Grand Valley State Women's Lacrosse Dominates GLIAC Player Recognition

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Valley State women's lacrosse team continues its impressive 2026 season with a commanding sweep of GLIAC Player of the Week awards, as senior midfielder Ella Boose and junior defender Quinn McElroy both earned conference honors.

The GLIAC announced its awards following the seventh week of play, with Grand Valley State taking home both the Offensive Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week titles.

Boose Leads Offense with Career-Best Performance

Ella Boose, a Brighton, Michigan native in her senior season, was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career. The senior midfielder notched 10 points across two conference victories, adding eight draw controls and four groundballs.

Boose kicked off the weekend with a career-high six goals in the 9-4 victory over Northern Michigan, including the game-winner that sealed the win. The performance pushed her past 100 career points, as she also picked up three draw controls and a groundball in that matchup.

In Sunday's 7-4 win over Concordia-St. Paul, Boose added two goals, two assists, five draw controls, and three ground balls. She currently leads the Lakers in points with 29, goals with 20, and draw controls with 27.

"This is a huge honor for me," Boose said about her first GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week recognition. "To get recognized alongside Quinn shows how strong this team is right now."

McElroy Anchors Defense

For the first time in her tenure as a Laker, junior defender Quinn McElroy earned GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. The Lake Orion, Michigan native was a key force on the Laker defensive line, holding both Northern Michigan and Concordia-St. Paul to just four goals apiece.

McElroy totaled five groundballs and five caused turnovers over the two victories. She had two groundballs and caused two turnovers in the 9-4 win over Northern Michigan, where she helped hold the nation's leading scorer to only one point on eight shot attempts.

On Sunday, McElroy caused three turnovers and picked up three groundballs in the 7-4 victory against Concordia-St. Paul. She currently leads GVSU with 22 groundballs and 19 caused turnovers.

Weekend Victories Build Momentum

Both players earned their awards after a weekend of strong performances against conference opponents. The Lakers defeated Northern Michigan 9-4 on Friday to open GLIAC play, then followed up with a 7-4 victory over Concordia-St. Paul on Sunday.

In the victory over Northern Michigan, Boose scored six times, the first of which gave her over 100 career points. The Laker defense held NMU's nation-leading scorer Josie Lakosky to just one point on eight shots.

McElroy and teammate Karleigh Rothe each forced two turnovers in that game, while Kylie Waeghe forced three turnovers and had two groundballs.

Looking Ahead

The Lakers continue their home slate of GLIAC action, with upcoming matchups against conference opponents. The team's strong defensive performance and offensive firepower from Boose have been key to their success this season.

The 2026 season has seen GVSU women's lacrosse building on a strong foundation, with both Boose and McElroy emerging as leaders on the team. Their individual recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of the entire program.