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).
MALE WINNER
Institution: University of Akron
Name: Ben Finley
Sport: Football
Position: QB
Year: R-Sr.
GPA: 3.84
Major: Business Interdisciplinary, MBA
Week’s Achievements (detailed description of week’s events):
Ben Finley carried the Akron offense behind a career night against the Kent State Golden Flashes. Finley threw a career-high 424 yards (32-59-1) while dishing out three touchdowns, his third 3 TD performance of the season, against the Golden Flashes. This was the first 400+ yard performance from an Akron quarterback since DJ Irons threw for 420 yards at Kent State (Oct. 22, 2022).
FEMALE WINNER
Institution: Eastern Michigan University
Name: Hatteras Welker
Sport: Women’s Volleyball
Position: MB
Year: Sophomore
GPA: 3.89
Major: Biology
Week’s Achievements (detailed description of week’s events):
Eastern Michigan sophomore middle blocker Hatteras Welker had an offensive breakout against the Miami RedHawks, Nov. 14-15. In nine sets, Welker put down 39 kills (4.33 per set) off 67 swings with eight errors for a .463 hitting percentage. Defensively, she totaled 11 blocks (1.22 per set) and grabbed six digs (0.67 per set), totaling 46.0 points (5.11 per set). Welker’s .463 hitting percentage and 5.11 points per set average each ranked third in the MAC last week while her 4.33 kills per set slotted fourth. Welker started her week with a career-best 22 kills off 34 swings with just three errors, producing a .559 hitting percentage with five blocks and five digs, totaling 26 points against the RedHawks, Nov. 14. Her 22 kills are the fourth-most in a four-set match in the MAC as she became just the second MAC player this season and 14th student-athlete nationally to hit .559 or better with at least 22 kills. She is only the fourth middle to accomplish the feat this season. Welker led the Eagles in a match where the team totaled 76 kills, the second-most in the conference this season, most in a four-set match, and seventh-most in the nation. Welker followed up the performance with a 17-kill showing off 33 attacks with five errors for a .364 hitting percentage in a five-set win over Miami, Nov. 15. She also notched six blocks in the victory.
