PATRIOT AUTO OKWU ATHLETE OF WEEK: Volleyball, men's soccer great share honor

Mike Tupa, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
·3 min read

Even though they arrived at Oklahoma Wesleyan University be different routes, Lauren McKinney and Stefan Lukic both have gigantic impacts on the school’s athletic landscape.

For their contributions in the past several days they share this week’s E-E Oklahoma Wesleyan University Athlete of the Week.

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Lauren McKinney

McKinney’s path to OKWU was relatively short, geographically speaking. After helping in the early stages of Oklahoma Union High School’s emergence as a state volleyball power, McKinney spent two years of junior college tutelage at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College prior to transferring to OKWU.

This past season, she provided the Lady Eagles a tremendous force as a hitter.

McKinney led the Lady Eagles in kills (260), kills per set (3.02) and total attacks (655), to help fuel the Lady Eagles to a winning record and another impressive showing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference postseason tournament.

Lauren McKinney
Lauren McKinney

She also made 67 digs, had seven solo blocks and 20 block assists, and set the ball 86 times.

The Lady Eagles — who are coached by Tracie Gillette — powered to a 15-12 record, including an 8-6 mark in the KCAC.

Home court proved to be almost an unbeatable venue for the Lady Eagles, who finished 8-2 in the Mueller Sports Center.

Gave a mighty contribution in the final few matches in November.

In a 3-1 thumping of Stering, McKinney ripped 18 kills and made eight digs in an all-arround dynamic effort.

OKWU opened the KCAC tourney with a 3-0 win against York (Neb.) College, in which McKinney spanked nine kills and made 23 attacks.

McKinney’s younger sister Maddy also is an important contributor on the team.

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Stefan Lukic

Lukic is a fifth-year OKWU men’s soccer midfielder that hails from Suijam Serbia.

The 6-foot human thunderbolt has been an invaluable weapon in OKWU’s success the past five seasons, which include reaching the NAIA national tournament Final Four in multiple years, including last year’s run to the national championship game.

Lukic has noted 62 career goals and 93 career assists as one of the Eagles’ best all-time scorers.

He’s snapped off 11 game winning goals in 112 matches and averaged nearly a shot on goal in every match.

This season, Lukic is a main cog in OKWU’s 20-2-0 record — and coutning.

The Eagles have an opportunity to return again to the national final, but will have to survive the national tourney gauntlet to get there. Next up, they play at 1 p.m. today at home in the NAIA regional final.

Lukic — a multiple time All-American and four-time KCAC Men’s Soccer MVP — has recorded 12 goals and 18 assists this year. He has notched three game-winning goals and taken 47 shots on goal.

Oklahoma Wesleyan University's Stefan Lukic, right, scraps with an opposing player in soccer action earlier this season. In the No. 1 vs. No. 2 match, Lukic tallied OKWU's only goal in the 2-1 loss at Central Methodist (Mo.).
Oklahoma Wesleyan University's Stefan Lukic, right, scraps with an opposing player in soccer action earlier this season. In the No. 1 vs. No. 2 match, Lukic tallied OKWU's only goal in the 2-1 loss at Central Methodist (Mo.).

Lukic has made a major impact in November, both with his production and in forcing extra defensive coverage to free up other Eagles for opportunities.

He recorded a season highlight in scoring OKWU’s only goal against the nation’s No. 1-ranked Central Methodist (Mo.) team in a 2-1 overtime win by Central Methodist.

Lukic also tallied two goals in a 4-1 conference win against Bethlel (Kan.).

He has produced five games with two-or-more assists, and has recorded at least one assist in 12 matches.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: OKWU: Lauren McKinney, Stefan Lukic are week's top athletes