WVU Cross County and Men’s Soccer Teams Pick Up Student-Athlete of the Week Honors

WVU Cross County and Men’s Soccer Teams Pick Up Student-Athlete of the Week Honors

November 18, 2024 02:47 PM | General, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming & Diving, Rifle, Women's Basketball, Cross Country, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming & Diving, Volleyball, Wrestling

VSR November 18, 2024

By: Elizabeth Stash

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University cross country and the men's soccer team student athletes have been named the WVU Student-Athletes of the Week, presented by University Apartments.

The West Virginia University cross country team was crowned the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Champions after collecting a regional race program best score of 41 points on Nov. 15 at the Blue and White Courses in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Friday's regional win marked the programs first since 2008, as senior Ceili McCabe led the Mountaineers to victory. McCabe earned her third regional championship crown after boasting a course record time of 19:11.2. Additionally, all of West Virginia's top five runners finished in the top 25, earning them All Mid-Atlantic Regional honors.

West Virginia heads to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23 after clinching the automatic berth at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. Wisconsin will serve as this year's championship host as the race is set to be held at the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisconsin. The women's 6k is slated for 10:20 a.m. ET, followed by the men's 10k at 11:10 a.m.

The No. 10 West Virginia University men's soccer team claimed the Sun Belt Championship title on Nov. 17 after defeating No. 8 Marshall in penalty kicks. After playing to a 0-0 draw, the Mountaineers converted all six of their penalties while redshirt-senior goalkeeper Marc Bonnaire made the final save to clinch the second trophy for WVU this season.

The conference tournament win marks the first for the Mountaineers after winning the regular season on Nov. 5. The regular season and conference tournament win marks the first time WVU has won both titles in a season in program history. Graduate student Sergio Ors Navarro was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the Championship while senior Carlos Hernando, senior Otto Ollikainen, and junior Felix Ewald joined him on the All-Tournament Team.

The Mountaineers will now host North Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 21 at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium in Morgantown. The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m.

This Week in Men's Soccer: West Virginia will play in the NCAA Tournament First Round against North Florida, Thursday, Nov. 21 ... kickoff from Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is set for 7 p.m.

Last Week in Men's Soccer: The Mountaineers won the Sun Belt Championship title with a penalty shootout victory over No. 8 Marshall ... West Virginia and Marshall played to a 0-0 draw and in penalty kicks, the Mountaineers came away victorious, 6-5 ... WVU made all six of their attempts while redshirt senior goalkeeper Marc Bonnaire made the clinching save in the sixth round ... the Mountaineers reached the Sun Belt final by defeating Kentucky, 2-1, in the semifinal round ... graduate student Sergio Ors Navarro and senior Carlos Hernando each scored in the victory over the Wildcats.

Notes: It is the first Sun Belt Tournament title for the Mountaineers ... it is the first time that WVU has ever won the regular season and tournament titles in the same season as part of any conference in program history ... Ors Navarro was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the Championship while Hernando, senior Otto Ollikainen, and junior Felix Ewald earned spots on the All-Tournament Team ... junior Marcus Caldeira earned the Sun Belt Elite Award, given to the player with the highest GPA in the championship game ... it will be the 17th NCAA Tournament appearance for the Mountaineers and fifth in the last seven seasons.

This Week in Women's Soccer: West Virginia has concluded the 2024 season.

Last Week in Women's Soccer: WVU played to a 1-1 draw with No. 5-seed Kentucky in double overtime in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament ... after a penalty shootout to decide the advancing team, the Wildcats advanced to Second Round by a 4-2 count inside the Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 15 ... both teams found the back of the net in the second half, but after two overtime periods, the score remained knotted at 1-1 and went to the penalty shootout ... sophomore defender Olivia Shertzer scored the lone goal for WVU in the 52nd minute ... the final box score showed a 20-18 Kentucky advantage in shots, but the Mountaineers held an 8-4 lead in shots on goal.

Notes: With the draw, WVU moved to 23-20-6 all-time in the NCAA Tournament ... the Mountaineers are now 3-4 in penalty shootouts in NCAA Tournament play ... WVU made its 23rd appearance in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament, concluding the year with a 12-5-3 overall record, as well as an 8-2-1 record in Big 12 Conference play ... the Mountaineers' 12 wins this season marked their most 2019, while the eight conference wins are the most since 2016 ... WVU earned its first at-large bid since 2020 ...coach Nikki Izzo-Brown and the Mountaineers earned the program's 400th win on Oct. 13, as the Mountaineers' all-time record now stands at 402-143-76 ... junior forwards Ajanae Respass and Taylor White led West Virginia with seven goals each this season, while Respass holds the team lead with 19 points ... fifth-year senior Lilly McCarthy paced WVU with five assists.

