Saint Joseph’s College junior sprinter Samantha Nirva and Lewis University senior pole vaulter Rebecca Priesler have been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Women’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, it was announced on Wednesday.

 Priesler won the pole vault Friday at the Lewis Open with a winning mark of 10'11" (3.35m).  Her effort was a personal best and just ranks third overall among GLVC vaulters.  The hometown Romeoville, Ill., native narrowly missed in all three attempts at the NCAA provisional standard of 3.55 meters.

Priesler earns the first weekly award of her career and is the first Lewis indoor field athlete to garner top honors from the league since Megan Marchildon was recognized on Feb. 6, 2013.