Eagle Quartet Lands Great Midwest Athlete Of The Week Honors

Four Ashland University student-athletes were lauded by the Great Midwest Athletic Conference on Monday (Sept. 23) afternoon for their work during last week's action – junior forward Dani Hicks (women's soccer), sophomore libero Abbey Queen (volleyball), junior kicker A.J. Rhodes (football) and sophomore linebacker Jack Talkington (football).
 
Hicks, the Great Midwest women's soccer offensive Athlete of the Week, compiled three goals and an assist last week for the No. 11-ranked Eagles in wins at Ferguson Field over Findlay on Thursday (Sept. 19) night (1-0) and vs. Ursuline on Saturday (Sept. 21) night (5-1). She had the only goal on Thursday night in the 54^th minute, then picked up a brace and an assist on Saturday night. Hicks' five goals and 11 points so far in 2024 lead the team and the entire conference, and both are in the top 10 in NCAA Division II (tied for seventh in goals, tied for 10^th in points).
 
Ashland's women's soccer team (4-1 overall, 2-0 Great Midwest) will play at home on Thursday (Sept. 26) at 6:30 p.m. vs. Northwood (3-0-2, 1-0), then at Malone (4-0-1, 2-0) on Saturday (Sept. 28) at 1 p.m..
 
Queen, the conference's volleyball East Division Athlete of the Week, had a busy match on Friday (Sept. 20) night at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium, as the Eagles rallied to take a 3-2 decision from visiting Tiffin. She recorded 37 digs – the second-most in a match in Eagle volleyball history. Queen helped the Eagles keep the Dragons to a -.026 hitting percentage in the fourth set to force the fifth and deciding one. She leads the Great Midwest this season in both total digs (237) and digs per set (6.08), and that digs per set mark is fourth-best in NCAA Division II.
 
Eagle volleyball (7-3, 1-0) will play twice more at home this week – Friday (Sept. 27) at 6 p.m. vs. Findlay (9-2, 2-0) for the team's annual Teddy Bear toss, and Saturday at 5 p.m. vs. Lake Erie (2-8, 0-2) for the team's Youth Day/Camper Day/team signing/Alumni Day/Family Day.
 
In Ashland's 24-21 win on Saturday at Hillsdale, Rhodes, the conference's football special teams Athlete of the Week, connected on a game-winning 30-yard field goal with 1:46 to go in the game to put the Eagles up late. He also made three extra points, giving Rhodes a line of 4-for-4 on PATs and 3-for-4 on field goals so far in 2024.
 
Talkington, the Great Midwest football defensive Athlete of the Week, led an AU defense which kept the Chargers to 1.6 yards per rushing attempt and 229 total offensive yards by making nine total tackles (six solo), while also stepping front of an HC pass, picking it off and returning it 73 yards for his first collegiate TD. He paces the Ashland defense through three games this season with 27 total tackles (18 solo) while adding a tackle for loss and an interception.
 
Ashland football (1-2, 1-0) will play host to Tiffin (2-1, 1-0) on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field. That is the Eagles' Military and First Responder Appreciation game.
  SEPT. 9 – Kylee Urban (volleyball).
SEPT. 16 – Matthew McMullen (men's golf), Kylee Urban (volleyball).
SEPT. 23 – Dani Hicks (women's soccer), Abbey Queen (volleyball), A.J. Rhodes (football), Jack Talkington (football), .