BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for basketball, hockey, and tennis on Monday. Student-athletes from Augsburg, Carleton, Gustavus, Hamline, and St. Scholastica claimed the Conference’s weekly honors.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by the Conference’s sports information directors and selected by MIAC staff. Transitioning from the winter to spring seasons, team sports (basketball, hockey, and tennis) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (swimming & diving and indoor track & field) announced on Tuesday afternoons. The winners of the latest Athlete of the Week awards are listed below, along with details on their outstanding performances.
To view each sport’s 2021-22 Athlete of the Week home page, navigate to the MIAC’s Awards page or visit the 2021-22 Athlete of the Week news archive for complete details on each week’s selections and winners.
MIAC Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week
Joe Palmer
Augsburg University
Jr. | Guard
Faribault, Minn.
Joe Palmer averaged 27.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in a trio of Auggie contests last week. He notched a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds against Gustavus on 2/7 and scored a career-high 34 points on 12-of-18 shooting with six rebounds and three steals in a win over Saint Mary’s on 2/9. He then added a team-high 25 points, four rebounds, and three assists against Saint John’s on 2/12.
MIAC Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Week
Anja Smith
Augsburg University
So. | Forward
Kewaskum, Wis. |Â Saint Mary’s Springs
Anja Smith averaged 22.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from deep in three games for the Auggies last week. She scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Gustavus on 2/7 and scored 15 with nine rebounds again in a win over Saint Mary’s on 2/9. In Augsburg’s win over Saint Benedict on 2/12, she connected on 14 of her 21 shots for a career-high and new program record 39 points, while also collecting six rebounds and three steals in the victory.
MIAC Men’s Hockey Athlete of the Week
Joe Collins
Hamline University
So. | Forward
Shakopee, Minn. |Â Thief River Falls
Joe Collins tallied two goals and three assists for five points in a 1-1-2 week for the Pipers. Collins registered helpers against Saint John’s (2/7) and UW-Stout (2/9) before finding the back of the net twice in a 4-4 tie at Gustavus on 2/11. He added one more assist in a 5-5 tie with the Gusties on 2/12 to figure into the scoring in all four of Hamline’s games for the week.
MIAC Women’s Hockey Athlete of the Week
Rachel Anderson
The College of St. Scholastica
Sr. | Forward
Shoreview, Minn. | Mounds View
Rachel Anderson scored four goals for the Saints in a series split against St. Catherine over the weekend. Her game-winning goal on 2/11 was the 50th score of her career, making her just the third player in program history to reach that milestone. One of her two goals against the Wildcats on 2/12 came by way of a power-play.
MIAC Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week
Tarm Rojanasoonthon
Carleton College
Fy.
Bangkok, Thailand |Â Chulalongkorn
Tarm Rojanasoonthon remained undefeated at both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles with a victory in each against UW-Eau Claire on 2/12. He and doubles partner Aswath Viswanathan battled back from down a break to win 8-7 (3). Rojanasoonthon then prevailed in straight sets – 6-3, 6-1 – during singles action.
MIAC Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week
Simona Potockova
Gustavus Adolphus College
Sr.
Nova’Dubnica, Slovakia | Buffalo
Simona Potockova opened the MIAC schedule with wins at No. 1 singles and doubles against Saint Mary’s on 2/13. Potockova and doubles partner Yuki Oda won, 8-2, in doubles and the senior followed with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) win at No. 1 singles to help the Gusties shut out the Cardinals, 9-0.
