The Spartan Club, comprised of Case Institute of Technology (CIT), Western Reserve University (WRU) and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) alumni, parents of current students, faculty and staff, and friends of the University, is aimed at helping foster and honor the proud tradition of athletics at the University, while also supporting the current student-athletes. For more information on the Spartan Club, and to help support its purpose by becoming a member, CLICK HERE.
Case Western Reserve University senior Kalli Wall, an outside hitter on the volleyball team, and senior Claire Kozma, a swimmer on the women's swimming and diving team, have been named the Spartan Club Athletes of the Week for their performances this past week.
Wall totaled 30 kills in nine sets to lead the Spartans to a pair of victories at the second University Athletic Association Round Robin, including an upset of 10th-ranked WashU, on Sunday at Horsburgh Gym in Cleveland. Wall started the day with a team-high 13 kills in a five-set win over the University of Rochester, adding four blocks and three digs. She followed that with a 17-kill performance in the four-set win over the Bears, adding a block and a dig during the upset. Wall had a .241 hitting percentage in the two matches. This season, she leads the team with 316 kills (3.59 per set) with a .243 attacking percentage, putting down at least 10 kills in 18 of the team's 23 matches. CWRU moved over the .500 mark for the first time this season with the wins, improving to 12-11 overall and 3-2 in UAA play.
The Spartans will next take the short trip to crosstown rival John Carroll on Wednesday, October 15 for a midweek non-conference matchup. The first serve is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Kozma recorded three NCAA B cut times and helped the Spartans win seven events at the season-opening Oberlin Early Invite hosted by Oberlin College at Carr Pool on Friday and Saturday. Kozma swam personal-best times in the 50 Free (23.52 seconds) and 200 Fly (2:04.02) which were both B cuts. Additionally, she had a B cut in the 100 Fly with a time of 55.36 seconds. Kozma was a member of four winning relays, including the 200 Free Relay (1:35.89), 400 Medley Relay (3:58.64), 800 Free Relay (8:00.80), and 400 Free Relay (3:35.90). She led off the 400 and 800 Free Relays and was the anchor of the 200 Free Relay. Overall, the Spartans placed first out of five teams at the invitational with 1,299.5 points.
The Spartans will take a week off from intercollegiate competition before a pair of meets during the following weekend. The teams face Ohio Wesleyan in a dual meet on Saturday, October 25 and travel to Centre College for the Battle in the Bluegrass on Saturday and Sunday, October 26.
The Spartan Club Athletes of the Week are selected by the CWRU Department of Athletics each Monday, based on their performance during the previous week of competition.
Honorable Mentions:
Senior William Froass (men's swimming and diving) helped the Spartans win six events and place second in an additional two during the season-opening Oberlin Early Invite on Saturday and Sunday at Carr Pool in Oberlin, Ohio. Individually, he placed first in the 200 IM (1:54.55), 100 Back (50.94 seconds), and 200 Back (1:53.31). Froass was also a member of the winning 200 Free Relay (1:23.72), 400 Medley Relay (3:23.99), and 200 Medley Relay (1:33.26), leading off both medley relays. Overall, the Spartans placed first out of four teams with 1,688.5 points.
Sophomore strong safety Jake Kavcic (football) helped lead the Spartans to a 62-21 win over Allegheny College during Homecoming at DiSanto Field in Cleveland on Saturday. Kavcic notched his second interception of the season during the game, returning it 52 yards for a touchdown to put CWRU ahead 35-0 with 1:44 left in the opening half. He also had a sack earlier in the game (his second of the year) and finished the contest with a pair of tackles (both solo) despite not seeing the field in the second half. Kavcic led a Spartan defense that held Allegheny scoreless during his time on the field, while yielding just three first downs and 37 total yards in the first half. Through six games this season, he has totaled 22 tackles (12 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, a quarterback hurry, and four pass breakups. The Spartans have won three consecutive games to improve to 3-2-1 on the season with a 3-1 Presidents' Athletic Conference Record.
The Spartans will have their bye week next week before returning to action on Saturday, October 25, on the road against Thiel College.
First-year diver Jayna Kawas (women's swimming and diving) recorded a pair of top-two finishes at the season-opening Oberlin Early Invite on Friday and Saturday. Competing in her first collegiate meet, Kawas won the 3-meter dive with a score of 227.15 and placed second in the 1-meter dive with a mark of 217.45.
Senior middle blocker Kiya Levy (volleyball) totaled 10 blocks in nine sets for the Spartans during a pair of victories at the second University Athletic Association Round Robin, including an upset of 10th-ranked WashU, on Sunday at Horsburgh Gym in Cleveland. In the team's opening five-set win over Rochester, Levy blocked six attacks, while adding six digs, five kills, and two service aces. During the four-set upset of the Bears, she had four blocks, five kills, a dig, and a service ace. This season, Levy has 73 total blocks (0.87 per set), 60 digs (0.71 per set), 108 kills (1.29 per set), and 12 service aces.
Senior running back Stefan Lopez (football) accounted for four touchdowns during the team's 62-21 win over Allegheny College on Homecoming at DiSanto Field in Cleveland on Saturday. Lopez's four touchdowns came despite not seeing the field in the second half with the game in hand. He got the Spartans on the board with 8:50 left in the first quarter on a two-yard touchdown catch and added a two-yard run later in the frame to put CWRU ahead 14-0. In the second quarter, he added an eight-yard touchdown catch with 11:29 on the clock and capped off the team's scoring in the opening half with a four-yard touchdown run with 1:27 to play that gave the Spartans a 42-0 lead heading into halftime. Lopez carried the ball 10 times for 44 yards and added a pair of receptions for 10 yards. He has run for 192 yards and four touchdowns this year while adding two catches for 10 yards and a pair of scores.
Sophomore midfielder Abby Welker (women's soccer) scored her third goal of the season in the third-ranked Spartans 2-1 loss to third-ranked WashU on Saturday afternoon at DiSanto Field. Trailing 2-0 in the 65th minute, Welker found the back of the net with an assist from first-year Izzy Probst, cutting the team's deficit in half with a one-touch shot into the top corner of the goal. CWRU dropped its first contest of the season, falling to 11-1-1 overall and 1-1-0 in UAA contests.
The Spartans will embark on a three-game UAA road trip beginning next week when the team heads to the University of Chicago for a matchup against the sixth-ranked Maroons. Kickoff on Saturday, October 18 is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET
2025-26 Spartan Club Athletes of the Week:
Sept. 2: Jacob Slater (men's cross country) & Jamie Goldfarb (women's soccer)
Sept. 8: Mitchell Fein (men's soccer) & Maggie Farra (women's soccer)
Sept. 15: Bradley Winter (men's soccer) & Ceci Dapino (women's soccer)
Sept. 22: Daniel King (football) & Halina Tompkins (women's cross country)
Sept. 29: Sam DeTillio (football) & Kalli Wall (volleyball)
Oct. 6: Osi Chukwuocha (football) & Ceci Dapino (women's soccer)
Oct. 13: Kalli Wall (volleyball) & Claire Kozma (women's swimming and diving)
