USA South Athletes of the Week - Sept. 27, 2010

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.)

Football Offensive Player of the Week
          James Wilson, Averett - The senior running back from Los Angeles, California rushed for 116 yards with one touchdown in a 20-10 win over Washington & Lee. Wilson averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
          Jeremy Clifton, Averett - The Greenville, North Carolina senior cornerback returned an interception for a touchdown in a 20-10 win over Washington & Lee. Clifton's interception came in the final minutes of the game and secured the victory. He also accounted for three solo tackles, two of which were for a loss of seven total yards. Also Nominated: Jaren Wilcox, N.C. Wesleyan.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
          Brad Scott, Averett - The Rocky Mount, North Carolina sophomore kicker accounted for the eventual game-winning points in a 20-10 victory over Washington & Lee. Scott's 33-yard field goal with just over two minutes remaining gave the Cougars a 13-10 lead. He also connected on a 45-yard field goal and had a 50-yard attempt blocked. He also handled the kickoff duties, producing two touchbacks. Also Nominated: Kevin Quicker, N.C. Wesleyan.

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
           Richard Bjornander, Averett - The sophomore forward/midfielder from Lerum, Sweden helped the Cougars to a 1-1 record last week by scoring the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Randolph-Macon. Bjornander and the Cougars were held scoreless in a 2-0 loss to USA South foe Christopher Newport.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
           Sean Moriarty, Christopher Newport - The sophomore defender from Yorktown, Virginia helped anchor a defense which shutout USA South foe Averett, 2-0, in the team's only action last week. In addition to helping with the shutout, Moriarty scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 19th minute.

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
          Kendall Dishaw, Christopher Newport - The Salem, Virginia junior forward scored three goals last week as the Captains posted a 2-0-1 record. In a scoreless tie with Virginia Wesleyan, Dishaw managed a team-high two shots. In a 3-2 win over USA South foe Averett, Dishaw scored CNU's first goal of the game, tying the score at one apiece. Finally, in a 5-0 win over USA South rival Ferrum, Dishaw scored the team's second and fourth goals of the game. Also Nominated: Alex Calvert, Meredith; LaQuinta Garrett, Ferrum; Michelle Reger, Greensboro; Sarah McFarland, Mary Baldwin.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
          Kelli Viana, Greensboro - The Valley Stream, New York senior defender helped The Pride to a 2-0 week versus USA South competition by anchoring the defense and also adding two scores. In a 9-1 win over Mary Baldwin, Viana scored the team's sixth and ninth goals of the game. In a 1-0 win over Shenandoah, Viana anchored a defense that did not allow a shot on goal. Also Nominated: Kat Terza, Shenandoah; Kristin Braxton, Meredith; Megan Conheeney, Christopher Newport.

Volleyball Player of the Week
         Sha McDuffie, Greensboro - The senior outside hitter from Salem, North Carolina accumulated a .319 hitting percentage while averaging 3.9 kills, 2.2 digs, 1.3 blocks and 0.6 service aces per set last week as The Pride posted a 3-0 record all versus USA South competition. In a 3-0 win over Peace, McDuffie contributed nine digs, eight kills, three blocks, one assist and one service ace. In a 3-0 victory over Shenandoah, McDuffie recorded 15 kills, five blocks, four digs, one assist and one service ace. Finally, in a 3-0 win over Meredith, McDuffie tallied 12 kills, seven digs, four blocks and three service aces. Also Nominated: Meredith Smith, N.C. Wesleyan; Jalesty Washington, Methodist; Hillary Metheny, Averett; Cori Spade, Meredith; Caitlyn Jansen, Christopher Newport; Alexandra Parker, Peace.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
         Kelly George, N.C. Wesleyan - The senior libero from Derwood, Maryland averaged 5.7 digs and 0.9 service aces per set last week as the Bishops posted a 2-1 record against USA South competition. In a 3-1 loss to Christopher Newport, George recorded 32 digs and one service ace. In a 3-2 win over Averett, George totaled 30 digs, two assists, two service aces and one kill. Finally, in a 3-0 victory over Ferrum, George tallied eight service aces and six digs. Also Nominated: Abby Hogge, Christopher Newport; Ryanne Greer, Methodist; Danielle Simpson, Greensboro; Candace Pettway, Mary Baldwin; Amber Lowe, Peace; MaryBeth Finegan, Meredith; Paige Aaron, Averett.

