Colorado University Athletics
Simpson, Gillam Receive CU Athlete of the Week Honors
October 08, 2013 | Football, General, Volleyball
BOULDER - Volleyball's Taylor Simpson (junior) and football's Addison Gillam (freshman) were awarded CU Athlete of the Week on Tuesday for their athletic accomplishments for the week of Sept. 30-Oct. 6.
Simpson, an outside hitter from Colorado Springs, Colo. (Doherty/Missouri), helped the Buffs to a 2-1 week, including two Pac-12 Conference wins. On Friday, Colorado knocked off No. 1 Washington in Boulder, a match in which Simpson hit .302, had 18 kills and 20 digs.
Against Washington State on Sunday, Simpson had a career-high 23 digs while hitting .333. Earlier in the week, Simpson had 14 kills, three aces, eight blocks and three block assists in a five-set loss at Wyoming.
Gillam, a linebacker from Palo Cedro, Calif. (Foothill), set the school's freshman record (true or redshirt) with 18 tackles in Colorado's 57-16 loss to No. 2 Oregon on Saturday. In 86 plays, Gillam had 14 unassisted stops, including two tackles for loss and one quarterback sack. The 6-3, 225 lb. frosh also had four third-down stops, giving him 11 on the season.
Gillam currently ranks as CU's leading tackler with 51 combined in the Buffs' first four games of the season. 32 of his tackles have been unassisted.
Also nominated for this week's award: Hayley Hughes (women's soccer).
Senior co-captain Hayley Hughes hit the game winning goal on Sunday against Oregon to give the Buffs' their 10th win of the season and their second conference win of the weekend. After a scoreless first half, the Buffs and Ducks fought to gain the upper hand. In the 63rd minute, Hughes got the ball from 40 yards out, and didn't waste any time blasting the ball toward the net and into the right corner for her first goal of the season. As a member of the Buffs' solid backline, Hughes helped the Buffs to their seventh shutout of the season.
