Multiple Honored As CU Athlete of the Week, Presented by Arrow

BOULDER-- In what was not only a busy week for the Colorado Buffaloes but one that saw its fair share of success across the board, a total of six different athletes were named the CU Athlete of the Week, Presented by Arrow. 

The women's volleyball team continued its undefeated 9-0 start, the best in school history. This weekend the team claimed the Golden Spike with a pair of wins over Colorado State, one at home and one on the road.  Senior setter Jenna Ewert recorded a career-high 19 digs (4.75/set), eight kills, 74 assists (10.57/set) and six total blocks in the match. She closed the weekend with an impressive combination of eight kills, a .533 hitting percentage, .29 aces per set, 3.71 digs per set, and .86 blocks per set. 

The soccer team also had a big weekend defeating the Denver Pioneers 3-1 to continue a dominating performance over the Colorado teams to wrap up non-conference play. Senior midfielder Shanade Hopcroft scored a career-high four points. She had a part in all three CU goals assisting on two of them and scoring the second on a penalty kick. This marked her third career game with one goal and one assist. She leads the team with eight points this season, two goals and four assists. 

The Buffs' eighth-ranked women's cross country team won the team title on Saturday at the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater Oklahoma beating Oklahoma State 35-30. They were led by sophomore Emily Covert who finished the 6-kilometer course in 20:39.6 for third-place overall, which was only 13.7 seconds behind the winner Taylor Roe. She has led the Buffs in both races this season. 

Senior golfer Malak Bouraeda was also honored. The women's golf team opened the 2021 season at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational on September 13-14 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  She finished tied for sixth, earning a top-10 finish for the fourth time in her career recording a 217 (72-72-70) scorecard. This was the second straight season opener where she led CU. 

Senior cross country star Eduardo Herrera led CU's 12th-ranked men's with a runner-up finish at the Cowboy Jamboree on Saturday in Stillwater, Okla.  He finished the 8-kilometer course with a time of 23:26.8. The Buffs tied for second in the team race with 64 points. 

Junior punter Josh Watts had a career day against Minnesota, punting five balls for over 50 yards, including a career long of 62. He punted eight times and averaged 51.9 yards per punt. This was the highest since Mark Mariscal averaged 57.4 yards per punt in a game against USC in 2002. That season Mariscal won the Ray Guy Award which is presented annually to college football's most outstanding punter. 

The 24th ranked volleyball team will look to continue its undefeated success opening up Pac-12 play this week with a trip to Washington State on Wednesday. This will be followed by a big matchup back home on Friday against No. 15 Utah on Friday. CU soccer is 5-3 on the year and will also open up conference play this weekend at California. Football will also be opening up Pac 12 play as they hit the road for the first time this season in Tempe against Arizona State on Saturday. Women's golf will next play at  the all-day GolfWeek challenge in Wolcott, Colo., Sept. 27-29. Men's and women's cross country meanwhile will have nearly a month off of competition before the Pre-Nationals in Tallahassee Florida on October 15.