Here are the candidates for the SBLive/SI Oregon Volleyball Athlete of the Week as nominated by coaches, fans and readers. 

Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced Monday.

If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email danbrood91@gmail.com.

Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes who receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

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Mayen Akpan, South Medford

The junior had a double-double with 18 kills and 10 digs for the Panthers in their 25-22, 25-21, 25-17 win over rival North Medford in a Southwest Conference match played at South Medford High School.

Ada Bernard, St. Mary’s (Medford)

The junior outside hitter recorded 11 kills, eight digs and eight aces for the Crusaders in their 25-10, 25-15, 25-14 home win over Brookings-Harbor in a Southern Oregon Conference match. She also had 15 kills and eight aces in a win over Rogue River.

Brooklyn Boyd, Centennial

The senior setter had 30 assists, eight kills, five digs and three aces for the Eagles in a win over Parkrose in Northwest Oregon Conference play. She then had 36 assists, 11 digs and three aces in a victory against La Salle Prep.

Katie Brewer, Centennial

The senior middle blocker stepped up with 17 kills, 14 digs and five aces in a win over Parkrose in Northwest Oregon Conference play. She then had 20 kills and 18 digs in a conference victory against La Salle Prep.

Mia Cervantes, Willamette

The senior libero/defensive specialist had 18 digs and three aces to help the Wolverines post a 25-17, 25-11, 25-19 win over Benson in a nonleague match played at Willamette High School.

Poppy Freeman, Cascade Christian

The senior outside hitter had a team-high 13 kills and four digs to help lead the Challengers to a 25-21, 25-17, 25-11 sweep at Lakeview in a Southern Oregon Conference match.

Emma Geiger, Glide

The sophomore had 21 digs and five kills for the Wildcats in their 20-25, 25-12, 26-24, 25-22 home win against South Umpqua in a Far West League contest.

Meagan Hellenthal, Umpqua Valley Christian

The sophomore shined with 14 kills and 13 digs to help the Monarchs get a 25-10, 25-17, 25-16 home win over Elkton in Skyline League action.

Phoebe Hyland, Oregon City

The senior setter had a total of 68 assists, 22 digs and eight aces in helping the Pioneers finish in second place in the championship bracket of the State Preview Tournament, held at South Albany High School.

Grace Ispen, Roseburg

The senior setter/right side had 14 assists, seven aces and three kills to help the Indians sweep Willamette 25-12, 25-19, 25-7 in a Southwest Conference match played at Willamette High School. She then had 47 assists, five blocks and three kills in a five-set loss to Sheldon.

Khloe Livingston, Sprague

The sophomore outside hitter had 11 kills and nine digs for the Olympians in their 25-9, 25-17, 20-20 win at McNary in a Central Valley Conference contest.

Jacie Madden, Klamath Union

The senior outside hitter stepped up with 21 kills and 14 digs for the Pelicans in their 3-0 win over Phoenix in a Skyline Conference match played at Klamath Union High School.

Jordyn Marquett, Oregon City

The senior outside hitter had a total of 31 kills, 27 digs and 11 aces on 96-percent serving in helping the Pioneers take second place in the championship bracket at the State Preview Tournament, held at South Albany High School.

Briella Mathis, South Salem

The junior outside hitter had 15 kills, six aces and three blocks to help the Saxons score a 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 25-18 win at Sprague in a Central Valley Conference contest.

Callie Newsome, Mazama

The sophomore outside hitter, with totals of 19 kills, six digs, three aces on 87-percent serving and a block helped the Vikings battle against Henley and get a win over Phoenix in the opening week of Skyline Conference play.

Tori Noffsinger, Yoncalla

The freshman middle blocker/outside hitter had 23 digs, 20 kills and four aces for the Eagles in a 25-19, 23-25, 11-25, 25-22, 15-11 loss to Milo Adventist Academy.

Aya Pantell, Westview

The senior setter had 32 assists, 12 digs, an ace and a kill for the Wildcats in a win at Sunset in Metro League play. She then had 23 assists, 12 digs, three aces and three kills in a league victory against Beaverton.

Nina Read, St. Mary’s Academy

The senior libero/defensive specialist had four aces, passed 40 times at an average rating of 2.13 and added 14 digs for the Blues in their 11-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-20 win at Lakeridge in a Three Rivers League contest.

Mazie Reeser, Stanfield

The senior outside hitter had 20 digs, 16 kills, three blocks and three aces to help lead the Tigers to a 25-21, 25-20, 25-10 win at Heppner in a key Blue Mountain Conference contest.

Julia Slaughter, South Medford

The junior stepped up with 19 assists, four digs and three aces to help the Panthers top North Medford 25-22, 25-21, 25-17 in a Southwest Conference clash played at South Medford High School.

Kendall Stidham, Crater

The junior setter shined with 36 assists, five digs, two aces and two kills for the Comets n their 25-21, 25-10, 25-19 win over North Eugene in a Midwestern League match played at Crater High School.

