MAAC Student-Athletes of the Week (10.15.12)
MAAC Sports
Jannis Opalka - Siena College
Men's Soccer, Sr., B, Stade, Germany/Vincent Lubeck Gymnasium
A senior captain, Opalka is a starting center back and played an integral role in leading the Saints to a current first place standing in the MAAC. He has appeared in and started nine games this fall and registered an assist. One of just 30 candidates nationally for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award, Opalka maintains a 3.9 cumulative GPA while majoring in Management. Following his junior season, he was named a Capital One Academic All-District I First Team selection, an NSCAA Scholar All-American and an NSCAA Scholar All-East Region First Team selection. Additionally, he has earned MAAC All-Academic and Honor Roll honors in each year of eligibility.
Julie Bies - Manhattan College
Volleyball, Sr., L, 5-2, Massapequa, N.Y./ Massapequa
Bies has never missed a set in her Manhattan career, playing in 118 consecutive matches and 447 straight sets as of Oct. 13. She collected her 1,500th career dig at Rider on Oct. 6, becoming just the third player in program history to reach that mark. Bies also ranks second on Manhattan's single-season digs list, recording 583 digs (one shy of the single-season program record) during the 2010 season. A two-time MAAC All-Academic Team selection, she will graduate in May with a degree in physical education.