USA South Athletes of the Week - Oct. 18, 2010
(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.)
Football Offensive
Player of the Week
Keith Gaines, Christopher Newport
- The senior running back from Roanoke,
Virginia rushed for 127 yards with one touchdown in
a 23-15 win over USA South rival N.C.
Wesleyan. Gaines averaged 6.8 yards per carry and scored
a 35-yard touchdown on his first carry. Also Nominated: Keone Kyle,
Shenandoah; Jeremy Dixon, Averett; Antwan Thorpe, Greensboro;
Travis Murphy, Methodist.
Football Defensive Player of the Week
Michael Ruckman, Christopher Newport
- The Newport News, Virginia
sophomore linebacker accumulated nine total tackles, one
interception and one forced fumble in a 23-15 victory over USA
South rival N.C. Wesleyan. Ruckman tallied six solo tackles and
three assisted take downs. His interception came in the first
quarter and helped set up CNU's first score. Also
Nominated: Kane Crowell, Maryville; Tremaine Whitney, Ferrum;
Logan Smyth, Averett; Allen Stallings, Greensboro; Antonio Harris,
N.C. Wesleyan; Trey Cregan, Shenandoah.
Football Special Teams
Player of the Week
R.J. Sandmeyer, Maryville - The
Fayetteville, Tennessee junior punter averaged 34
yards-per-punt in a 21-14 win over USA South foe Averett.
Sandmeyer punted the ball eight times, four of which were downed
inside the opponents' 20-yard line. His long punt of the day was 42
yards. Also Nominated: Kentel Noel, Christopher Newport.
Men's Soccer Player of
the Week
Mark Wielitzka, N.C. Wesleyan -
The senior forward from Hanover, Germany helped the
Bishops to a 2-0 record last week versus USA
South competition by totaling six points on two goals and
two assists. In a 3-2 win over top-ranked Christopher Newport,
Wielitzka scored twice, tying the game at 1-1 in the 55th
minute then winning the contest in the 87th minute. In a 4-0 win
over Ferrum, Wielitzka assisted on two goals, the game's first and
eventual game-winner in the first minute then an insurance goal in
the 42nd minute. Also Nominated: Timi Heikkonen, Averett.
Men's Soccer Defensive
Player of the Week
Nate Barker, Averett - The
sophomore goalkeeper from Cave Creek,
Arizona recorded a shutout in a 1-0, overtime, win over USA
South foe Methodist. In 97 minutes of action, Barker was flawless,
making three saves.
Women's Soccer Player
of the Week
Sam Ciaravino, Christopher Newport
- The Burke, Virginia senior
midfielder accumulated seven points on three goals and one
assist in a 2-0 week versus USA South competition for the Captains.
In a 3-0 win over Meredith, Ciaravino assisted on the team's second
goal of the game in the 59th minute. In an 8-0 win over Peace,
Ciaravino tallied a hat trick with three goals including the
eventual game-winner in the ninth minute. Also Nominated: Kara
Pegram, Ferrum; Amber Womack, Shenandoah.
Women's Soccer
Defensive Player of the Week
Katie Hodkinson, Ferrum - The
Mt. Crawford, Virginia senior
goalkeeper backstopped the Panthers to
a 1-0 win over USA South rival Shenandoah in her only
action of last week. Hodkinson went the distance between the posts,
stopping four shots en route to the shutout. Also
Nominated: Kelli Viana, Greensboro; Meghan Gumbs, Christopher
Newport; Sarah McFarland, Mary Baldwin.
Volleyball Player of
the Week
Mackenzie Tingle, N.C. Wesleyan
- The junior setter from Clearbrook,
Virginia accumulated a .486 hitting percentage while
averaging 5.9 assists, 3.7 digs, 1.8 kills and 0.5 service
aces per set last week as Bishops posted a 3-0
record all versus USA South competition. In a 3-0 win over
Meredith, Tingle tallied a double-double of 20 assists
and 16 digs. She also added three kills and one block in the
victory. In a 3-0 win over Shenandoah, Tingle recorded 18
assists, nine digs, five kills, two service aces and one block.
Finally, in a 3-1 victory over Peace, Tingle notched a
triple-double of 21 assists, 12 digs and ten kills. She also added
three service aces in the win. Also Nominated: Jalesty Washington,
Methodist; Brittany Hunsucker, Greensboro; Brooke Hensley, Averett;
Caitlyn Jansen, Christopher Newport; Rachel Maki, Shenandoah.
Volleyball Defensive
Player of the Week
Kelly George, N.C. Wesleyan
- The senior libero from Derwood,
Maryland averaged 7.6 digs and 1.0 assists per set last
week as the Bishops posted a 3-0 record against USA
South competition. In a 3-0 win over Meredith, George tallied
20 digs, three assists and three service aces. In a 3-0 win
over Shenandoah, George contributed 20 digs, five assists and one
service ace. Finally, in a 3-1 victory over Peace,
George totaled 36 digs and two assists. Also
Nominated: Abby Hogge, Christopher Newport; Paige Aaron,
Averett; Hillary McPhatter, Methodist; Candace Pettway, Mary
Baldwin.