Paige Thies, Oregon City

The senior outside hitter had a big performance in helping the Pioneers take second place in the championship bracket at the State Preview Tournament, held at South Albany High School. For the tourney, she had 64 kills while hitting at a .331 percentage while also having 16 digs and three blocks in addition to serving at 95 percent.

Payton Tovey, Thurston

The sophomore outside hitter stepped up with 16 digs and 13 kills to help the Colts rally to score a 17-25, 13-25, 25-21, 25-22, 15-9 win over Springfield in a Midwestern League match played at Thurston High School.

Allison Waechter, Sutherlin

The junior outside hitter had another big performance for the Bulldogs, having 32 kills and 13 digs in their 27-29, 23-25, 25-19, 25-13, 15-5 win at Siuslaw in a Far West League tilt. She then had 34 kills and 17 digs in a five-set win over South Umpqua.

Bryndee Wilson, Camas Valley

The senior had 17 assists, 16 aces and four digs to help lead the Hornets to a 25-9, 25-12, 25-13 home win over Pacific in a Skyline League contest.

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Everyone knows the NBA is a grind mentally and physically. But what differentiates the good from the best is their work in the offseason. The amount of time you put in when the cameras aren’t on and when nobody is watching. That’s what shows the true hunger for greatness. It’s one thing to make it to the league, but it’s a whole different battle to stay. For this young Utah Jazz team, it looks like they all want to stay because man have they been putting in work this offseason.

Body Builder Hendricks

Taylor Hendricks should be on everyone’s bingo card for a breakout season. After a rough rookie year heavily due to injury, this man has been busy. The former 9th overall pick has been destroying the gym during the offseason, and according to Coach Hardy gained around 20 pounds. During his media availability, Hendricks spoke about how much he focused on his body and how he needed it for the plans Will and the coaching staff have for him this season. He explained how he feels stronger but doesn’t feel like he ever lost any of his speed. Towards the end of last season, we were able to see glimpses of what Hendricks could become. So this season I will be extremely curious about how he uses this added size and strength to his advantage as well as what his role will be this upcoming season.

Lean Clean Sensabaugh

Brice Sensabaugh is another name to get excited for this season. In his media availability, he spoke a lot about how he’s been getting into the weight room and getting more into shape to be able to play a whole NBA season. He spoke about the improvements in his upper and lower body and losing some extra fat that got him more in shape. As a player who wasn’t afraid to drive into the paint last season, it’ll be interesting to watch what he does differently and how he implements the strength and explosiveness he’s gained. Brice also spoke about his improved playmaking ability and how his defense has improved. He talked about how he got faster and became more able to hold his ground on defense.

The great thing about having such a young team is that they’re hungry. They want to win and they know that if they want to become great in this league having a conditioned and healthy body should be very high on the list. From what we have seen in the past few seasons everyone has been motivated and nobody has been shying away from the grind. We saw it with Lauri, Walker, and Cody Williams made a big jump this offseason. It’s a long and painful season but this team looks built and ready.

Maryland will have a new tool to keep drunken drivers off the roads starting Tuesday.

“It’s been a long, long journey, and it shouldn’t have been.”

 The long journey for Rich Leotta started when his son Noah died in 2015. The Montgomery County Police officer was hit and killed while on patrol by a drunk driver.

“I think about Noah all the time,” Leotta said. “I know he’s with me.”

 Noah’s Law passed in 2016, requiring ignition interlock devices — like breathalyzers — to be installed in the cars of those convicted of drunk driving in Maryland.

But there was a loophole that allowed thousands of drunk drivers to avoid the program every year. If they were given what’s called probation before judgment, as many are for a first DUI offense, then they weren’t required to participate.

The exemption applied to about 50% of cases statewide.

This past session, Maryland lawmakers closed the loophole, requiring all DUI offenders to participate.

Under the new law, experts predict another 5,700 will be required to get into the ignition interlock program.

 supporters say the program is not about punishment — it’s about changing behavior.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those who have the ignition interlock device are less likely to drive drunk again in the future.

“But we still have a lot of work to do to make sure every state requires interlock devices beginning with the first offense,” said Stacey Stewart with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. 

Kathleen Riley with Smart Start demonstrated how the device works. If it detects alcohol, you can’t start your car.

“In the state of Maryland, we also have cameras, so it identifies who is trying to take the test,” she said. 

 For Leotta, the journey isn’t over. He’s working to get legislation passed by Congress to require interlock laws across the country.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, ignition interlocks prevented more than 76,000 drinking and driving attempts in Maryland last year.

All DUI offenders are required to take part in the Ignition Interlock System Program starting Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Convicted drivers will have to install the system and use it for at least 180 days.

Under a new change to the law, all drivers convicted of alcohol-related offense will have to get interlock devices installed in their vehicles.