USA South Athletes of the Week - Feb. 21, 2011

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.)

Players of the Week

Men's Basketball Player of the Week
          Matt Dougherty, N.C. Wesleyan - The junior guard from Ayden, North Carolina averaged 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game as the Bishops compiled a 2-0 record last week versus USA South competition. In a 70-66 win over Averett, Dougherty totaled 16 points, six rebounds and two assists. In a 74-71 victory over nationally-ranked Ferrum, Dougherty helped the Bishops capture the USA South Regular Season Championship by scoring a game-high 22 points. He also added four rebounds, three steals and one assist in the win. Also Nominated: Marquis Scott, Averett; Marcus Mayo, Ferrum; Kevin Kline, Shenandoah; Mark Jernigan, Methodist; Mike Green, Christopher Newport.

Women's Basketball Player of the Week
           Chelsie Schweers, Christopher Newport - The Chesapeake, Virginia senior guard averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game as the Captains, ranked 13th nationally, compiled a 2-0 record last week versus USA South competition. In a 75-28 win over Methodist, in 25 minutes of action, totaled 25 points and three rebounds. In a 61-48 victory over nationally-ranked Greensboro, Schweers scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and collected two steals. Also Nominated: Kristen Keith, Ferrum; Megan Rahn, Meredith; Sierra Edwards, Shenandoah; Danielle Duncan, Greensboro; Ashley Washington, Averett.

Baseball Player of the Week
          Matt Shoemaker, Christopher Newport - The junior second baseman from Newport News, Virginia hit .421 (8-for-19) with seven runs scored, six RBI, one double, one triple, two walks and three stolen bases last week as the Captains posted a 4-1 record. In a 5-3 loss at Mary Washington, Shoemaker was 2-for-4 with one run batted in. In an 11-6 victory over St. Mary's, Shoemaker was 2-for-5 with one run batted in and one stolen base. In a 12-3 win over Randolph-Macon, Shoemaker was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and one stolen base. In a 7-3 win over nationally-ranked Cortland State, Shoemaker was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, one run batted in and one double. Finally, in a 14-4 victory over Bridgewater, Shoemaker was 1-for-4 with three runs scored, one triple and one stolen base. Also Nominated: Adam Higgins, Averett; Everette Blalock, Greensboro; Travis Crump, Ferrum.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week
           Greg Van Sickler, Shenandoah - The Stephenson, Virginia senior earned the win in a 2-0 victory over nationally-ranked Cortland State in his only appearance last week. Van Sickler tossed eight shutout innings allowing four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. He also performed well at the plate last week, batting .533 with six runs scored and two RBI. Also Nominated: Tyler Long, Averett.

Softball Player of the Week
           Katie Byrd, Methodist - The sophomore second baseman from Smithfield, North Carolina has hit .462 (6-for-13) with nine RBI, four runs scored, two doubles, two triples and two walks to begin the season as the Monarch have posted a 4-0 record. In a doubleheader sweep of Brooklyn, Byrd was a combined 4-for-7 with five RBI, two runs scored, two triples, one double and one walk. In a doubleheader sweep of Guilford, Byrd was a combined 2-for-6 with four RBI, two runs scored, one double and one walk. Also Nominated: Courtney Long, Peace; Lauren Daniel, Averett; Megan Barger, Ferrum; Arielle Stout, Meredith.

Softball Pitcher of the Week
           Nicole DeFilippo, Averett - The Forest, Virginia sophomore earned a complete-game win in a 5-0 victory over Southern Virginia in her only appearance so far this season. DeFilippo tossed seven shutout innings allowing two hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Also Nominated: Alex Bass, Methodist; Rachel Shumaker, Ferrum.

Men's Tennis Player of the Week
          Brad Tulenko, Methodist - The junior from Keswick, Virginia has posted a 4-0 at the number-six singles flight so far this spring for the Monarchs. Tulenko posted wins over opponents from Coker, Oglethorpe, Covenant and Piedmont. Three of his four victories were straight-set wins.

Rookies of the Week

Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week
           Bryan Hockaday, Methodist - The Staten Island, New York freshman forward averaged a double-double of 15.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, to go along with 3.5 blocks and 1.0 assists per game as the Monarchs compiled a 1-1 record last week versus USA South competition. In an 87-72 loss at Christopher Newport, Hockaday notched a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds. He also added two assists and one block per contest. In a 61-58 victory over Shenandoah, Hockaday totaled 15 points, eight rebounds, six blocks and one steal. Also Nominated: Tra Benefield, Christopher Newport.

Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week
          Kayla Goins, Ferrum - The Cana, Virginia freshman guard averaged 18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game as the Panthers compiled a 2-0 record last week versus USA South competition. In a 91-48 win over Mary Baldwin, Goins scored a career-high 25 points with eight rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. In a 67-46 victory over Peace, Goins contributed 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal. Also Nominated: Chevena Pickard, Greensboro.

Baseball Rookie of the Week
          Billy Steel, Christopher Newport - The freshman shortstop from Mechanicsville, Virginia hit .421 (8-for-19) with ten RBI, five runs scored, four doubles, one home run and two walks last week as the Captains posted a 4-1 record. In a 5-3 loss at Mary Washington, Steel was 1-for-4 with one run batted in. In an 11-6 victory over St. Mary's, Steel was 2-for-4 with four RBI, one run batted in and two doubles. In a 12-3 win over Randolph-Macon, Steel was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBI, one double and one walk. In a 7-3 win over nationally-ranked Cortland State, Steel was held hitless. Finally, in a 14-4 victory over Bridgewater, Steel was 2-for-5 with three RBI, two runs scored, one double and his first career home run. Also Nominated: Austin Catherina, Greensboro; Jason Carter, Averett.

Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
          Andrew Womble, Methodist - The Elizabeth City, North Carolina freshman earned the win in a 12-0 victory over Roanoke in his only action last week. Womble tossed six shutout innings, allowing four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. Also Nominated: Bryan Bierlein, Christopher Newport; Tyler Beeby, Greensboro.

Softball Rookie of the Week
          Leah Gibson, Averett - The sophomore second baseman from Belmont, North Carolina, playing her first season of intercollegiate softball, hit .667 (4-for-6) in a season-opening doubleheader sweep of Southern Virginia. Gibson combined for three RBI, three runs scored, one double, one home run, one sacrifice fly and one walk in the two wins. Also Nominated: Emily Cooke, Meredith; Karly Thompson, Ferrum; Marcy McKee, Methodist.

Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
          Brandi Weaver, Methodist - The San Antonio, Texas freshman has earned two wins to begin the season for the Monarchs. In a 10-1 victory over Brooklyn, Weaver allowed one unearned run in five innings pitched while giving up one hit and five walks with four strikeouts. In a 7-5 win over Guilford, Weaver allowed five runs on ten hits with two walks in 5.1 innings pitched.

Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week
          Duncan Miller, Methodist - The freshman from Birmingham, Alabama has posted a 2-2 record at the number-two singles flight and a 4-0 record at the number-one doubles spot so far this spring for the Monarchs. Miller posted singles wins over opponents from Oglethorpe and Piedmont. Miller teamed with Matthew Taylor to earn the four four doubles victories. Also Nominated: Vladimir Daskalov, Shenandoah.

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