October 22, 2007

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Coe College volleyball player Kristy Upah (Toledo, Iowa/South Tama) and Central College football player Tim Connell (Eldora, Iowa/Eldora-New Providence) have been named the IIAC Female and Male Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, October 14. The Conference also announced the Performers of the Week for each of the Conference’s seven sports in competition during the week.

Football – Tim Connell, Central College, Eldora, Iowa/Eldora-New Providence
Connell, a senior quarterback, directed a game-tying touchdown drive in the final two minutes of regulation as part of four-touchdown day as the Dutch topped Dubuque 37-34 in triple overtime. Connell completed 22 of 44 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 19 times for 14 yards and a touchdown as he improved his record to 5-0 in overtime games as Central’s starting quarterback. During the course of the game, Connell also set Central career records for passing yards (5,008), pass completions (410) and total offense (6,076). (IIAC Male Athlete of the Week)

Volleyball – Kristy Upah, Coe College, Toledo, Iowa/South Tama
Upah, a senior setter, was named Most Valuable Player of the Mississippi River Tournament as the Kohawks posted a 5-0 record on the week. Upah posted 247 total assists (12.35 per game) and 67 digs (3.35 per game) in 20 games. She nearly recorded a triple-double (7 kills, 63 assists, 24 digs) Tuesday, October 16 as she helped Coe snap a six-match losing streak with a five-game win over Wartburg. (IIAC Female Athlete of the Week)

Women’s Soccer – Samantha Messacar, Loras College, St. Charles, Ill./North
Messacar, a sophomore midfielder, scored three goals on 12 shots while leading the Duhawks to wins over Buena Vista (6-0) and Cornell (3-1) and clinching at least a share of the IIAC title. Messacar scored two goals against the Beavers Oct. 17 and then notched the game-winner against the Rams Oct. 20.

Men’s Soccer – Matt Pucci, Loras College, Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville
Pucci, a senior forward, notched five goals including both game-winners as Loras topped Buena Vista (6-0) and Cornell (8-0). Against the Beavers, Pucci scored three goals on nine shots, including one on a penalty kick. He also posted a pair of goals on three shots against Cornell.

Other Outstanding Weekly Performers
The IIAC also recognized the following outstanding athletic performances from the past week.

Football – Buena Vista University senior quarterback Chris Hawkins (Platte City, Mo./Platte County) threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two more, guiding the Beavers back from a 24-3 halftime deficit to defeat Loras, 30-24. Hawkins completed 25 of 39 passes and also became the program’s career passing yardage leader and now stands with 5,701 yards.

Football – Wartburg College senior running back Neil Suckow (Fredericksburg, Iowa/Fredericksburg) scored three touchdowns on only nine touches as No. 19 Wartburg won its fifth straight league contest with a 27-3 win over Coe. Suckow scored in virtually every way possible – hauling in a five-yard pass, running in from eight yards out, and returning a punt 66 yards – all in the first half. Suckow posted his fourth consecutive 100-plus-yard all-purpose effort and his fifth such game of the season while moving into third in the IIAC in scoring.

Volleyball – Buena Vista University sophomore outside hitter Kelli Luitjens (Worthington, Minn./Worthington) has guided the Beavers on a season-high three-match winning streak, keeping the Beavers’ IIAC Tournament hopes alive in the process. For the week, Luitjens registered 60 kills, including a season-high 21 in BVU’s 3-1 IIAC win over Loras, and finished the week with a .370 hitting percentage. In addition, she added 22 total blocks and 14 digs.

Volleyball – Central College senior outside hitter Katie Johnson (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) recorded 50 kills (2.94 per game) in 17 games as the Dutch posted a 5-0 record on the week and locked up a share of the IIAC volleyball title. Johnson also recorded 19 digs (1.12 per game) and 23 total blocks (1.35 per game).

Men’s Soccer – Central College senior forward Cody Stoermer (Coralville, Iowa/Iowa City West) scored three goals and three assists as the Dutch recorded wins over Coe (6-1) and Luther (5-0). Stoermer scored two goals (including the game-winner) and an assist against the Kohawks and added a goal on a penalty kick and two assists in the win over the Norse, breaking Central’s single-season points record with 45.

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