WHITEFISH — For the second straight week, a Montana Tech football player was named the Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
This week, the honor goes to senior corner back Ketwaun “Keke” Frank, who played a key role in helping the Orediggers beat Southern Oregon in double overtime. Last week, Tech linebacker Mike Touzinsky received the honor.
The award was announced Monday afternoon.
Following is rundown of all the Frontier Conference honors for the week as provided by the conference.
Football
Offensive Player of the Week: Stephen Silva, Montana State-Northern, 5-foot-8, 190-pound senior running back from Bakersfield, Calif. In Northern’s 42-19 victory over Rocky Mountain College, Silva rushed for 230 yards on 19 carries. He set school records for most rushing yards in a game, longest run from scrimmage (91 yards) and for most 100-yards games in a career. Other players nominated: Bryce Baker of Rocky Mountain, Chance Demarais of Carroll College, Austin Dodge of Southern Oregon, Pat Hansen of Montana Tech and Jeff Logan of Montana Western.
Defensive Player of the Week: Ketwaun Frank, Montana Tech, 5-foot-8, 170-pound senior defensive back, from Sacramento, Calif. In No. 16 Montana Tech’s 48-45 double overtime victory over Southern Oregon, Frank had 12 solo tackles, one assisted tackle and one pass break up. Also nominated: Heston Altenbach of Southern Oregon, Jacob Barit of Rocky Mountain College, Shane Durbin of Carroll College, Howard McDonald of Eastern Oregon, Tanner Vanner of MSU-Northern and A.J. Wilson of Montana Western.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Trevor Baum, MSU-Northern, 6-foot-1, 190-pound sophomore defensive back from Susanville, Calif. In Northern’s 42-14 win over Rocky Mountain College, Baum had four punts for 179 yards including one for 49 yards. He had 245 yards of kick off yards including a 60-yarder. He was a perfect for six for six in extra point kicks, and picked up 12 yards on a fake punt. Also nominated: Matt Berg of Montana Tech, Paul Blakely of Eastern Oregon, Patrick Donahue of Southern Oregon, Josh Johnson of Rocky Mountain and Jared Mayernik of Carroll College.
Volleyball
Alexis Aalona of Westminster College was named Frontier Conference Volleyball Player of the Week.
Aalona is a 6-foot sophomore middle blocker from Salt Lake City, Utah. Westminster won two matches over the weekend. The Griffins beat Dickinson State 3-1 and Carroll College 3-2. Aalona averaged four kills per set with a hitting percentage of .321. She also averaged 2.49 digs and .67 assisted blocks. In the win over Carroll, Aalona had a career high 25 kills. Also nominated: Bailey Branson of Montana Western, Anna Dewald of Rocky Mountain, Elli Graff of Carroll College, Hillary Isleifson of MSU-Northern and Niurka Toribio of Lewis-Clark State.
Men’s cross country
– Dave Marks of Lewis-Clark Statewas named Frontier Conference Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week. Marks is a senior from Lake Oswego, Ore. At the Willamette Invitational, Marks finished third out of 255 runners in the 8K with a time of 24:46. He was the top finishing NAIA runner in the meet. Also nominated, Abdi Ismail of Dickinson State.
Women’s cross country
Kelsey Klettke of Lewis-Clark State College was named Frontier Conference Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week. Klettke is a senior from Vancouver, Wash. At the Willamette Invitational, she placed seventh overall in a field of 199 runners. Her time was 18:06 in the 5K. The 11th ranked Warriors finished fourth overall. Also nominated, Brittany Young of Dickinson State.
Men’s soccer
Christian Johansen and Alex Mendez of the University of Great Falls were named Frontier Conference Men’s Soccer Players of the Week. Johansen, a 6-foot-2 senior forward from Drammen, Norway was named Offensive Player of the Week. The Argos handed Jamestown College their first loss of the season. Great Falls won 2-1 and Johansen had both Argo goals. Also nominated: Manuel Duenas of Westminster College and Oliver Gore of Rocky Mountain. Mendez, a 6-foot sophomore midfielder from Bonners Ferry, Idaho, was named Defensive Player of the Week. Great Falls beat Jamestown 2-1 handing the Jimmies their first loss of the year. Mendez led the Argo defense which allowed just three shots on goal from Jamestown. Also nominated: Michael Egan of Rocky Mountain and Damir Sabanovic of Westminster College.
Women’s soccer
Macie Netz of Carroll College and Jamee Robbins of Rocky Mountain College were named Frontier Conference Women’s Soccer Players of the Week. Robbins a 5-foot-6 senior midfielder from Oakley, Calif., was named Defensive Player of the Week. Rocky Mountain won two matches, beating the University of Dallas 7-1 and edging Embry Riddle University (AZ) 4-3. Robbins led a strong defensive effort. Also nominated, Dayna Winter-Nolte of Westminster College. Netz, a junior forward from Great Falls, Mont., was named Offensive Player of the Week. No. 22 Carroll won two matches this past week including a 3-2 victory over No. 20 Westminster College. The Saints also shutout the University of Great Falls 5-0. Netz had the game winning goal in the win over Westminster. Also nominated, Carissa Cooper of Westminster College and Kirsty Montignani of Rocky Mountain.