This Week in Volleyball: West Virginia will travel to the state of Utah for a pair of matches against No. 20 Utah and No. 24 BYU. The Mountaineers will first face off against the Utes on Nov. 21 at 9 p.m. ET, inside of the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. WVU will then take on BYU on Nov. 23 at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo, Utah at 3 p.m.

Last Week in Volleyball: The Mountaineers were swept in back-to-back matches by No. 9 Arizona State and Arizona on Nov. 14 and Nov. 17, inside of the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, respectively.

Notes: WVU ranks No. 5 in the Big 12 after collecting 153 service aces in 99 sets, averaging 1.55 aces per set … redshirt junior outside hitter Cassidy Tanton ranks No. 8 in the league with her 34 services aces this season, she averages 0.37 aces per set … graduate student libero Sydney Reed comes in at No. 10 in the Big 12 with her 352 digs in 99 sets, averaging 3.56 digs per set on the year.

This Week in Cross Country: West Virginia will head to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23 after earning an automatic berth at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships on Nov. 15 … Saturday's race is slated for 10:20 a.m. ET, at the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisconsin … the race will be able to be viewed live on ESPNU.

Last Week in Cross Country: The Mountaineers claimed the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship title on Nov. 15 at the Blue and White Courses in University Park, Pennsylvania … the team earned first place after collecting a program record 41 points at a regional meet, the win marks the first since 2008 for West Virginia … the Mountaineers had all top-five runners earn All-Mid Atlantic Region honors after senior Ceili McCabe claimed first place with a course record time of 19:11.2 … freshman Joy Naukot finished next for the Mountaineers in sixth place with a time of 19:49.4 … redshirt senior Sarah Tait landed in ninth place with a personal best time of 19:58.9 … redshirt junior earned a personal best as well, claiming 10^th place with a time of 20:05.6 … graduate student Madison Trippett rounded out West Virginia's top-5 in 13^th place and a time of 20:13.2.

Notes: WVU was tabbed at No. 5 in Week 5 of the NCAA DI Women's Cross Country National Coaches' Poll on Nov. 5 … the Mountaineers sit behind No. 1 BYU, No. 2 Oregon, No. 3 Washington and No. Northern Arizona … Week 6 of the coaches' poll will be released on Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. ET.

This Week in Swimming and Diving: West Virginia hosts the WVU Invitational at The Peak Health Aquatic Center at Mylan Park in Morgantown from November 20-22 ... Old Dominion, Navy, Villanova and William & Mary will also compete in the invite against the Mountaineers ... this is West Virginia's first meet since it lost to Kentucky on October 25 in Lexington.

Last Week in Swimming and Diving: West Virginia was off.

This Week in Rifle: The Mountaineers do not compete … West Virginia returns to the line on Saturday, Jan. 18, when they welcome Navy to the WVU Rifle Range.

Last Week in Rifle: West Virginia competed against No. 3 TCU where the Mountaineers turned in a 4731-4725 victory over the defending NCAA National Champions … TCU led at the halfway point, after claiming smallbore by one point at 2348-2347 … West Virginia won the match in air rifle, scoring seven more points than the Horned Frogs to a 2383-2376 margin … Sophomore Griffin Lake had a career day, finishing with career marks in air rifle and aggregate score and added a season high in smallbore … His 592 in smallbore led the Mountaineers and was good for second overall behind only TCU's Katie Zaun who finished with a 594 … He scored 1190 to finish in second place overall after adding the second-best mark of the day in air rifle with a 598 … Freshman Ashlyn Blake posted the top air rifle score with a 599.

Notes: The Mountaineers have won 21 straight regular season matches … Jon Hammond collected his 200th career win against No. 5 Georgia Southern … the Mountaineers' 4738.2 aggregate score is second best in the nation … The 2354 mark in smallbore is the best while the 2384.2 sits second … Griffin Lake is averaging a team-leading 1185.8 aggregate average which is the sixth best in the country … Lake's 590.1 smallbore average also leads WVU and is the sixth best in the nation … Camryn Camp's air rifle mark of 596.5 is the tenth best in the country.

This Week in Women's Basketball: The Mountaineers stay home for two more nonconference matchups … West Virginia opens the week on Tuesday, Nov. 19 against Bowling Green at 7 p.m. ET…the Mountaineers close out the week on Friday, Nov. 22, against Lafayette at 7 p.m. ET … the contests mark the fifth and six straight home games to open the season.