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
          Kristyn Zeiler, Methodist - The senior from Lutherville, Maryland led the Monarchs at the Will Wilson Citadel Invitational last week by finishing second out of 93 runners in the 5K event. Zeiler finished the race in a time of 19:13 to help the Monarchs to a ninth place finish.

Rookies of the Week

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
          Jordan Vann, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman quarterback from Fayetteville, North Carolina accounted for 314 total yards in a 35-24 win over LaGrange. Vann was 19-of-34 passing with 213 yards and one touchdown, a 58-yard strike that gave the Bishops the lead entering the fourth quarter. On the ground, Vann carried the ball 14 times for 101 yards, an average of 7.2 yards-per-rush. Also Nominated: Kirkland Brown, Averett.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
          Tazmon Foster, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman defensive back from Henderson, North Carolina led the Bishops with 13 total tackles in a 35-24 win over LaGrange. Foster contributed three solo tackles and ten assisted take downs. He also added an interception which came with just over one minute remaining in the game on the N.C. Wesleyan four-yard line, securing the win for the Bishops. Also Nominated: Darrick Johnson, Averett.

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
          Clayton Newton, Methodist - The freshman midfielder from Virginia Beach, Virginia accumulated three points on one goal and one assist in a 1-1 week for the Monarchs. In a 2-0 loss to Covenant, Newton was held scoreless but did manage three shots. In a 4-2 victory over Piedmont, Newton scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 38th minute then assisted on an insurance score in the 63rd minute. Also Nominated: Stewart Bath, Averett; Woody Wilder, Greensboro.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
          Pernilla Milton, Averett - The Goteborg, Sweden freshman forward accumulated five points on two goals and one assist in a 1-1 week for the Cougars versus USA South competition. In a 3-2 loss to Christopher Newport, Milton assisted on a goal in the 60th minute that briefly put the Cougars in front, 2-1. In a 2-1 win over N.C. Wesleyan, Milton accounted for both Cougar scores as she tied the contest with a goal in the 35th minute before tallying the eventual game-winning goal less than a minute later. Also Nominated: Jesse Davis, Meredith; Josie Adams, N.C. Wesleyan; Kelsey Pendleton, Shenandoah; Sarah Lang, Greensboro.

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
          Dana Sandknop, Greensboro - The freshman setter from Greensboro, North Carolina averaged 11.4 assists, 1.3 digs and 0.9 service aces per set last week as The Pride posted a 3-0 record all versus USA South competition. In a 3-0 win over Peace, Sandknop contributed 39 assists, four service aces, three kills, two digs and one block. In a 3-0 victory over Shenandoah, Sandknop recorded 36 kills, seven digs, three service aces, two blocks and one kill. Finally, in a 3-0 win over Meredith, Sandknop tallied 28 assists, three digs, one service ace and one block. Also Nominated: Brittany Eubanks, Mary Baldwin; Haley Smith, Shenandoah; Lauren Bramble, Methodist; Lauren Naugle, Peace; Leanne Burton, Meredith; Sarah Sparks, Averett.

Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
          Sophia Stone, Mary Baldwin - The freshman from Pacific Palisades, California helped the Fighting Squirrels to a second place finish at the Roanoke Invitational last week. Stone placed second out of 57 runners with a time of 21:11 on the 5K course. Also Nominated: Abby Fuquay, Meredith; Leah Holle, Greensboro.

PLEASE NOTE: At least half of the teams in a sport must have competed within the previous week for honors to be awarded.