November 5 , 2007

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that Central College volleyball player Terri Berger (Sioux City, Iowa/Bishop Heelan) and Luther College football player Tyler Sherden (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) have been named the IIAC Female and Male Athletes of the Week for the period ending Sunday, November 4. The Conference also announced the Performers of the Week for each of the Conference’s eight sports in competition during the week.

Football – Tyler Sherden, Luther College, Rochester, Minn./John Marshall
Sherden, a senior running back, rushed for a Luther College single-game record 297 yards in the Norse's 47-41 double-overtime victory over Simpson. Sherden, who finished the game with 413 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns, broke his own mark of 269 set against Buena Vista earlier this year. His final carry of the day, the 25-yard game-winning score, set a new Luther single-season rushing mark with 1,448 yards, which surpassed the old mark of 1,442 set in 1971 by Bernie Peeters. Sherden also returned five kicks for 98 yards, had an 18-yard reception and assisted on one tackle. (IIAC Male Athlete of the Week)

Volleyball – Terri Berger, Central College, Sioux City, Iowa/Bishop Heelan
Berger, a senior setter, posted back-to-back matches with statistical triple-doubles to lead the Dutch to the Iowa Conference Volleyball Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship. She also led the team in kills in both matches despite playing the setter position. In a semifinal win over Simpson, Berger hit .375 with a team-high 13 kills while adding 30 assists, 11 digs, two service aces and a block assist. In the tournament final against Coe, Berger hit .429 with 13 kills, 40 assists, 11 digs and a block assist. (IIAC Female Athlete of the Week)

Men’s Soccer – Miguel Bonilla, Loras College, Cali, Colombia/Colegio Bolivar
Bonilla, a freshman midfielder, scored one goal in each of Loras’ games at the Iowa Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament, including the lone goal in the Duhawks’ 1-0 victory over Wartburg in the championship match. Bonilla’s goal allowed the Duhawks to improve to 20-0-1 and secure a bid to the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship for the third year in a row. Bonilla also recorded a goal in Loras’ 5-0 semifinal win over Luther.

Women’s Soccer – Rachel Oswald, Wartburg College, Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert
Oswald, a junior forward, netted the lone goal in Wartburg’s 1-0 victory over Loras in the championship match of the Iowa Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament to secure the Knights’ first IIAC Tournament title and the program’s first bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship. The win over the Duhawks also tied the Wartburg single-season record for victories with 16.

Men’s Swimming and Diving – Andrew Bross, Luther College, Omaha, Neb./Northwest
Bross, a senior, won both the 400 individual medley (4:36.24) and the 100 butterfly (54.34) while helping Luther to victories over UW-Oshkosh (87-26) and UW-Whitewater (78-35). Luther is now 4-0 in dual meet competition.

Women’s Swimming and Diving – Valerie Hoops, Luther College, Freeport, Ill./Freeport
Hoops, a senior, won three events while helping Luther to dual meet wins over UW-Oshkosh (63-49) and UW-Whitewater (63-49). She won the 1,650 free (19:10.88) and 20 minutes later won the 400 IM (5:01.71). Luther is now 5-0 in dual meets.

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

Volleyball – Buena Vista University freshman Katie Vondrak (Sioux City, Iowa/Bishop Heelan) posted 33 kills in seven games during the week, including 16 kills and six blocking assists against Dubuque, which helped BVU clinch the final spot in the IIAC Tournament. Vondrak followed that up with a team-high 17 kills in the Beavers’ 3-0 loss to Wartburg in the opening round of the IIAC Volleyball Tournament. She closed out her freshman campaign with 15 or more kills in six of the team's final nine matches.

Volleyball – Coe College junior outside hitter Shayla Chalker (Melbourne, Australia/Upway) helped the Kohawks to their first IIAC Tournament Championship game appearance with 26 kills against Wartburg in the semifinals. She also tallied 19 in a loss to Loras in the regular-season finale.

Football – Buena Vista University junior running back Cory Donscheski (Dunlap, Iowa/Boyer Valley) ran for a career-high 125 yards and two touchdowns while helping to lead the Beavers to a commanding 35-14 win over Dubuque. Donscheski’s 44-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter was the longest rushing play for Buena Vista this season.

Football – Coe College senior quarterback Andy TeKippe (West Union, Iowa/North Fayette) broke Coe’s single-season school record for completions with his 175th during Coe’s 45-24 win over Loras. TeKippe finished 20-of-35 for 258 yards and two touchdowns through the air and added 45 yards and two more touchdowns on nine carries on the ground.

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