Last Week in Women's Basketball: The Mountaineers moved to 4-0 on the season with two wins last week …WVU's two wins came against power four opponents …West Virginia opened the week with an 82-54 victory over Pitt in the Backyard Brawl …the Mountaineers then closed out the week with an 83-62 win over Texas A&M … senior guard JJ Quinerly led the Mountaineers in scoring during both game, with 17 against Pitt and a season-high 27 against Texas A&M …senior guard Kyah Watson collected 16 rebounds for the week with eight against both Pitt and Texas A&M … junior guard Jordan Harrison managed 12 assists, adding a season-high eight against the Aggies.

Notes: WVU returns eight student-athletes to the floor this season, including four of five starters from an NCAA Tournament team a season ago … All-Big 12 First Team and Defensive Team selection JJ Quinerly highlights the returners … She was also named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team and was named to the Naismith College Women's Basketball Player of the Year, the 2025 Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year Watchlist and the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watchlist … Jordan Harrison was named to the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year watchlist.

This Week in Wrestling: West Virginia remains on the road to face Appalachian State on Friday, Nov. 22. Dual time is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

Last Week in Wrestling: No. 19 West Virginia picked up a 31-9 victory over Rider in the team's first road dual of the season … WVU jumped out to a 20-0 advantage through the first four matches of the dual, including back-to-back pins by senior Jett Strickenberger (133) and redshirt junior Jordan Titus (141) … sophomore Ty Watters added a 16-1 technical fall over No. 24 Sammy Alvarez to put West Virginia up by 17 points heading into the break (20-3) … despite Rider getting on the board with a decision at 157 pounds, fifth-year senior Peyton Hall (165) responded with a 22-7 technical fall to extend the Gold and Blue's lead to 22 (25-3) … redshirt senior Austin Cooley (197) and fifth-year senior Michael Wolfgram (HWT) rounded out the scoring output for the Mountaineers with pair of decisions to seal the 22-point road win against the Broncs … two days later, Hall and Watters traveled to State College, Pennsylvania, to represent WVU at the 2024 NWCA All-Star Classic …. Hall of the West Virginia University wrestling team did not disappoint, as the fifth-year senior came away with a pin over 2024 All-American and No. 8 Hunter Garvin of Stanford in State College, Pennsylvania … after falling behind 5-3 through two periods of the 165-pound bout, Hall responded in the opening minute of the third by winning a scramble and eventually turning Garvin onto his back to secure the pin and avenge last year's loss to the Cardinal at the 2024 NCAA Championships … the Chester, West Virginia, native joined national champions Scott Collins (1991) and Greg Jones (2003, 2004 & 2005) as only the third Mountaineer to earn a victory at the annual showcase. No. 3 Watters dropped a 16-4 major decision to 2023 All-American and No. 2 Shayne Van Ness of Penn State at 149 pounds.

Notes: For the third straight week, the West Virginia University wrestling team appeared in the top 25 this season, checking in at No. 19 in the NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll. WVU came in at No. 18 last week after opening the campaign at No. 19 in the preseason poll … it marked West Virginia's first appearance in the preseason poll since 2016 and fifth time overall – 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2016. It was also the second highest preseason ranking in program history, behind only a No. 10 ranking in 2005 … individually, seven Mountaineers land in the third edition of FloWrestling's rankings, including No. 22 Jett Strickenberger (125), No. 15 Jordan Titus (141), No. 3 Ty Watters (149), No. 4 Peyton Hall (165), No. 24 Brody Conley (174), No. 22 Ian Bush (184) and No. 33 Austin Cooley (197). Four Broncs head into the dual ranked as well – Sammy Alvarez (No. 24-149), Colton Washleski (No. 28-157), Michael Wilson (No. 27-174) and David Szuba (No. 20-HWT) … additionally, Hall and Watters joined Jim Akerly (1987), Scott Collins (1991), Mark Banks (1991), Keith Taylor (1994), Dean Morrison (1994), Mike Mason (1998), Vertus Jones (1999), Ryan Kehler (2001), Greg Jones (2003, 2004 and 2005) and Zeke Moisey (2015) as the 11th and 12th Mountaineers to be featured on the card of the annual NWCA All-Star showcase … it was also the third time that West Virginia has sent two grapplers to compete at the event in the same year (1991 and 1994) … head coach Tim Flynn announced the signings of Leo Contino, Brock Kehler, Gunner Andrick, Cole Evans, Casen Roark, Luke Satriano and Ramil Islamov to grant-in-aid agreements for the 2025-26 academic year as well.