Toms have MIAC Players of Week in FB, VB

September 18, 2000
MIAC Players of the Week
September 18, 2000
see link to MIAC awards here

Football
Offensive
St. Thomas' Jake Barkley (SO, RB, 5-8, 195, Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) rushed 15 times for 272 yards, including TD runs of 68, 83 and 75 yards, to lead the host Tommies to a 38-22 football win over Concordia-Moorhead Saturday. Barkley, a co-starter with senior Marcus Ludtke, finished seven yards shy of a 24-year-old UST single-game rushing record.

Defensive
Gustavus' Brian Bergstrom (Jr, Linebacker, Burnsville, Minn) recorded 17 tackles (10 solo, 7 ssists) including two sacks while also recovering a fumble and returning it for a touchdown as the Gusties beat Hamline University 32-15 in St. Peter, Minn. Bergstrom sparked a Gustavus defensive attack that held Hamline to 57 yards rushing on 45 carries and 230 yards of total offense. With Gustavus leading 18-15 in the third quarter, Bergstrom scooped up a fumble by Hamline quarterback Tim Couchman and scampered nine yards for a touchdown to give the Gusties a 25-15 lead. Bergstrom also extended his streak of double digit tackle games to nine dating back to the fourth game of last season. Gustavus is now 1-1 overall and 1-0 in the MIAC.

Special Teams
Saint John's University sophomore punt/kick returner Blake Elliot, Melrose, returned two punts for 97 yards, including an 85-yard TD return at the end of the second quarter in a 42-6 win at St. Olaf on Sept. 16. Elliot also returned one kickoff for 21 yards. Elliot is currently averaging 34.3 yards/punt on the season.


Volleyball
Hitter
Katie Reynolds, University of St. Thomas (Sophomore, Outside Hitter, Mora, MN) played in a total of five matches in four days, in the key outside hitting position, averaging: 4.64 Kills Per Game, 5.59 Digs Per Game, .76 Blocks a game while attacking at a .349 attack percentage. In addition, Reynolds accumulated 33 digs in the Bethel Invitational championship match coming within four of tying an 11-year-old St. Thomas record. Reynolds was again named to an All-Tournament team for the second time this season.

Setter
Amber Rajtora, St. Mary's University (SR, S, Cedar Rapids, IA) has had an outstanding start to the season including All-Tournament team recognition at the Sugarloaf Classic, leading Saint Mary's to a 3-1 record and runner-up finish. In the past six matches Rajtora has averaged 12.6 assists per game. She has broken the Saint Mary's career assist record, with nearly a full season remaining. Rajtora is running the offense for a team that is hitting: .306, averaging 15.1 kills per game, and is off to a 9-2 start on the young season.