Big Red open 2023-24 sports season with three NCAC Athlete of the Week awards – Denison University
GRANVILLE, Ohio (September 5, 2023) – Denison University Athletics earned three North Coast Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week awards for the first week of the 2023-24 athletics calendar. Anna Klass was named the Women’s Golf Athlete of the Week, Jake Krueger was the Men’s Soccer Athlete of the Week, and Alice Kempf was named the Volleyball Athlete of the Week.
Anna Klass, Women’s Golf
Sophomore Anna Klass, a newcomer for No. 17 Denison, carded an overall 151 (75-76) in her Big Red debut. She finished plus-six overall and tied for eighth place out of 75 total golfers at the Lynn Schweizer Invitational. Denison finished in fifth place in a loaded field of nationally-ranked teams that included No. 2 Washington University-St. Louis, No. 3 Emory, No. 10 Methodist and No. 13 Centre.
Jake Krueger, Men’s Soccer
Denison junior Jake Krueger propelled the Big Red to a 2-0 season opening win over Roanoke on Friday night after helping his teammates find the goal on two separate occasions. The junior also put both of his shot attempts against Transylvania into the back of the net in a 3-1 win on Sunday. During the Big Red’s undefeated weekend, Krueger tallied six points.
Alice Kempf, Volleyball
Sophomore Alice Kempf averaged 10.75 assists per set (129 total assists) and 3.08 digs per set (37 total digs) while also adding 11 kills, seven service aces and four blocks during Denison’s first 3-0 opening weekend since 2012. Kempf led Denison with 51 assists and 18 digs, a career-high in both categories, during Denison’s 3-2 comeback victory over Wilmington College during the opening match of the Big Red Invitational on Friday. She then dished out 35 assists and added three service aces during a 3-0 sweep over Washington and Jefferson to start the day on Saturday before ending the tournament with her first-career double-double featuring 43 assists and 14 digs in a 3-1 victory over Franklin. The Big Red led the NCAC in hitting percentage, kills per set and points per set during the first weekend of the season thanks in large part to Kempf’s efforts.
