NEWTOWN, Pa. – Four Lebanon Valley College student-athletes from three teams were honored by the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) for their efforts over the past week of competition, as the conference office announced its weekly awards in a release on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

 Lebanon Valley's women's ice hockey team was presented with both weekly honors after sweeping Alvernia University this past weekend, as sophomore forward Leela Nemani was named the MAC Ice Hockey Offensive Player of the Week and junior goaltender Mia Frisoni was selected as the MAC Ice Hockey Defensive Player of the Week. Dutchmen Men's Ice Hockey also received an award after taking both games against Alvernia, as senior goaltender Chris Branch was chosen as the MAC Ice Hockey Defensive Player of the Week. Additionally, senior guard Riley Hevelow was recognized for her contributions to the past two victories for LVC's women's basketball team, earning the MAC Freedom Player of the Week award. 
 
Frisoni backstopped LVC to two road wins at Alvernia with 60 total saves while allowing just one goal across six periods. She opened with a 32-save shutout—her third of the season—in a 5-0 victory on Friday, despite the Dutchmen being outshot 32-21. She followed this with 28 saves in a 2-1 win on Saturday, surrendering the lone goal only after Alvernia pulled its goalie. The junior posted double-digit saves in four of six periods on the weekend. Frisoni has been named the MAC Ice Hockey Defensive Player of the Week twice this season, as this marks the second straight week she has earned the honor. The goaltender has now won the award eight times in her career. 
 
Nemani played a key role in LVC's sweep of Alvernia, totaling three points while winning 13 faceoffs. She tallied two assists and eight faceoff wins in the 5-0 shutout on Friday, Nov. 21, and then netted the game-winning goal late in the third period of the 2-1 victory on Saturday, Nov. 22. The sophomore was a +2 on the weekend and continues to be a steady two-way presence. This marks Nemani's first career conference weekly award. Lebanon Valley has now received five MAC weekly honors this season.
 
Branch delivered a dominant weekend between the pipes, totaling 94 saves in a pair of wins over Alvernia. He opened with 39 saves in Friday's 5-3 comeback victory, including 19 in the third period alone. He then posted a season-high 53 saves—two shy of his career best—as LVC earned a 3-2 win on Saturday, despite being outshot 55-22. His 53 saves rank tied for sixth in Division III this season and are the most by any MAC goalie in 2025-26. Branch's first MAC Ice Hockey Defensive Player of the Week award of the campaign marks Lebanon Valley's first weekly honor of the season. This is also the fourth time the goaltender has won the award in his career. 
 
Hevelow fueled the Dutchmen to two wins while averaging 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 assists. She posted 17 points, seven boards, and three steals in a 68-44 win over Muhlenberg College on Tuesday, Nov. 18, and then scored a season-high 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting in a 64-50 win at Neumann University on Saturday. Eleven of her points came during a decisive third quarter in which LVC pulled away after a tied halftime score. Hevelow's first MAC Freedom Player of the Week award of the year marks the first honor the Dutchmen have been presented with this season. The senior has now been recognized with three conference weekly awards during her career. 
 
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