PORTLAND, Ore. – For the first time since 2012, the Montana State University Billings women's soccer team swept the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards, with Liberty Palmer selected as the Offensive Player of the Week, and Tuva Sallvin selected as Defensive Player of the Week.
 
It was the second career selection for Palmer, who was previously awarded with Player of the Week honors in 2021, while Sallvin was selected for the first time in her career. They become the first Yellowjacket duo to earn Player of the Week selections in the same week since Chelsea Shurman and Jennifer Larsen in 2012. The pair's selections bookend a stellar week for the Yellowjackets, who won a pair of road conference games on the road, keeping a clean sheet in both matches.
 
A sophomore forward, Palmer wasted no time in making an impact for the Yellowjackets since returning from injury the previous weekend, coming up big for the 'Jackets in their win over Saint Martin's Thursday. Facing a Saints squad that hadn't allowed multiple goals in seven matches heading into the game, Palmer scored two goals in the opening seven minutes of the match, helping guide the 'Jackets to a 2-0 victory. Between both MSUB wins on the weekend, Palmer totaled five shots, putting four shots on goal while helping MSUB to back-to-back conference wins on the road.
 
"I'm so happy for Liberty," said MSUB head coach Abiye Jack. "Liberty has worked very hard to get back on the field for a second time. It is great to see step in and make an immediate impact. She has reminded everyone of how talented and hard working she is."
 
Sallvin played a major role in both of the Yellowjackets road victories last week, starting both matches in goal as the Yellowjackets held back-to-back clean sheets in conference play for the first time since 2015. Sallvin made three saves in the Yellowjacket's 2-0 victory over Saint Martin's. The senior followed that up with four saves, and a number of important interventions, in MSUB's 1-0 win over Western Oregon, giving the Yellowjackets a season sweep of the Wolves.
 
"Tuva is very good at managing our game flow with her decision making and distribution," said Jack. "She is also strong in 1v1 situations and has made some big timely saves."
 
The Yellowjackets (4-6-3, 3-5-2 GNAC) play their final two home games of the season this week, squaring off with Northwest Nazarene first on Thursday, October 26, followed by a match against Central Washington on Saturday, October 28, where Sallvin will be one of four senior players honored pregame. Live coverage of both games can be found online here.