Widener University - Natalie Gifford and Jamie Ballew Named Conference Players of the Week

Skip Navigation Links

Natalie Gifford and Jamie Ballew Named Conference Players of the Week

10/26/2009

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.

Aug

September 2010

Oct

Fri, Sep. 03, 2010

There are no events scheduled.

Athletes of the Week

James Woodley

Football

Senior James Woodley was named Widener's Men's Outstanding Athlete of the Year.

It was another standout campaign for Woodley, who was tabbed first team All-Middle Atlantic Conference a third straight year and second team All-East Region by D3Football.com. A four-year starter who constantly drew double teams, Woodley ended tied for fourth in the conference with 14.5 tackles for a loss, tied for eighth with 5.5 sacks and tied for 23rd with 5.7 tackles per game.

Woodley, who was invited to the East Preps Football Combine, had 19 tackles to tie for the third most in school history, 14 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks and five tackles for a loss October 31 against Lebanon Valley.

Sam Baer

Women's Soccer

Senior Sam Baer was named Widener's Women's Outstanding Athlete of the Year.

Baer capped a remarkable career by being named All-Commonwealth Conference a fourth straight year, picked to the first team a third consecutive season and third team All-Middle Atlantic Region. She was named second team all-region in 2008.

Baer ends a spectacular career in which she was tabbed second team all-league as a defender in 2006, first team all-conference as a forward in 2007 and first team as a midfielder the last two years. She graduates first in school history with 40 assists, second with 29 goals and second with 98 points.