishing third in the Pinetree Intercollegiate, helping to secure WKU’s spot in second place for the tournament. Grindstaff’s lowest round of the tournament was a two-under par score of 70. This was his best finish in a tournament this season.
Senior Sarah Arnold was awarded C-USA Player Of The Week on the women’s golf side. The news was announced as she moved into the third day of The Southern where she finished in fifth place. Her low rounds helped WKU grab their third top three finish of the season.
Sports reporter Molly St. Clair can be reached at [email protected].
