Oct. 13, 2008

LOGAN, Utah - Sophomore forward Lauren Hansen has been named both the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week and the America First Credit Union Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week it was announced on Monday. The USU weekly award is voted on by a state media panel.

Hansen, a sophomore forward from Camano Island, Wash. (Stanwood HS), had three points in the Aggies' wins against Idaho and Boise State over the weekend. The striker scored her first game-winning goal of the season in a 2-0 win over the Broncos off a header in the 70th minute. She also assisted on Utah State's second goal in a 4-0 victory against the Vandals. Hansen helped the Aggies start 2-0 in conference play for the first time in program history and now leads the team in points scored with 12. This marks the first time Hansen has garnered Player of the Week honors.

Hansen is the second soccer play to win both WAC and USU athlete of the week honors. She is first on the team in scoring with 12 points off of five goals and two assists.

The Aggies are back in action this week for their last two home matches of the season. Utah State will host Nevada Friday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m. and Fresno State Sunday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. Admission to all Aggie soccer matches is free.

Other USU Athlete of the Week Nominees Include: FOOTBALL - Senior linebacker Jake Hutton (Pocatello, Idaho) made nine tackles, including four for loss in Utah State's 30-7 defeat at San Jose State on Saturday. Hutton had a game-high seven solo stops and also added one QB hurry.

MEN'S TENNIS - Senior Mike Banks (Eagle, Idaho) won the consolation finals in the Utah State Fall Invitational over the weekend with a straight sets win against junior teammate Alex Thatcher. Banks began his run through the consolation bracket with a straight sets win in the first round, followed by a three-set win in the quarterfinals, and a straight sets win in the semifinals. Banks also teamed with sophomore Bryan Marchant in doubles play and advanced to the finals in the consolation bracket.

WOMEN'S TENNIS - Sophomore Hailey Swenson (North Salt Lake City, Utah) won the singles title in Flight A with a straight sets win against senior teammate Bridgette Strickland at the Utah State Fall Invitational during the weekend. Swenson made it to the finals with a pair of straight set wins in the first two rounds. Swenson and Strickland also claimed top honors in doubles play with an 8-3 win in the championship match.

VOLLEYBALL - Sophomore setter Chelsea Fowles (Hollister, Calif.) helped Utah State notch a 1-1 record last week with a three-set win at Boise State and a four-set loss at Idaho. Against the Vandals, she tied her career-high with five kills and hit .500 (5-1-8), to go along with 11 digs, three blocks and 33 assists. Against the Broncos, she recorded a career-best six kills and hit .556 (6-1-9), while adding six digs, one block and 27 assists. For the week, Fowles hit .529 (11-2-17) and averaged 8.57 assists, 2.43 digs, 1.57 kills and 0.57 blocks per set.

Previous Utah State Athlete of the Week Winners October 6, 2008 - Ben Kessen, Men's Cross Country September 29, 2008 - Christine Morrill, Volleyball September 22, 2008 - Diondre Borel, Football September 15, 2008 - Melissa Osterloh, Volleyball September 8, 2008 - Shantel Flanary, Women's Soccer September 1, 2008 - Jessie Chugg, Women's Cross Country

-USU-