Scheels Cobber Athletes Of The Week
MOORHEAD, Minn. (11/01/16)—The first day of November highlights a pair of student/athletes on the opposite ends of the spectrum of their collegiate careers . Concordia men’s hockey goalie Sam Nelson is just starting his days as a Cobber while senior women’s volleyball player Jena Klaphake is wrapping up her four years in maroon and gold.
The excellence that Nelson showed in his first career start in shutting out St. Thomas and the perseverance that Klaphake showed in helping the Cobbers clinch the final spot in the MIAC playoffs have earned them Scheels Cobber Athlete of the Week honors.
Scheels is once again pleased to sponsor the Cobber Athletes of the Week award. Each week the Concordia sports information department will choose a deserving Cobber male and female athlete of the week.
MEN’S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
SAM NELSON – Fr., Eau Claire, Wis./Regis HS
Nelson couldn’t have had Hollywood script writers conjure up a better start to his Cobber career. The freshman goalie stepped on the ice for the first time in a Concordia uniform and proceeded to stop all 35 shots he faced in the season opener and beat conference rival St. Thomas 1-0 in the MIAC Showcase.
Nelson answered a huge question for the Cobbers heading into the 2016-17 season as CC didn’t have a goalie on the roster that had any college experience. He put the inexperienced fears to rest in the opening 20 minutes by stopping all 12 shots he faced in the opening period.
Nelson then turned aside seven Tommie attempts in the second frame and 16 more in the final period as St. Thomas tried to even the score after a first-period goal from Dalton Mills proved to be the winner.
Nelson was especially solid on the penalty kill as the Cobbers held the Tommies scoreless in seven power play attempts. Nelson faced five shots in those seven power play tries but UST was never able to get the puck past the first-year netminder.
WOMEN’S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
JENA KLAPHAKE, Sr., Sauk Centre, Minn./Sauk Centre HS
Facing the possibility of playing her final match for the Cobbers, Klaphake – and fellow senior Mandy Mercil – helped Concordia play its best match of the year as they swept St. Benedict 25-15, 25-22, 25-23 on the final day of the regular season.
Klaphake, who was honored with Mercil on Senior Day before the match started, led by example. She put up a double-double in the match as she came away with a match-high 37 assists and added 10 digs. Klaphake also added a pair of kills and two service aces in the three sets.
Klaphake’s leadership of the offense helped Concordia obtain the final spot in the MIAC playoffs which is the Cobbers’ 15th overall conference tournament appearance.
Klaphake finished the year by recording double-doubles in three of the final four matches. She ended the regular season with 842 assists and for her career she is one of only a handful of players in program history to surpass the 2,000-assist mark.