Athletics News Releases

Dudgeon, Beehler, Abeyta receive weekly Iowa Conference honors

MOUNT VERNON - Cornell College had three student-athletes recognized as Iowa Conference Performers of the Week in their respective sports for the period ending Sept. 20.

Senior middle hitter Laura Dudgeon (Bettendorf/Bettendorf) was named the IIAC's Volleyball Hitter of the Week as well as the league's Female Athlete of the Week. Freshman forward Alex Beehler (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) was honored as Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week. Senior Caryl Abeyta (Eaton, Colo./Eaton) was voted Women's Tennis Player of the Week.

Dudgeon became Cornell's all-time leader in career kills with 29 in two matches last week. She enters this week with 1,160 career kills, topping the previous record of 1,151 set by Kori Sims (2000-04). Dudgeon averaged a team-high 3.62 kills per set with a .432 attack percentage in Cornell's two wins over Coe (3-0) and Mount Mercy (3-2).

Dudgeon leads the IIAC in hitting percentage (.469) and kills per set (3.67). She has helped guide the Rams to a 9-3 start this fall.

Beehler tallied two goals in Cornell's 5-4 double overtime win over Eureka in Sunday's consolation match in the Sal Vaccaro Tournament in Naperville, Ill. He helped rally the Rams (3-4) from a 3-1 deficit, booting the game-tying goal at the 83-minute mark to force overtime. Beehler has a team-high nine points and four goals this fall. He ranks second in the IIAC in points (1.29) and goals (0.57) per match.

Abeyta notched her 100th career win last week, becoming the ninth women's tennis player in school history to reach the milestone. She finished the week 6-2 overall, including a 4-0 mark at No. 2 singles. Abeyta owns a 104-64 record in four seasons with the Rams (4-7, 0-3 IIAC). She stands eighth on Cornell's career list for singles wins (49) and doubles wins (56).