Sun Prep Athletes of the Week: Ahmad Atkins and Lacee Koelliker

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002 | 9:47 a.m.

For Nov. 7, 2002

AHMAD ATKINS

School: Durango

Class: Senior

Sport: Football

Last week: In his first week back from a weird injury, Ahmad Atkins solidified an already strong Durango offense. The stellar running back carried 11 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns, spurring the Blazers to a 54-0 win over Sierra Vista to close the regular season. "To have Ahmad back, that's definitely a big plus," Durango coach John Mausbach said. To have lost him was shocking -- Atkins suffered the injury while playing around at home, and did not realize he suffered a fracture until a school physical two weeks later. "I thought it was just pulled muscles or something," Atkins said. "That was a freak accident right there."

LACEE KOELLIKER

School: Silverado

Class: Senior

Sport: Volleyball

Last week: After helping the Skyhawks to a 4A state runner-up finish as a junior, setter Lacee Koelliker has been at the heart of another strong season for Silverado in 2002. In action last week, Koelliker put up a modest 11 assists as Silverado easily downed Vo-Tech. Her best showing, though, came the next day against Coronado, when the senior standout posted 53 assists to spur the Skyhawks to a key four-game victory over Coronado. Silverado won its Sunrise Region quarterfinal match Tuesday against Valley, and the Skyhawks face Las Vegas for a berth to the state tournament today.