Men's Cross Country
Runner of the Week
Corey
Lofton, Christopher Newport - The
junior from Vienna, Virginia led the Captains at the Williams
and Mary Open last week by finishing eighth out of 59
runners in the 8K event. Lofton finished the race in a
time of 25:58. Also Nominated: Craig Cicero, Methodist; Josiah
Renton, Shenandoah.
Women's Cross Country
Runner of the Week
Kristyn Zeiler, Methodist - The
senior from Lutherville, Maryland led the Monarchs at the
N.C. Collegiate Championships last week by finishing
sixth out of 70 runners in the 6K event. Zeiler finished
the race in a time of 23:24 to help the Monarchs to a sixth place
finish. Also Nominated: Amy Smith, Shenandoah; Morgan Youd,
Meredith.
Rookies of the Week
Football Offensive
Rookie of the Week
Dustin Williams, Maryville - The
freshman quarterback from Jacksonville, Florida tossed
three touchdowns in a 21-14 win over USA South foe Averett.
Williams accounted for 208 passing yards on 21 completions without
an interception. His touchdown passes were from one, 20 and four
yards out. He also added 15 rushing yards in the win. Also
Nominated: Xavier Morgan, Averett; Kall Daniel, Greensboro; Lyndon
Garner, Christopher Newport.
Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Josh Rogers, Shenandoah - The
freshman linebacker from Virginia Beach, Virginia totaled
13 tackles in a 21-18 win over USA South rival Methodist.
Rogers accumulated four solo tackles and nine assisted take downs.
Additionally, two of his tackles resulted in a loss of two total
yards. Also Nominated: Justin Navarro, Christopher Newport;
Tazmon Foster, N.C. Wesleyan.
Men's Soccer Rookie of
the Week
Mark-Antony Liljeklev, Averett -
The freshman midfielder from Gothenburg, Sweden scored
two goals in a 2-0 week for the Cougars. In a 1-0, overtime, win
over USA South foe Methodist, Liljeklev scored the game-winner in
the 98th minute. In a 5-0 victory over Warren Wilson, Liljeklex
tallied the first and eventual game winning goal in the 40th
minute. Also Nominated: Alex Clouse, Shenandoah; Woody Wilder,
Greensboro.
Women's Soccer Rookie
of the Week
Sarah Lang, Greensboro - The
Greensboro, North Carolina freshman forward accumulated
six points on three goals in a 2-0 week for The
Pride. In a 6-2 win over Marymount, Lang tallied a hat
trick of three goals. Her second of the three goals proved to be
the game-winner. In a 4-2 win over Trinity, Lang was held
scoreless. Also Nominated: Maliha Ataullah, Averett; Emma
O'Reilly, Christopher Newport; Brittany Mason, Shenandoah; Brittany
Baker, Ferrum.
Volleyball Rookie of
the Week
Dana Sandknop, Greensboro - The
freshman setter from Greensboro, North
Carolina averaged 9.4 assists, 2.7 digs and 0.6 service
aces per set last week as The Pride posted
a 3-2 record. In a 3-1 win over USA South foe Methodist,
Sandknop contributed 51 assists, seven digs,
five service aces, two kills and two blocks. In a 3-0
victory over Lakeland, Sandknop recorded a double-double of 22
assists and 11 digs. She also added four kills and one block in the
win. In a 2-0 loss to Loras, Sandknop tallied 21 assists, seven
digs, two kills and two service aces. In a 3-0 victory over
Wisconsin-Lutheran, Sandknop notched a double-double
of 33 assists and 14 digs. She also added two service aces,
one kill and one block in the win. Finally, in a 3-0 loss to
Rhodes, Sandknop tallied 23 assists, four digs and one
service ace. Also Nominated: Sarah Sparks, Averett; Lauren Bramble,
Methodist; Brittany Eubanks, Mary Baldwin.
Men's Cross Country
Rookie of the Week
Ryan Taylor, Shenandoah - The
freshman from Westminster, Maryland helped the Hornets to
a first place finish at the Shenandoah Hornet
Harrier. Taylor placed fourth out of 26 runners with
a time of 17:37 on the 5K course. Also Nominated: Marcelo Prata,
N.C. Wesleyan.
Women's Cross Country
Rookie of the Week
Erin Rolaf, Christopher Newport
- The freshman from Woodbridge, Virginia helped the
Captains at the William & Mary Open last
week. Rolaf placed 18th out of 42 runners with
a time of 24:08 on the 6K course. Also Nominated: Sophia Stone,
Mary Baldwin; Megan Whitcomb, Greensboro; Abby Fuquay,
Meredith.
PLEASE NOTE: At least half of the teams in a sport must have competed within the previous week for honors to be awarded.
