Oct. 23, 2006

LOGAN, Utah - - Football player Paul Igboeli was named the Utah State Athlete of the Week for the period ending Oct. 22, it was announced on Monday. The weekly award is selected by a state media panel.

Igboeli, a true freshman linebacker from Grand Prarie, Texas led the USU defense with a career-high 17 tackles in the Aggies' 48-35 loss at Louisiana Tech on Saturday. His 17 tackles are the most by an Aggie since Robert Watts had 17 against Troy in 2003.

Included in the 17 tackles were two for loss, including a 13-yard sack. He also forced a fumble on the sack, which teammate Darby Golden picked up and ran in for a touchdown.

The Aggies will host Hawai'i on Saturday Nov. 4, at 1:05 p.m.

NOMINEES FROM OTHER SPORTS INCLUDED:

Golf - Jake Blair... Scored two points in USU's 7-6 Ryder Cup style duel victory against Southern Utah. He won his singles match as well as teaming with Devin Daniels to win an alternate shot match. It was USU's first win in three years against Southern Utah.

Soccer - Dana Peart... Junior midfielder netted two goals this past week, and both of her goals were game-winners, netting the winner in Monday's 2-1 win over Hawai'i in the 89th minute and the first goal in Friday's 2-0 win over Nevada in the 51st minute, as she now has three career game-winners, all this season. Utah State played to a 0-0 (2OT) draw with Fresno State to move to 3-0-2 in WAC play, the Aggies' best start to conference action in the program's history.

Volleyball - Rebecca Anderson... A walkon middle blocker made her first career start for Utah State against Boise State Saturday night and set two school records en route to leading the Aggies to a four-game win. Against the Broncos, Anderson set new school records for a four-game match with 13 block assists and 14 total blocks. The old record for block assists was 10 set in 1997, and the old record for total blocks was 12 set in 1990. Furthermore, the 13 block assists ties the overall school record which was set in 1987 in a five-game match. Anderson also added five kills and two digs in the match and hit .250 (5-1-16). For the week, Anderson averaged 2.50 blocks, 0.83 kills, and 0.50 digs per game. Anderson also helped Utah State set two school records against the Broncos with 42.0 block assists and 23.0 team blocks (in a four-game match), breaking the old records of 32.0 block assists and 22.0 team blocks set in 2005 and 1990 respectively.

USU ATHLETE OF THE WEEK WINNERS Aug. 28 - Amanda Nielson, Volleyball Sept. 5 - Amanda Nielson, Volleyball Sept. 11 - Marcus Cross, Football Sept. 18 - Vance Twitchell, Cross Country Sept. 25 - Erin Salmon, Soccer Oct. 2 - Preston Otte, Golf Oct. 9 - Riley Nelson, Football Oct. 16 - Kelsi Peterson, Volleyball Oct. 23 - Paul Igboeli