Blain, Shedden Earn Great Midwest Athlete Of The Week Recognition

Two more Ashland University student-athletes – sophomore women's soccer forward Tessa Blain and sophomore volleyball outside hitter Jenna Shedden – garnered Great Midwest Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week recognition on Monday (Sept. 14) afternoon.
 
Blain was named the conference's latest women's soccer offensive Athlete of the Week following a three-goal, one-assist week in the No. 11 Eagles' wins over Tiffin (1-0 on the road) and Ursuline (8-0 at Ferguson Field) on Thursday (Sept. 10) and Saturday (Sept. 12), respectively. She scored a brace in the home win over the Arrows.
 
In six games so far in 2026, Blain has a team-highs of three goals and eight points, and is tied for the team lead with two assists.
 
Ashland women's soccer (4-1-1 overall, 2-0 Great Midwest) will play host to Ohio Dominican (1-4, 0-2) on Thursday (Sept. 17) at 6:30 p.m., in the Eagles' annual Morgan's Message game.
 
For Shedden, this is her second Great Midwest volleyball East Division Athlete of the Week citation in three weeks. In 3-0 victories over both Findlay on Friday (Sept. 11) night and Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon, Shedden finished the week with a team-high 21 kills, a team-high-tying 23 digs, a .255 hitting percentage and five block assists.
 
She had double-doubles in both matches – 10 kills and 13 digs vs. the Oilers, and 11 kills and 10 digs against the Panthers.
 
For the season, Shedden leads AU with 110 kills, is hitting .241, and has recorded 78 digs and 19 total blocks.
 
Eagle volleyball (7-1 overall, 2-0 Great Midwest) will continue its homestand to begin league play on Tuesday (Sept. 14) at 6 p.m. vs. Tiffin (0-9, 0-1) – in Ashland's Morgan's Message and purple theme match.
  AUG. 31 – Jaime Duran (men's soccer defense), Jenna Shedden (East Division volleyball).
SEPT. 8 – Ava Parrett (women's cross country).
SEPT. 14 – Tessa Blain (women's soccer offense), Jenna Shedden (East Division volleyball).