Sky honors Nichols

Eastern Washington quarterback Matt Nichols is the Big Sky Conference football offensive player of the week.

The junior from Cottonwood, Calif., completed 26 of 40 passes for 382 yards and five touchdowns in the Eagles’ 45-31 conference-opening win over Idaho State on Saturday in Cheney.

Montana freshman Brody McKnight was named the special teams player. Defensive honors were shared by Dane Fletcher of Montana State and Deionte Gordon of Sacramento State.

Volleyball

Hayley Hills, a junior outside hitter at Eastern Washington, is the Big Sky Conference player of the week after leading the Eagles to league wins over Montana and Montana State last week.

Hills had 41 kills, averaging 5.86 kills per set, to improve her Big Sky-leading figure in that department to 4.26. That average ranks 19th nationally. She also had a .431 hitting percentage for the week.