General

Akpunonu and Plitt Named MAC Scholar Athletes of the Week

The Scholar Athlete of the Week Award is presented to a MAC male and/or female student- athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during that week's competition. An institution can nominate up to one male and one female student-athlete per week in any of that current season's sports. The winners are selected by a representative of the MAC's Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs).
 
A student-athlete may only be awarded MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week twice in one season.
 

MALE WINNER
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Name: Joey Akpunonu
Sport: Soccer
Position: Defender
Year: Junior
GPA: 4.000
Major: Biology
Week’s Achievements (detailed description of week’s events):
Bowling Green’s Joey Akpunonu played key roles at both ends of the pitch as the Falcons picked up results in a pair of games vs. Big Ten opponents last week. Akpunonu anchored a BGSU defense that allowed just one goal in 180 minutes as the Falcons battled to a scoreless draw at Michigan and a 1-1 deadlock vs. Michigan State. In Ann Arbor, he helped hold U-M to five total shots, including just one on goal. Then, vs. MSU, Akpunonu helped the Falcons outshoot the Spartans by a 27-10 count, and he scored BGSU’s lone goal on a second-half PK. Akpunonu has played every second of every match at center back, as the Falcons have allowed just three goals (including one on a PK) in five matches.

 

FEMALE WINNER
Institution: Ball State University
Name: Marie Plitt
Sport: Volleyball
Position: Middle Blocker
Year: Senior
GPA: 3.708
Major: Psychological Science
Week’s Achievements (detailed description of week’s events):
Ball State senior middle Marie Plitt was named the MVP of the Ball State Tournament after leading the Cardinals to a 3-0 record in the event by pacing the squad with 34 kills and a .484 (34-4-62) attack percentage. The .484 hitting mark was the best in the league this week and aided by a program-record .833 (15-0-18) attack percentage in the three-set sweep of Arkansas State. She added 15 more kills and a .353 (15-3-34) rate of success in the tournament championship match victory over Green Bay. Plitt also led Ball State at the net with eight total blocks and a 0.67 blocks-per-set average, while tallying 14 digs (1.17 per set) and one service ace.