Colorado University Athletics
Simpson, Olugbode Named CU Athletes Of The Week
September 22, 2015 | Volleyball
The University of Colorado Athletes of the Week for September 14-20 are Kenneth Olugbode (football) and Gabby Simpson (volleyball).
In a 27-24 overtime victory over Colorado State, Olugbode had a team high 17 tackles (7 solo), a third down stop and his first career interception, which he returned 60 yards for a touchdown that gave CU a 24-17 lead with 8:50 remaining in the game. He became the 15th Buffalo since 1992 to return his first career pick for a score. In addition, he did all this on his 20th birthday.
Sophomore Simpson helped the Buffaloes volleyball team to a 4-0 weekend to win the Omni Invitational and was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week.
Simpson earned the tournament's MVP honors after averaging 4.71 kills per set. She also hit .303 in the four wins and recorded 1.07 blocks, 1.00 digs, 0.43 aces, 0.36 assists and 5.68 points per set.
The Colorado Springs, Colo., native started the weekend off with a career-high 21 kills in a four set victory over Montana State on Sept. 18, while adding six digs and four block assists while hitting a weekend best .372. Simpson recorded 16 digs in the night match on Sept. 18 against Weber State while hitting .370.
On Sept. 20, Simpson shined again. The Buffs played George Mason in the first match of the day and once again she hammered 16 kills. Simpson also tied a career-high with five aces and added four blocks and four assists. In the tournament finale against Air Force, she tallied 13 kills and five block assists.
Also nominated for this week's honors: Esther Lee (women's golf) and Kate Scheele (soccer).
Lee fired a school record 8-under par, 64 in the second round of the East & West Match Play Challenge on Sunday, earning medalist honors and helping the Buffaloes win the stroke play portion to earn the No. 1 seed for the tournament. She claimed her second win of her career after posting a 73-64—137 or 7-under par over the 36 holes. In her record-breaking second round, Lee played bogey-free golf, with eight birdies, setting a new school record for most in one round and 10 pars. She shot 33 on the front side and carded a 31 on the back, tying a school record. Earlier in the week, Lee finished fourth overall at the Minnesota Invitational— the team's season opener. She shot 71-70-75—216 and drained nine total birdies. The Los Alamitos, Calif. native now has five top five finishes.
Goalkeeper Scheele helped the women's soccer team finish the non-conference season with a 3-0 over Villanova last weekend. The junior from Seattle made two pivotal saves in the match to preserve the shutout and earn her third clean sheet of the season. Scheele had to come off her line in both save situations, first in the 40th minute, she redirected the ball to go wide left and then again the 72nd minute, she made a diving stop to keep the Wildcats off the board. As a team, Colorado has shutout five opponents thus far. Scheele improved to 6-2-1 between the posts for the Buffs in 2015, leading CU to its fourth straight season with at least six non-conference wins.
