Central grad is MAC East's player of week in volleyball

11/12/2008
BLADE STAFF
  • Central-grad-is-MAC-East-s-player-of-week-in-volleyball-2

    Drew Berube

    Handout not Blade photo

  • Ellen Herman
    Ellen Herman

    Ohio University outside hitter Ellen Herman, a Central Catholic High School graduate, was named the Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week on Oct. 27.

    It was the third time Herman, a junior at OU, had earned player of the week honors this fall.

    Herman averaged nearly five kills and four digs per set during the weekend of Oct. 24-26. It was the second consecutive week in which Herman had garnered at least a share of the award.

    On the weekend, Herman posted averages of 4.88 kills, 3.88 digs, and 1.00 blocks per set.

    Drew Berube
    Drew Berube

    The Bobcats swept Northern Illinois and dropped a five-set contest to Western Michigan on Oct. 24 and 25, respectively.

    Herman leads Ohio with career-best averages of 4.39 kills and 4.97 points per set this season.

    Herman led all players with 19 kills in just three sets versus Northern Illinois. She also posted eight digs and three blocks against NIU to cap the night with 24.0 points.

    Herman then registered her sixth double-double of the season against Western Michigan, as she finished with 20 kills and a career-best 23 digs. The effort was the 15th 20-kill outing and first 20-dig performance of her career. Herman also added five total blocks against the Broncos, equaling her career high with three solo efforts.

    FOOTBALL: Hillsdale High School graduate Drew Berube was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 3.

    Berube, who is a junior at Hillsdale College, has been a force along the defensive line all season for the Chargers.

    Berube led an outstanding defensive effort by Hillsdale in a 34-14 win over Ferris State on Nov 1.

    He had four tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery that helped the Chargers shut out the Bulldogs in the second half.

    Berube is ranked in the top three in three GLIAC defensive categories. He is third in sacks with 7.0 and tied for second in tackles-for-loss (14.5) and is first in forced fumbles with four.

    VOLLEYBALL: Bedford High School graduate Stephanie Champine leads Austin Peay State University in kills this season.

    Champine, a junior, leads the Governors with 335 kills. She is averaging 3.53 per set.

    Austin Peay (18-8 overall, 10-4 Ohio Valley Conference) is third in the OVC.

    Champine, who is a transfer from Owens Community College, also leads the team in digs (275) and points (361.5).

    On Nov. 1, Champine led Austin Peay with a career-high 24 kills and an impressive .444 attack percentage in 3-2 victory over Murray State. The 24 kills were the most by any APSU player this season.

    On Oct. 31, Champine led the Governors with 12 kills in Austin Peay's 3-1 win over Tennessee Martin. Austin Peay State is located in Clarksville, Tenn.

    At Owens, Champine was the first repeat Player of the Year in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference.

    FOOTBALL: Mickey Cassidy, a 2004 graduate of St. John's Jesuit High School, is the team captain and wide receiver for St. Francis College in Indiana.

    Cassidy, a senior, is a four-year starter for St. Francis, which is located in Fort Wayne, Ind.

    Cassidy is a three-year starter at wide receiver for the Cougars, who are currently ranked No. 1 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics poll. He also is a punt returner and holder for extra points and field goals.

    Cassidy has played in the NAIA championship twice for St. Francis. The team has compiled an overall record of 45-4 over the last four seasons.

    Cassidy averaged 10.1 yards on punt returns last year, which was the fifth-best average in the Mid-States Football Association. He was named to the 2007 academic All-American team.

    Cassidy also was the starting shortstop for the Cougars baseball team for four years. He will graduate in the spring with a degree in business.

    At St. John's, Cassidy earned second team all-Ohio honors as a defensive back.

    SOCCER: Toledo Christian High School graduate Bethany McGraw was named the female athlete of the week at Huntington University on Nov. 3.

    The honor was due to

    McGraw's efforts in the week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1.

    McGraw, an exercise science major, earned the honor for the second consecutive week after scoring four goals to lead Huntington past Grace College 5-2 on Oct. 28. Huntington University is located in Huntington, Ind.

    With the four goals, McGraw extended her own school record for most goals in a season with 23. The junior also now owns the record for most goals scored in a career with 54 with another season yet to play.

    CROSS-COUNTRY: Ohio Northern University senior Jimmy O'Brien, who is an Eastwood High School graduate, led the Polar Bears to an Ohio Athletic Conference championship on Nov. 1.

    O'Brien finished second individually out of 141 runners in 26:18.06.

    Ohio Northern finished first with 39 points in the 10-team league meet.

    Ohio Northern junior Alan Bowsher (Elmwood) finished fifth in a time of 26:25.87 to earn All-OAC honors for the second consecutive year.

    Senior Eric Porter (Wauseon) also earned All-OAC honors for the second consecutive year as he took 15th place in a time of 26:58.09.

    Junior Brent Hiser (Gibsonburg) rounded out the top seven finishers for ONU and finished in 22nd place in 27:23.79.

    SOCCER: Adrian College junior forward Sarah Evans (Otsego High School) has earned ESPN the Magazine's second team All-Academic honors.

    Evans is carrying a 3.88 grade- point average in art education.

    Evans also is ranked second on the team with eight goals and 20 points.

    She has four game-winning goals and one hat trick this season.

    Send information to: mmonroe@theblade.com. Or mail it to us at: The Blade Sports Dept., 541 North Superior St., Toledo, OH 43660, Attn: Campus Notes/Mark Monroe.