Oct. 12, 2009

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State soccer defender Natalie Norris has been named the America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Oct. 11, it was announced on Monday. The award is voted on by a state media panel.

It is the first time Norris has been named Utah State's Athlete of the Week.

Norris, a freshman from Sandy, Utah (Alta HS), led Utah State to a pair of road wins against Boise State (1-0) and Idaho (2-1 2OT) this past weekend. Norris scored the game-winning goal in the Aggies' win against Boise State and was part of the USU backline that recorded its second shutout of the season. Against Idaho, she helped hold the Vandals to one goal en route to a 2-1 double overtime win.

Norris now has two goals this season and is one of eight different Aggies to have scored this season. The freshman is tied for fourth in scoring.

Utah State will take on two teams at home this week. The Aggies will play Fresno State on Friday, Oct. 16 and San Jose State on Sunday, Oct. 18. Nominees from other sports included:

FOOTBALL - Sophomore running back Robert Turbin (Fremont, Calif.) rushed for a career-high 184 yards on 24 carries (7.7 ypc) in Utah State's 20-17 loss at New Mexico State Saturday. It was Turbin's fourth 100-yard rushing outing this season in five games. The 184 yards are the most for a USU running back since Emmett White's 233 yards versus Weber State in 2001.

MEN'S GOLF - Senior Thad Truman (Blackfoot, Idaho) was Utah State's top finisher at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate last week as he finished tied for 50th with an 11-over 227 after shooting rounds of 79, 74 and 74. USU finished in 16th-place as a team with a 68-over par 932 (325-296-311).

WOMEN'S TENNIS - Junior Hailey Swenson (North Salt Lake City, Utah) won the championship of the A Flight last weekend at the Utah State Open with straight set wins in each of her three matches. Swenson also teamed with freshman Jaclyn West and the duo went 3-0 to win the doubles championship.

VOLLEYBALL - Junior libero Christine Morrill (Neola, Utah) recorded double-digits in digs in both of Utah State's matches last weekend as it lost at Fresno State (3-1) and at Nevada (3-2). Morrill had 18 digs against the Bulldogs and 19 against the Wolf Pack to give her 1,060 career digs, which moves her into second-place all-time at USU. Thus far this season, Morrill is averaging 4.30 digs per set to rank first in the WAC.

2009-10 Utah State Athlete of the Week Winners
Aug. 31 - Lauren Hansen, Soccer
Sept. 7 - Liz McArthur, Volleyball
Sept. 14- Liz McArthur, Volleyball
Sept. 21- Diondre Borel, Football
Sept. 28 - Robert Turbin, Football
Oct. 5 - Benjamin Schilleman, Golf
Oct. 12 - Natalie Norris, Soccer

USU