Matt Linehan — football
Despite splitting first team snaps with sophomore quarterback Chad Chalich all through camp, Matt Linehan has firmly established himself as Idaho’s offensive leader through the first two games of the season. The freshman from Orchard Lake, Michigan, completed 27-of-41 passes in Idaho’s home opener against Western Michigan on Saturday. The Vandals lost the game but it was not because of a lack of offense. Linehan threw for 362 yards and three touchdowns on the day. He also had a seven-yard rushing touchdown for Idaho’s first score of the game. Linehan threw or ran for every Idaho touchdown in Idaho’s 45-33 loss.
Richard Montgomery — football
Richard Montgomery — arguably Idaho’s fastest and shiftiest player — sees playing time all over the field for Idaho’s offense and special teams. The sophomore from Jacksonville, Florida, had 153 all-purpose yards for Idaho against Western Michiganwith 12 rushing yards, 88 receiving yards and 53 kick return yards. Montgomery had a 62-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter to bring Idaho back within four points of the Broncos.
Alyssa Schultz — volleyball
Middle blocker Alyssa Schultz was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week for volleyball after her performance in the Idaho Nike Invitational Thursday to Saturday. The senior from Issaquah, Washington, helped lead Idaho to a 2-1 record in the tournament with wins over Boise State and Portland and a close 3-2 loss to Missouri. She earned all-tournament honors with 31 kills, one error, 56 attacks in 13 sets of action and two perfect games in the tournament. Against BSU, Schultz had 13 kills on 19 attacks for a season-high .684
hitting percentage.
Torell Stewart — soccer
Despite the Vandals dropping two games over the weekend, sophomore goalkeeper Torell Stewart was impressive in goal for the Idaho soccer team. The Vandals fell to St. Mary’s and Washington State last week, but Stewart recorded 16 saves, allowing only four goals during the two games. Stewart had 10 saves against the Cougars, allowing one goal in what Idaho coach Derek Pittman said was the Vandals most impressive showing all season. The Vandals travel to the Southwest this week to play former WAC foe Grand Canyon on Friday, and Arizona on Sunday.
Leilanie Kim — women’s golf
Leilanie Kim, a senior from Surrey, British Columbia, earned Big Sky Women’s Golfer of the Week honors after finishing tied for ninth at the Colonel Wollenberg Ptarmigan Ram Classic in Fort Collins, Colorado, last Tuesday. Kim, who won the WAC Championship in 2014, finished play with a 2-over-par 218. She helped Idaho to an 11th place finish in the tournament. Kim is the first Big Sky Athlete of the Week from Idaho since 1996 — the last time Idaho was in the conference.