Dec. 18, 2009

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - UC Davis' Mike Morales and North Dakota's Megan Langseth have been selected the Great West Conference Student-Athletes of the Month for their performances during the month of November.

Morales, a senior linebacker from Los Altos, Calif., posted 26 total tackles (15 solo, 11 assisted) as UC Davis went 2-1 in the month of November, including wins over Cal Poly (23-10) and North Dakota (28-20), which helped the Aggies claim the 2009 GWC title. Morales, who was named the GWC Defensive Player of the Week after both wins, was credited with 13 stops (11 solo) against Cal Poly and eight tackles (two unassisted) against UND. He added five tackles (two solo) in the Aggies' final game of the season, a loss versus Sacramento State (31-28).

Morales' November performance helped him earn GWC Defensive Player of the Year, first-team all-league honors and Associated Press All-America First Team accolades.

Langseth guided the Sioux to their first regular season and conference tournament titles in program history as UND concluded its season with a 12-match winning streak (5-0 in November). Two of those victories came at the inaugural Great West Tournament where Langseth led UND to victories over South Dakota in the semifinals and Utah Valley in the championship match. The senior setter from Alexandria, Minn., was named the tournament MVP after combining for 64 assists, including 38 in the four-set win over the Wolverines.

On Senior Day against South Dakota (Nov. 14), Langseth posted a double-double with 53 assists and 11 digs in her final home match as the Sioux captured the Great West regular season title outright with an 11-1 record in league play. She averaged 10.25 assists per set during November and was named the Great West Setter of the Year while earning a spot on the All-Great West Conference First Team.

Other nominees on the men's side included Mario Flaherty (Houston Baptist Basketball), Mitch Sutton (North Dakota Football), Noah Shepard (South Dakota Football) and Jordan Swarbrick (Utah Valley Basketball).

Other standout performances nominated for the women were Raquel Jones (Houston Baptist Basketball), Mallory Mork (South Dakota Volleyball) and Katey Turner (Utah Valley Soccer).