Athletes of the week

Josh McCain

Josh McCain — football

Josh McCain

Josh McCain

Josh McCain continued his fantastic season, racking up 128 yards and a touchdown on seven catches in Idaho’s loss to Troy Saturday in the Kibbie Dome. McCain, a senior from San Jose, California, now has 1,115 yards and nine touchdowns on the season, averaging 15.3 yards per catch. Not only is McCain the Vandals’ receiving leader, he also leads the Sun Belt in receptions, touchdowns and receiving yards. Nationally, he is sixth in the NCAA in receiving yards and ninth in the receiving touchdowns. This is McCain’s first year playing wide receiver, as he was a quarterback all through high school and at Idaho until this season.

Arkadiy Mkrtychyan — men’s basketball

Arkadiy Mkrtychyan

Arkadiy Mkrtychyan

In his first ever regular season game for Idaho, true freshman Arkadiy Mkrtychyan powered the Vandals to victory in the season opener against Eastern Oregon. The Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, native pulled down eight rebounds, had three steals and scored 18 points for the Vandals. He led Idaho in both points and steals for the game and tied with teammates Bira Seck and Nahshon George for the rebounding lead. The small forward chose Idaho over scholarship offers from Weber State, Portland State, Oregon State, Seattle U and Stony Brook.

Stacey Barr — women’ s basketball

Stacey Barr

Stacey Barr

The Idaho women’s basketball team tipped off the season last Friday, playing at California State-Northridge. While the final results weren’t what the team was hoping for losing 67-50, senior guard Stacey Barr had a great opening to the season with a double-double. The reigning WAC Player of the Year and two-time WAC Tournament MVP was good for 18 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and one steal, as well as knocking down three 3-pointers. Barr lit up the stat sheet, but she was also responsible for eight costly turnovers for the Vandals in the loss.

Jessica Hastriter — volleyball

Jessica Hastriter

Jessica Hastriter

In her final home game as a Vandal, senior Jessica Hastriter carried the Idaho offense in the season finale against Northern Colorado. Hastriter, from Boise, recorded 12 kills in the match, which was the team high. She was the only Vandal in double figures. Unfortunately, her final home game wasn’t a win for the Vandals, as they fell in four sets to UNC. It won’t be Hastriter, or any of the Vandal seniors’, final game in an Idaho uniform though, as the Big Sky Tournament begins Thursday in Pocatello at Idaho State. The Vandals take on Northern Arizona in the first round, who they beat soundly 3-0 earlier this season. Hastriter had 16 kills in that match and will look to repeat her performance Thursday.

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