WESTFIELD, Mass. - Four Westfield State student athletes have earned weekly honors from the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Junior women's cross country runner Jessie Cardin (Sutton, Mass.), junior volleyball hitter Brianna Starkey (Rockland, Mass.), and junior men's cross country runner Pat Brett (Whitman-Hanson HS/ Hanson, Mass.) were all named the MASCAC athlete of the week in their respective sports. Freshman men's cross country athlete Zac Bentley (Taunton HS/Acushnet, Mass) was selected as that sport's conference rookie of the week.
Cardin won the Smith College InvitationĀal, covering the 5k course in 19:14, finishing 20 seconds ahead of the second place finisher to claim the individual title and help the Owls to a second place finish in the team standings.
Starkey averaged 10.75 kills, 3.75 digs and 1.75 blocks with a .201 hitting percentage while playing the front row in a 1-3 week for the Owls. Led the team with 13 kills and three digs in a 3-0 win over Eastern Connecticut State, had 10 kills, a dig and a solo block in the 3-1 setback to Clark University and finished with 15 kills, 10 digs and six blocks (four solo) in a 3-1 loss at Keene State College.
Brett was the top individual finisher for the Owls, placing 11th overall in 17:03 over the 5k course, leading the team to a third-place finish at the Smith College Invitational.
Bentley covered the 5k course in 17:39 to finish 23rdof 82 runners in his collegiate bow at the Smith College Invitational.