UMass Student-Athletes of the Week: Olivia Ollerenshaw and Bridget Valentine
In Amherst, two outstanding athletes have been recognized as UMass Student-Athletes of the Week: Olivia Ollerenshaw from rowing and Bridget Valentine from women’s lacrosse. They will be celebrated at the UMass Sports Luncheon this Wednesday at noon in the Berkshire Room.
Ollerenshaw made waves by leading the UMass Varsity 8 to a silver medal finish at the Knecht Cup. They raced on the Copper River, where they posted impressive times, winning the second semifinal in a speedy 7:10.29. In the finals, they secured second place with a time of 6:53.05, outperforming notable teams like Bucknell and Boston College.
On the lacrosse field, Valentine has also delivered impressive performances. Over two games, she recorded seven ground balls and nine caused turnovers. In a commanding 14-4 victory against Eastern Michigan, she achieved a career-high of seven caused turnovers, tying a program record set just last year. Her strong defense helped keep Eastern Michigan scoreless for nearly 28 minutes, marking their lowest goal total for the season. Valentine contributed additional stats with three ground balls, two caused turnovers, and an assist in a subsequent 20-9 victory over Columbia. With 31 caused turnovers this season, she ranks among the national leaders and is climbing the all-time charts at UMass.
These achievements showcase the talent and hard work of both athletes and underscore UMass’s pride in its athletic programs. Celebrating athletes like Ollerenshaw and Valentine not only highlights their individual successes but also inspires fellow students to strive for excellence.
For more on UMass athletics, you can visit the official UMass Athletics website here.
