LOGAN, Utah - Utah State soccer junior midfielder Whitney Lopez has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Sept. 18. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.
 
It is Lopez's first time in her career being named USU's student-athlete of the week.
 
With their sponsorship of the Student-Athlete of the Week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
 
The product of Logan, Utah, scored one goal and recorded four shots, including three on goal, as Utah State went 1-0-1 last week. In USU's 1-1 draw versus No. 25 BYU, Lopez scored the equalizing goal in the 83rd minute, heading in a shot off a cross from senior Kelsey Salvesen-Harmer. In USU's 1-0 win at Northern Colorado, Lopez recorded one shot on goal. For the week, Lopez played a total of 130 minutes across the two matches.
 
Utah State soccer's 2022 season continues this week as the Aggies kick off Mountain West play with a week split at home and on the road. First, USU begins conference action at Nevada (1-4-2, 0-0-0 MW) on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7:30 p.m. (MT) before returning home to host UNLV (2-6-0, 0-0-0 MW) on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m. (MT). Both matches will be streamed live on the Mountain West Network and available at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie soccer program on Twitter, @USUSoccer, on Facebook at /USUSoccer and on Instagram, @USUSoccer. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
 
Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
 
MEN'S TENNIS – Senior Javier Ruiz (Lausanne, Switzerland) posted a 5-1 singles record to win the singles consolation bracket at the Boise State Invitational last weekend, while also going 3-1 in doubles action. Ruiz defeated Montana's Jake Watkins (6-2, 6-2) in the opening round of the tournament before bowing out in the second round to Boise State's Simon Arca Costas. Ruiz then reeled off four consecutive victories in the consolation bracket, defeating Montana's Josh Watkins (6-2, 6-2), Caelan Potts of St. Mary's (6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-3)), and Montana's George Russell (6-2, 6-2) to reach the finals. In the final round, Ruiz dispatched Idaho's Taiyo Kurata (4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-1)) to claim the consolation title. Playing alongside senior Roko Savin, Ruiz also placed second in the doubles draw of the tournament. The duo opened the tournament with wins over the Watkins brothers from Montana (8-4) and Boise State's Costas and Caden Moortgat (8-5). The partnership advanced through the semifinals by defeating Carlos Ramos and Diego Jarry of St. Mary's (8-6) before losing to BSU's Michael Bott and Jan Lucca Marquardt in the finals (8-6).
 
WOMEN'S TENNIS – Graduate Monique Burton (Sydney, Australia) led Utah State at the Air Force-hosted ITA Bedford Cup in the Mountains. Burton posted an overall 5-3 mark, including going 3-1 in singles action. Burton competed in the Alpha draw for doubles with teammate Annaliese County as the duo went 2-2 with a 7-6 (5) win over Colorado State's Radka Buzkova and Zara Lennon, as well as an 8-3 victory against Idaho State's Sola and Lola O'Lideadha. Burton competed in the Bravo draw for singles, recording victories over Air Force's Alexis Odom (6-4, 6-7, 6-4), New Mexico State's Natsuki Nishimura (6-0, 6-1) and Weber State's Megan Lombardi (7-5, 6-7 (4), 10-7).
 
VOLLEYBALL – Junior outside hitter Tatum Stall (Chandler, Arizona) led Utah State to a 2-1 in-state record last week with a pair of 3-2 victories over Utah Valley and at Weber State, and a 3-0 loss at Utah. Stall recorded a double-double in the win against the Wolverines with a team-best 15 kills and a match-high-tying 14 digs, and followed suit with another double-double against the Wildcats, finishing with a career-best 21 kills to go along with 10 digs. For the week, Stall led USU with 40 kills, averaging 3.33 per set, as she nearly averaged a double-double with 13.3 kills and 9.3 digs per match. She accounted for a team-best 44.5 points during the week as she added three blocks, three service aces and two assists.
 
2022-23 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
Aug. 29 – Kylee Stokes, Volleyball
Sept. 5 – Diera Walton, Soccer
Sept. 12 – Shelby Capllonch, Volleyball
Sept. 19 – Whitney Lopez, Soccer
 
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