Oct. 6, 2003

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University wide receiver Andy Olson has been named Great Northwest Athletic Conference co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Vikings' 29-20 loss to arch-rival in the first Battle in Seattle last Saturday at Seahawks Stadium.

It is the second time this season that Olson has received the honor. A sophomore from Chehalis (W.F. West High graduate), he had 207 all-purpose yards, netting 160 yards on nine catches and returning three punts for a total of 47 yards.

In five games this season, Olson has caught 38 passes for 792 yards and seven touchdowns. His 20.8 yards per catch average is school-record pace. Extended over the full season, the yardage (1,584) and touchdown (14) marks would tie school records, and the receptions (76) would be six short of a record set in 13 games.

Olson has the four highest single-game receiving yardage totals (199, 187, 160 and 154) in the GNAC this season, and the 199-yard performance two weeks ago was the second highest total in the three-year history of the league.

This week, Olson is ranked nationally in five statistical categories, including No.2 in receiving yards with an average of 158.4 per game. He is fourth in all-purpose yards (183.0), seventh in receptions (7.6), 23rd in punt returns (13.7) and 27th in scoring (8.4).

In the last three games alone, Olson has had 27 receptions for 546 yards and four touchdowns, and posted three of the top 15 receiving yardage performances in school history.

Western (1-4) travels to University of Northern Colorado (4-1) on Saturday (11 a.m.)