The NESCAC has released its Players of the Week for the week ending on November 17. The conference recognizes student-athletes in each sport each week for their contributions to their teams, based on information provided by the athletic communications offices on each campus. During the winter season, men's and women's basketball and men's and women's ice hockey players of the week will be announced on Mondays. NESCAC men's and women's swimming & diving athletes of the week will be announced on select Tuesdays.
NESCAC Volleyball Player of the Week
Akpevwe Akpoigbe – Tufts– Jr. – Middle Hitter - Lake Zurich, Ill.
Akpoigbe helped lead the Tufts volleyball team to its fourth NESCAC title in team history with a strong weekend all over the court. The senior finished the weekend with 22 kills, averaging 2.75 kills per set, while adding two aces and four blocks. Against Wesleyan in the NESCAC Semifinal, the middle hitter had 13 kills while hitting .391 for the match. In the championship match versus Colby, Akpoigbe finished with nine kills, including the match-point kill.
NESCAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Babacar Pouye – Bates – Jr. – F – Carpinteria, Calif.
Pouye shot 67 percent (14-for-21) from the floor over the course of two games and averaged 19.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. The junior started with 13 points (5-for-7 FG) in 18 minutes played and five rebounds in a 100-55 win over Anna Maria. Pouye followed up with 25 points on 9-for-14 shooting and a career-high 16 rebounds in a 95-87 win versus Plymouth. The forward also dished out five assists against the Panthers. The Bobcats are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
NESCAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Marlo Simms – Trinity – Jr. – C – Decatur, Ga.
Simms powered the Bantams to a pair of victories, averaging 17.0 points and 14.0 rebounds while shooting 65.2 percent from the field in 24 minutes per game in back-to-back career performances. In a thrilling comeback 79-73 victory over TCNJ, Simms posted 15 points, including three consecutive baskets in the final four minutes that gave Trinity a lead it would not relinquish, and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. The junior followed with a career-high 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in 26 minutes as Trinity defeated SUNY-Brockport, 76-63.
NESCAC Men’s Ice Hockey Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Ethan Ullrick – Tufts – Jr. - F – Lakewood, Ill.
In his first two games as a Jumbo, Ullrick, a transfer from Air Force, helped Tufts sweep the weekend against Wesleyan, 4-1, and Trinity, 5-2. The junior had a goal and three assists for four points overall. Against Wesleyan, Ullrick finished with two assists, helping set up the goals that gave Tufts leads of 1-0 and 4-1. Against Trinity, Tufts came back with four third-period goals to erase a 2-1 deficit and win 5-2. Ullrick scored the go-ahead goal, putting Tufts up 3-2, then assisted on the next goal, which gave the Jumbos a 4-2 lead.
NESCAC Women’s Ice Hockey Player of the Week | Weekly Release
Erin Pye - Williams – Sr. - G – Third Lake, Ill.
Pye stopped 88-of-90 shots for a .978 save percentage in two games against No. 2-ranked Amherst. On Friday, in a 1-1 tie, Pye made 51 saves, 30 of which came in the third period and overtime as the Ephs were outshot 22-4 in the third and 8-1 in extra period. Pye added 37 stops in a 1-0 setback on Saturday.
