Rehkow named Player of the Week
Idaho punter Austin Rehkow was named the FBS Independent Special Teams Player of the Week, Monday. The freshman contributed three field goals, two from 25 yards out and one from 27, in addition to a PAT in the Vandals’ loss to New Mexico State. Rehkow, who leads the nation in punting average (47.8 yards per punt), punted four times Saturday, averaging 48.2 yards per punt in the game. His long punt went for 65 yards.
Idaho brings in all-conference honors, Schultz named to all-tournament team
The Vandal volleyball team accounted for three Western Athletic Conference postseason honors, which were announced Sunday, Nov. 24, the night before the conference tournament. Senior Alyssa Schultz was named to the all-conference first team, Taylor Wilkinson was selected to the second team while redshirt freshman Ali Forde earned all-freshman honors. Prior to the conference tournament, Schultz boasted a league-high hitting percentage of .378. The Washington native was also named to the all-tournament team after hitting .329, while aiding the Vandals to a second straight semifinals appearance at the tournament, where they lost to New Mexico State in five sets. Wilkinson, who averaged 1.64 kills, 1.08 blocks and 2.23 points per set during league play, was a preseason all-WAC honoree, while Forde ranked seventh in the conference with a hitting percentage of .307.
Barr, Madison receive player of the week honors
Idaho’s Stacey Barr and Stephen Madison were honored with WAC Player of the Week awards for their performances during non-conference play with the Vandal women’s and men’s basketball teams. Barr, a junior from Melbourne, Australia, was honored on Nov. 25 after the Idaho forward led the Vandals to a 68-63 victory against UC Irvine. Barr scored 21 points and grab 16 rebounds in her double-double performance. Madison, a senior from Portland, was named men’s player of the week on Monday, after averaging 20.5 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists and 1.5 blocks per game. In Idaho’s victory against UC Davis, Madison scored 15 points, added 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. It was the second honor of the season for Madison, who also received it on Nov. 11.
Swimming and diving garners ranking, honors
The Idaho swimming and diving team made program history Tuesday, when it was ranked the nation’s No. 11 mid-major team by collegeswimming.com. The Vandals jumped 40 spots from the previous ranking of No. 51.
“We feel like our team has made large strides over the past two-plus seasons and we truly feel like this is a place where athletes can compete at the highest level, while still having a smaller college experience,” coach Mark Sowa said. “What it also means is that we still have a lot of work to do if we want to keep this thing moving forward.”
Meanwhile, the duo of Rachel Millet and Paige Hunt swept the WAC Swimmer and Diver of the Week awards. Millet won the 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle events at the prestigious Houston Invitational. She finished second in the 200 individual medley and third in the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle events. Hunt, a diver, won the 3-meter competition and finished second in the platform competition.