Widener sophomores Natalie Gifford (Morton, PA) and Jamie Ballew (Media, PA) today were named Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week for field hockey and volleyball, respectively.
Gifford scored a crucial goal Wednesday in Widener's 1-0 victory at Alvernia. She found the back of the cage with 10:05 remaining, helping the Pride (10-4, 3-2 CC) take a huge step toward returning to the Commonwealth Conference Tournament. She also scored Saturday against Shenandoah.
Gifford is fourth on the squad with four goals and 11 points for Widener, which has won six of its last seven outings with the only loss coming to No. 1 Messiah.
Widener on Tuesday can clinch a spot in the conference tournament with a victory at Arcadia. Game time is 4:00 pm.
Ballew finished the week with 113 assists, 28 digs, seven blocks and five aces over four matches. She dished 30 assists Tuesday against Messiah and added 36 two nights later in a 3-0 rout at Rowan.
Last year’s conference Rookie of the Year and a second team all-league pick, Ballew is third in the conference with 8.46 assists per set, second on the team with 50 blocks and sixth with 18.3 digs per set. This has helped the Pride clinch a spot in the conference tournament.
Widener on Wednesday hosts Arcadia in the regular-season finale, beginning at 7:00 pm.