USA South Athletes of the Week - Sept. 5, 2011

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.)

Football Offensive Player of the Week
          Rico Wallace, Shenandoah - The senior wide receiver from Hanover, Maryland set a new school and USA South record with five touchdown receptions in a 49-21 win over Stevenson. Wallace totaled seven catches for 154 yards to go along with his five scores. The first three catches of the game for Wallace resulted in touchdowns. Also Nominated: Ryan Roach, Maryville; Markeese Stovall, Christopher Newport.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
          Mike King, Christopher Newport - The Centreville, Virginia senior linebacker led a CNU defense that allowed just one touchdown in a 12-7 win over Waynesburg. King totaled a team-high 13 total tackles, one of which was a sack for a loss of nine yards. King accumulated three solo tackles and ten assisted take downs in the victory. Also Nominated: Josh Rogers, Shenandoah; James Wallace, N.C. Wesleyan.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
          Kevin Quicker, N.C. Wesleyan - The Potomac, Maryland senior kicker was a perfect 2-for-2 kicking field goals in a 38-20 loss to Ohio Northern. Quicker was good from 42 and 41 yards away, including both of his PAT attempts. He also handled the punting duties and averaged 39.8 yards per kick on four attempts. Also Nominated: Andrew Lloyd, Shenandoah; Roderick Doggett, Averett.

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
           Winston Mattheisen, Christopher Newport - The senior forward from Williamsburg, Virginia helped the Captains begin the season with a 2-0 record by scoring three goals and adding one assist for seven points last week. In a 5-0 win over Catholic, Mattheisen scored CNU's second and third goals of the match. In a 3-1 victory over 23rd-ranked York (Pa.), Mattheisen assisted on the game-tying goal and scored the final tally of the match. Also Nominated: Richard Bjornander, Averett; Asa Fox, Ferrum; Eric McGinnis, Methodist.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
           Nate Barker, Averett - The junior goalkeeper from Cave Creek, Arizona was 1-0-1 last week for the Cougars. Barker played just over 210 minutes and allowed just one goal. In a 2-1, double-overtime, win over Mount St. Joseph, Barker stopped four shots. In a 0-0, double-overtime, tie versus Frostburg State, Barker preserved the result by making five saves. Also Nominated: Justin Robertson, Ferrum; David Haas, Christopher Newport.

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
          Sarah Lang, Greensboro - The Greensboro, North Carolina sophomore forward scored five goals last week as The Pride opened the season with a 2-0 record. In a 2-0 win over Warren Wilson, Lang tallied both of the contest's goals. In a 6-0 victory over Hollins, Lang tallied a hat trick of three goals, the game's second, third and fourth scores. Also Nominated: Danielle Minichello, Methodist; Carly Utterback, Christopher Newport; Pernilla Milton, Averett; Jessie Davis, Meredith.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
          Andie Dodge, Mary Baldwin - The Rinoz, Virginia sophomore defender anchored the defense in a 5-3 win over Wilson in the team's only action last week.

Volleyball Player of the Week
         Cori Spade, Meredith - The sophomore outside hitter from Raleigh, North Carolina compiled a .420 attack percentage while averaging 3.7 kills and 3.4 digs per set last week as the Avenging Angels posted a 3-2 record. The final four matches of the week took place at the Johns Hopkins Invitational. In a 3-1 win over Johnson & Wales (NC), Spade recorded a double-double of 16 kills and 18 digs. She also added four service aces and one block in the win. In a 3-0 loss to Johns Hopkins, Spade totaled ten kills, nine digs, one service ace and one block. In a 3-0 loss to DeSales, Spade contributed 19 digs, eight kills and two blocks. In a 3-2 win over Goucher posted her second double-double of the week with 29 kills and 12 digs. She also added two service aces, two blocks and one assist. Finally, in a 3-0 victory over City College of New York, Spade had four digs, three kills and one block. For her efforts at the Hopkins Invitational, Spade earned All-Tournament honors. Also Nominated: Mary Harshman, Shenandoah; Allison Sparks, Averett; Jalesty Washington, Methodist; Christie Fellows, Christopher Newport.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
         Paige Aaron, Averett - The junior libero from Danville, Virginia averaged 5.64 digs per set last week as the Cougars began the season with a 3-1 record. In a 3-1 win over Emory & Henry, Aaron recorded 23 digs, two service aces, one kill and one assist. In a 3-0 win over Guilford, Aaron totaled 17 digs, one kill, one assist and one service ace. In a 3-1 loss to Washington & Lee, Aaron contributed 20 digs, one kill, one assist and one service ace. Finally, in a 3-0 victory over Roanoke, Aaron recorded 19 digs, four service aces, two kills and one assist. Also Nominated: Rachel Evans, Methodist; Danielle Simpson, Greensboro; Emily Anderson, Meredith; Bailey Jensen, Christopher Newport; Shana Ayers, N.C. Wesleyan.

Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
          Ray Gamache, Christopher Newport - The junior from Burlington, Vermont placed second in a dual meet with Virginia Wesleyan last week. Gamache completed the 5.850K course in a time of 18:57, helping the Captains capture the victory. Also Nominated: Craig Cicero, Methodist; Ryan Taylor, Shenandoah.

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
          Jade Zaharoff, Christopher Newport - The senior from Vienna, Virginia placed first in a dual meet with Virginia Wesleyan last week. Zaharoff completed the 3.850K course in a time of 14:52, helping the Captains capture the victory. Also Nominated: Katie Ballard, Methodist; Morgan Youd, Meredith; Sophia Stone, Mary Baldwin; Amy Smith, Shenandoah.

Rookies of the Week

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
          Ke'Von White, Averett - The freshman running back from Midlothian, Virginia gained 66 yards in the ground in a 63-9 loss to Hampden-Sydney. White carried the ball 18 times for an average of 3.7 yards-per-carry.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
          Jordan Rogers, Averett - The freshman linebacker Harrisonburg, Virginia had six total tackles in a 63-9 loss to Hampden-Sydney. Rogers compiled four solo tackles and two assisted take downs in the loss.

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
          Eddy Funes, Ferrum - The freshman midfielder from Sterling, Virginia did all his scoring in a 3-1 win over LaGrange last week for the Panthers. For the complete week, Ferrum posted a 1-1-1 record. In contests versus Emory & Henry and Huntingdon, Funes was held scoreless. In the victory over LaGrange, Funes assisted on the game-tying and game-winning goals before scoring a goal of his own to complete the game's scoring. Also Nominated: Frantz Joinvil, Averett; Logan Paussa, Greensboro; Jalon Brown, Christopher Newport; Omar Kanten, N.C. Wesleyan.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
          Rachel Didier, Meredith - The Cary Illinois, freshman midfielder scored three goals in a 2-1 week to open the season for the Avenging Angels. Didier's first collegiate goal was the team's first of the season but was not enough in a 2-1 loss to Guilford. In a 4-0 win over Salem, Didier tallied the fourth and final goal of the contest. Finally, in a 2-1 victory over Rutgers-Newark Didier opened the game's scoring with a goal in the 14th minute. Also Nominated: Abbey Howe, Methodist; Kelsey Snyder, Christopher Newport; Shireen Unvala, Greensboro. 

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
         Nicole Barringer, Averett - The freshman setter Landis, North Carolina, in nine sets last week, averaged 9.6 assists and 1.7 digs per set last week as the Cougars began the season with a 3-1 record. In a 3-1 win over Emory & Henry, Barringer recorded 25 assists, four digs, three kills and three service aces in two sets played. In a 3-0 win over Guilford, Barringer totaled 21 assists, four digs, one kill and one service ace in two sets played. In a 3-1 loss to Washington & Lee, Barringer six assists, two digs and one block in two sets played. Finally, in a 3-0 victory over Roanoke, Barringer recorded 34 assists, five digs, three kills and three blocks. Also Nominated: Bonnie Widenhouse, Greensboro.

Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
          Van Lewin, Christopher Newport - The freshman from Cape Charles, Virginia placed 13th in a dual meet with Virginia Wesleyan last week. Lewin completed the 5.850K course in a time of 20:08, helping the Captains capture the victory. Also Nominated: Jacob Brennan, Shenandoah.

Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
          Dorothy Earner, Shenandoah - The freshman from Falls Church, Virginia was impressive in her first two collegiate races last week. In the season-opening event, a dual meet victory over Southern Virginia, Earner placed second overall, finishing the 5K course in a time of 21:17. In the second event of the week, Earner placed 41st overall at the Salisbury Invitational. She completed the 5.920K course in a time of 24:18, helping the Hornets place seventh as a team. Also Nominated: Caitlin Dorantich, Meredith; Julie Machamer, Christopher Newport.