Europe Athlete of the Week: Nov. 3, 2011
Dan Aslakson
Wiesbaden football
Last week: Aslakson, a senior running back, broke an 82-yard run that set up the deciding touchdown Saturday to help the Warriors down regular-season champion Patch 21-17 and reach the European Division I title game for the second straight year.
“His run this past weekend was just what the team needed as the entire Patch defense was focused on Daniel Harris (who rushed for 175 yards and two TDs Saturday),” Wiesbaden coach Steve Jewell wrote in a Monday email. “(Aslakson) turned a 5-7 yard gain into an 82-yard gain that gave the team some breathing room and led to the eventual game-winning TD.”
Aslakson’s big run gave him 110 yards on just three carries Saturday and upped his season total to 365 yards, all gained in the shadow of Harris, the All-European who rushed for over 1,400 yards last year and over 1,300 this year.
Jewell said the carries imbalance is fine with Aslakson.
“He is a true team player who relishes the team’s success,” Jewell wrote of his team captain. “Daniel is a complete player who has excelled on both offense and defense and is critical in both areas. He is a coach’s dream – smart, athletic, a good teammate and an exceptional leader.”
Rebecca Luna
Heidelberg volleyball
Last week: Luna, a senior setter who was voted to the 2010 All-Europe team, closed out her regular season Saturday by handing out 49 assists that helped the Lady Lions pin 3-0 losses on Region III rivals Ansbach and Hohenfels and finish the regular season unbeaten for the second straight year.
“Rebecca is very consistent in her setting,” Heidelberg coach Linda Steil emailed on Monday. “She is quick and can get to most balls regardless of how poorly they are passed.”
Luna, who closed out the regular season with 175 assists, 17 kills and 14 aces on 55-of-62 serving, also is accurate with the set, Steil added.
“Because of Rebecca’s on-target setting, our hitters have a relatively easy time putting away kills,” Steil wrote, “evident by the high number of kills many of our players have…”
Luna’s game also includes a heavy dose of on-court smarts, her coach added.
“As a setter,” Steil pointed out, “Luna makes the decisions on whom to set the ball to. She does a good job of mixing things up so the opponents do not know where our attack is coming from, and has the good sense to know when to load up a hitter who is having a good day.”
