BULLDOGS EARN 2 PLAY-OF-THE-WEEK AWARDS

SZABO, RODRIGUEZ GAIN FOOTBALL/VOLLEYBALL HONORS

By Staff

MCPHERSON – The 2023 season has begun with a bang for both the McPherson College football and volleyball programs as quarterback Tristan Szabo and setter Cynarah Rodriguez have won KCAC Player-of-the-Week awards for the first weekend of the new season.

Szabo, a junior from Sparks, Neveda, threw for a career-high 405 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for another 62 yards and a score in leading the Bulldogs football team to a season opening 51-17 hammering of Tabor College at home in McPherson.

“Tristan operated at a very high level for three quarters of football,” noted Bulldog head coach Jeremiah Fiscus. “He led his guys, made the appropriate adjustments and really performed well.”

Through the first week of the 2023 season, Szabo ranks third in the NAIA for passing yards while leading the KCAC.

On Saturday, September 2, Szabo will once again lead the Bulldogs onto the field as they travel to Sterling to battle the Sterling College Warriors. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m.

Also earning honors as Setter of the Week by the KCAC is Lady Bulldog volleyball setter, Cynarah Rodriguez, who helped guide the McPherson College volleyball team to a 2-1 record over a two-day tournament at Park University.

“Cynarah did a great job this weekend,” explained Lady Bulldog volleyball head coach Cory Cahill. “She worked hard and helped our team see much success. I am excited to see her continue making an impact on the team and the season.”

A native of Amarillo, Texas, Rodriguez finished the weekend with 88 assists in the three matches while also recording 30 digs.

Rodriguez had 18 assists in a straight three-set sweep of St. Ambrose University, then added a season=high 42 assists in the Lady Bulldogs five-set win over Morningside Univrsity, before finishing the weekend off getting another 28 assists in the team’s loss to sixth-ranked Park University. She currently ranks fourth in the KCAC with 6.93 assists per set.

The Lady Bulldog spikers will be back on the court this weekend for a tournament in Omaha, Nebraska where they will battle Lindsey Wilson College on Friday and then tangle with both Missouri Valley College and Grand View University on Saturday.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)