Ava Gibbs selected as GNAC defensive player of the week

PORTLAND, Ore. — After scoring her first career goal in a strong effort last Friday along with a strong defensive effort as a part of the backline, Montana State University Billings women's soccer defender Ava Gibbs was recognized as the GNAC Defensive Player of the Week, following an announcement by the conference on Monday afternoon.

"Ava had a strong presence both in and out of possession," praised MSUB head coach Abiye Jack. "She gave the team 90 minutes of tough defending and stepped up to deliver a big goal in a game where we struggled to get an attacking rhythm. She has had a great start and I'm excited to see her growth throughout the season."

A junior transfer in her first season with the Yellowjackets, Gibbs has played in and started three matches this season for MSUB, completing a full 90 minutes for the first time at MSUB in the team's most recent match last Friday against Black Hills State. Gibbs would stand tall for the Yellowjackets in the match, helping her side keep a strong Black Hills State attack at bay for a majority of the match. Her most pivotal moment would come however in the 55th minute, where she would rise above the crowd to head home her first career goal as a Yellowjacket off a corner kick, evening the score to help MSUB take a hard-fought 1-1 draw on the road.

The honor marked Gibbs's first GNAC Player of the Week honor, as well as the first time a Yellowjacket has earned Defensive Player of the Week honors since the 2024 season.

Gibbs and the Yellowjackets hit the road to open GNAC play this week, taking on Western Oregon University on Thursday before squaring off against Saint Martin's University on Saturday. A full detailed look at the MSUB women's soccer schedule can be found online here.