MONROE, La. – A strong start to the season earned Tylor Onwae from men's basketball Warhawk Male of the Week, and a strong finish at home earned Marcela Araya from volleyball Warhawk Female of the Week, announced Tuesday.
Ongwae led the Warhawks to a pair of big wins. The Eldoret, Kenya native got it started by tallying a team-high 18 points in a 74-65 road victory against UAB. He was one rebound away from a double-double as he grabbed nine boards.
The 6-7 forward scored the first basket of the season for the Warhawks with a runner in the lane in the first minute. He also hit a jumper in the second half to give ULM its biggest lead of the game at 65-50.
Against Champion Baptist, Ongwae guided ULM to a record-breaking home opener as the Warhawks posted the largest margin of victory in school history, 106-39. In just 12 minutes of work, the senior netted 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting (.800). It was his fifth consecutive double-figure scoring game dating back to last season and the 26th of his career.
On the same court, Araya, who broke the school record for digs in a season, accumulated an impressive 66 digs over the weekend with only three receiving errors over eight sets to move her average to 5.60 digs per set on the season. That number placed her eighth in the entire country in that statistical category.
Against Arkansas State, the senior totaled 26 digs to break her own school record for most digs in a season, while outdueling the nation's top libero 26 to 22.
In the final home match of her career on Senior Sunday, Araya fueled a comeback victory over Appalachian State by collecting 40 digs over five sets. The San Jose, Costa Rica native went on to win Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors on Monday.
It marked the sixth career Warhawk of the Week award for Ongwae and the seventh for Araya which includes sand volleyball.
Fall 2014 Warhawk of the Week Archive
Sept. 2: Male: Mitch Lane (Football); Female: Marcela Araya (Volleyball)
Sept. 9: Male: Ajalen Holley (Football); Female: Karlea Fehr (Soccer)
Sept. 16: Male: Dusan Makevic (XC); Female: Taylor Zaeske (Volleyball)
Sept. 23: Male: Calum Hill (M. Golf); Female: Jenna Pillon (Soccer)
Sept. 30: Male: Justin Manton (Football); Female: Ines Fendt (W. Golf)
Oct. 7: Male: Greg Smail (M. Golf); Female: Sophie Rufyikiri (Tennis)
Oct. 14: Male: Tyler Cain (Football); Female: Kaitlyn Shearer (Volleyball)
Oct. 21: Male: Calum Hill (M. Golf); Female: Katherine Werther (Soccer)
Oct. 28: Male: Justin Manton (Football); Female: Ines Fendt (W. Golf)
Nov. 4: Male: Hillary Kirwa (XC); Female: Marcela Araya (Volleyball)
Nov. 11: Male: Justin Manton (Football); Female: Jennifer McClendon (Volleyball)
Nov. 18: Male: Tylor Ongwae (Basketball); Female: Marcela Araya (Volleyball)
2013-14 Warhawk of the Week Archive
