Posted: Feb 11, 2021

Bulldog Athlete Of The Week

The Bulldog Athlete Of The Week is presented by Silvernail Realty of Big Rapids.

A new recipient will be announced each week during the 2020-21 athletics campaign.

Below is a listing of recipeints:

FSU April 20, 2021
Taryn Meiste - Women's Soccer

Ferris State University junior goalkeeper Taryn Meiste continued her impressive shutout streak as the nationally 16th-ranked Bulldogs beat Northwood 2-0 on Sunday at the FSU Soccer Field to stay unbeaten at 7-0-1 on the year and atop the GLIAC standings. Meiste recorded her sixth shutout victory of the year and has not allowed a goal in more than 404 minutes of action, which is the third-longest streak in school history. Additionally, she tied for the third-most shutouts in school history with six on the year. FSU had yet another strong defensive performance in the win and the Bulldogs have given up only a single goal all year in eight games.

FSU April 7, 2021
Thomas Hursey - Men's Golf

Ferris State University's Thomas Hursey was tabbed as this week's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Men's Golf Athlete of the Week. Hursey emerged as the individual medalist at the Cav Classic hosted by Walsh University on Monday and Tuesday (April 5-6) in Canton, Ohio. The sophomore standout led the Bulldogs to a third-place team finish by carding a 54-hole score of five-under par 211 at the Glenmoor Country Club. He shot a one-under 71 in the first round followed by back-to-back two-under 70 scores the final two rounds. FSU held the lead going into the final round behind the play of Hursey on the 6,854-yard course.

FSU March 25, 2021
Katie O'Connell - Volleyball

Ferris State University junior forward Grace Verhage led the Bulldogs to a perfect 2-0 start in GLIAC play this past weekend as FSU posted two road shutout wins. Verhage totaled five points on the weekend with two goals and an assist, all of which came in Sunday's 4-0 win at Purdue Northwest. She tallied an unassisted marker in the opening and added FSU's final goal while also producing the assist on Ferris State's initial goal of the contest. Overall, she had five shots on the weekend which all came on goal.

FSU March 9, 2021
Katie O'Connell - Volleyball

Ferris State University senior hitter Katie O'Connell (Evergreen Park, Ill.Chicago Mother McAuley) was tabbed as the Sports Imports/AVCA Division II National Player of the Week for her efforts this past weekend. The honor was announced by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. O'Connell is the fifth Bulldog player in history to garner the AVCA National Player of the Week Award and the first since former standout All-America hitter Allyson Cappel earned the distinction back in 201. O'Connell was also chosen as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Volleyball North Division Player of the Week following a big weekend of action. The senior standout led FSU to an impressive weekend sweep over previously unbeaten and GLIAC leader Ashland at home last weekend. O'Connell tallied 41 kills with 49 digs, eight blocks and an ace on the weekend, averaging 5.86 kills and 7.00 digs per set while hitting an impressive .379 overall. She had 24 kills and 26 digs while notching her 1,000th career dig in Friday's 3-1 win over the Eagles before coming back with a match-high 17 kills and 23 digs in Saturday's 3-0 sweep to finish the homestand.

Feb. 25, 2021
Mckenzie Cleland - Softball

Ferris State University freshman pitcher Mckenzie Cleland was named the Wilson / NFCA National D2 Pitcher of the Week for her outstanding performance by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Cleland, who was also recognized this week as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Pitcher of the Week, led the Bulldogs to an impressive 4-1 mark at the season-opening Lewis Dome Invitational last weekend in Illinois. The rookie hurler went 4-0 in the circle for the Bulldogs and tossed 25 total innings, allowing only four runs and 16 hits overall with 25 strikeouts and four walks. She posted a 0.56 earned run average and had only two earned runs allowed for the weekend. Her performance included a sparkling 3-0 shutout victory over Lindenwood in her collegiate debut and she pitched all seven innings in three of her four appearances for the Bulldogs. Cleland also earned wins in starts against Quincy (Ill.) and Findlay as FSU gave up only two runs in both outings. She pitched in relief in the Bulldogs' win over Ursuline, allowing no hits or runs in four innings of work. The newcomer tossed 12 strikeouts in the win over Quincy and had at least four K's in each of her four outings.

Feb. 17, 2021
DeShonna Day - Women's Basketball

Ferris State University freshman guard DeShonna Day paced the Bulldogs in a league home split against Saginaw Valley State this past weekend in women's basketball action. Day had a team-high 14 points to go with three assists and four steals in Friday's 65-58 FSU victory. She then came back with nine points, five rebounds and a steal in Saturday's setback. For the weekend, the rookie totaled 23 points, shooting 45% from the floor and 78% at the free throw line, in addition to netting six boards, five steals and four assists.

Feb. 10, 2021
Walt Kelser - Men's Basketball

Ferris State senior guard Walt Kelser tallied 17.5 points per game in a weekend split against rival Grand Valley State at FSU's Jim Wink Arena. For the weekend, he also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals. Kelser shot 80% from the free throw line and had back-to-back double figure scoring efforts with 20 points in Friday's 68-65 win followed by 15 points in a 70-51 setback on Saturday. He totaled 35 points, nine boards, four assists and three steals on the weekend.