Eastern Oregon University had two athletes recognized this week for their outstanding performances in their respective sports and conferences. Football's Jason Grant was named the Erck Hotels Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Week following a dominant showing on Saturday, while volleyball's Kate Stidham earned Cascade Collegiate Conference McDonald's Player of the Week, presented by Urban Edge Network, for her exceptional setting performance.

Football- Defensive
Jason Grant, a senior defensive back from Toppenish, Washington, anchored the Mountaineers' lockdown defense in a 34-0 shutout victory over Simpson University (CA) on Senior Day. Grant recorded five solo tackles and five assists, leading a unit that completely stifled the Red Hawks' offense.

He made an immediate impact early in the game with a five-yard fumble recovery on Simpson's opening drive, quickly shifting momentum back to Eastern Oregon. Later, he delivered a game-changing interception, reading a trick play perfectly and returning it 45 yards to set up scoring position.
Beyond the numbers, Grant's leadership and poise set the tone for the defense, helping keep Simpson out of the red zone for the entire game and ensuring the Mounties' dominant shutout performance.

This honor marks Grant's third career Erck Hotels/ Frontier Conference Player of the Week award. 

Volleyball - Setter
Stidham, a junior from Central Point, Oregon, guided the Mountie offense with precision over the weekend, helping Eastern to a pair of sweeps that secured the program's fourth straight CCC regular-season title. She totaled 43 assists (7.17 per set) along with eight digs and two service aces across the two matches.

In the Mountaineers' Senior Night matchup against No. 12 Lewis-Clark State, Stidham recorded a team-high 23 assists and six digs, then followed that performance up with 20 assists, two digs, and a pair of aces in the regular-season finale versus (RV) Walla Walla. 

The honor marks the third of Stidham's young Mountie career and the seventh for EOU Volleyball this season. Eastern Oregon now shifts its focus to the postseason, where it will host the CCC Championship Tournament, set for November 13-15 inside Quinn Coliseum.