Detroit's Pronk, Valparaiso's Malicoat Honored as U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week

Sept. 30, 2008

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INDIANAPOLIS -- University of Detroit Mercy sophomore golfer Britt Pronk and Valparaiso University senior volleyball player Brittany Malicoat have been named U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sept. 28, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Tuesday (Sept. 30).


Pronk (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) was the runner-up at the John Dallio Memorial in Lemont, Ill., Sept. 22-23 to lead Detroit to a third-place finish among 15 teams. He fired a five-under-par 211 over three rounds at Ruffled Feathers Golf Club, missing medalist honors by just two strokes. His 54-hole total and his final-round three-under 68 were both personal records.


As a business administration major, Pronk carries a 3.6 grade-point average at Detroit.


Malicoat (Elkhart, Ind./Memorial) broke Valparaiso's career digs record and entered this week's action with 1,917 career digs. The 2007 Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year, Malicoat posted 23 digs in a five-set match at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and registered a match-best 21 versus the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.


In the classroom, Malicoat maintains a 3.584 grade-point average as an art history and public relations major at Valparaiso. She has been named to the League's Academic Honor Roll each of the last two semesters.


The Horizon League instituted the U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete of the Week awards as a way to recognize outstanding academic and athletic achievement by its student-athletes. To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or better (on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution, passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours and perform well during the week's competition. Winners are selected by a group of League faculty athletic representatives, from nominations provided by sports information directors.

OTHER MEN'S NOMINEES:

Josh Bautch, Green Bay (men's soccer, sophomore, 3.768, general studies) played a key role on defense in Green Bay's scoreless shutout against Butler Sept. 26 and has helped the Phoenix to a three-match undefeated streak (1-0-2). He is a two-time Dean's List honoree at Green Bay and owns the second-highest grade-point average on the men's soccer team.

Nick Hegeman, Butler (men's soccer, junior, 3.376, economics) was the winning goalkeeper in Butler's 4-3 victory over Milwaukee Sept. 28, two days after blanking Green Bay in a scoreless tie. He has been named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll and the Butler Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

Ben Reifenberg, Loyola (men's cross country, sophomore, 3.48, social work) placed fifth of 371 runners with a time of 25:01 in the 8K Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational Sept. 27, helping Loyola to a seventh-place team finish in the Ramblers' lone home meet of the season. For his efforts, he was named Horizon League Athlete of the Week for the second time this fall.

Andrew Stewart, Valparaiso (men's soccer, senior, 3.287, business-IDS) scored his second career goal to help Valparaiso to a 2-2 draw with Milwaukee Sept. 26 in the Crusaders' League opener. He has been named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll and Valpo's Dean's List in his career.

OTHER WOMEN'S NOMINEES:

Colleen Donovan, Loyola (women's cross country, junior, 3.73, elementary education) placed second of 330 runners in the 5K Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational Sept. 27 with a time of 17:43 to help Loyola to a fifth-place team finish. Earlier this week, she was named the Horizon League's Athlete of the Week for the third time this season.

Liesl Tesch, Green Bay (volleyball, senior, 3.437, communication) was named the Horizon League's Offensive Player of the Week after registering a .318 attack percentage last week, including a season-high 20 kills against Butler Sept. 27. She has been named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll and the Green Bay Dean's List during her career.

Jessica Woods, Wright State (volleyball, sophomore, 3.727, psychology) posted a pair of double-doubles (kills, digs) in victories over Cleveland State and Youngstown State over the weekend. She had 10 kills and 18 digs against CSU, then came back with 16 kills and 13 digs versus the Penguins.