USA South Athletes of the Week - Oct. 3, 2011

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.)

Football Offensive Player of the Week
          Marcus Mayo, Ferrum - The senior quarterback from Lexington, Virginia averaged 233 yards of total offense during the past two weeks as the Panthers posted a 2-0 record. He averaged 122 yards passing and 111 yards rushing with three touchdowns in the two wins. In a 37-6 victory over Bridgewater, Mayo passed for 122 yards with one touchdown and ran for 128 yards with one touchdown. In a 27-3 win over USA South foe Maryville, May passed for 122 yards and ran for 94 yards with one touchdown. Also Nominated: Markeese Stovall, Christopher Newport; Jamal Smith, N.C. Wesleyan; Rico Wallace, Shenandoah.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
          John Redmond, Shenandoah - The Herndon, Virginia senior linebacker was very disruptive in the Hornets' 30-7 win over USA South foe Greensboro. Redmond accumulated four tackles for a loss of 27 total yards, including two sacks for a loss of 20 total yards. In all, Redmond tallied nine total tackles, five of which were solo take downs. Also Nominated: Mike King, Christopher Newport; Navahri Holden, Methodist; Linwood Pickett, Ferrum; Stefan Varner, Averett; Jamie Owen, Maryville; Keith Blunt, N.C. Wesleyan.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
          Kevin Quicker, N.C. Wesleyan - The Potomac, Maryland senior punter/kicker had a busy day in a 29-0 win over USA South rival Averett. Quicker was 3-for-4 in the field goal department as he connected on tries from 20, 26 and 42 yards. As for punting, Quicker averaged 34.7 yards per kick as three of his six punts were inside the 20-yard line. Two weeks ago, in a 24-17 loss to LaGrange, Quicker was 1-for-2 with a 35-yard field goal. He also averaged 39.5 yards per punt with one of his four punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Also Nominated: Timothy Lovick, Averett; Vaughn Cross, Methodist; Cory Gay, Shenandoah.

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
          Eric McGinnis, Methodist - The sophomore forward from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania helped the Monarchs to a 2-0 record last week by scoring two goals and adding one assist. In a 2-0 win over USA South foe Shenandoah, McGinnis assisted on the eventual game-winning goal in the 18th minute. In a 3-2, double-overtime, victory over Marymount, McGinnis notched two goals, in the 18th and 22nd minutes, respectfully, to give the Monarchs a one-goal lead in the first half. Also Nominated: Joe Peluso, Greensboro; John Thrower, Averett; Winston Mattheisen, Christopher Newport; Owen White, N.C. Wesleyan.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
           Sean Moriarty, Christopher Newport - The junior defender from Yorktown, Virginia helped the Captains to a 2-0 record last week versus USA South competition as the CNU defense held the opposition to one goal scored. Moriarty turned offensive in a 1-0 win over Ferrum, as he scored the game-winning goal in the 76th minute. Also Nominated: Nate Barker, Averett; Patrick Hamel, Methodist; Alberto Faisca, N.C. Wesleyan.

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
          Pernilla Milton, Averett - The Gothenburg, Sweden sophomore forward helped the Cougars to a 3-0 record last week as she scored four goals and added two assists. In a 3-1 win over Mary Washington, Milton tallied one score and assisted on the eventual game-winner. In a 5-0 win over USA South rival Christopher Newport, Averett's first-ever win over the Captains, Milton scored two goals and added one assist. Finally, in a 4-0 victory over USA South foe N.C. Wesleyan, Milton scored one goal. Also Nominated: Casey Johnson, Ferrum; Meredith Kelly, Greensboro.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
          Samantha Lupo, Averett - The Huntington Station, New York senior goalkeeper earned one shutout last week as the Cougars posted a 3-0 record. In 225 minutes, Lupo allowed one goal and collected nine saves. In a 3-1 win Mary Washington, Lupo allowed one goal and made two saves.  In a 5-0 win over USA South rival Christopher Newport, Averett's first-ever win over the Captains, Lupo earned the shutout by going the distance and stopping four shots. Finally, in a 4-0 victory over N.C. Wesleyan, Lupo played the first half without allowing a goal and making three saves. Also Nominated: Erica Gaughan, Mary Baldwin.

Volleyball Player of the Week
         Allison Sparks, Averett - The sophomore outside hitter from Ruffin, North Carolina averaged 5.1 kills, 3.7 digs and 1.1 blocks per set last week as the Cougars posted a 3-0 versus USA South competition. In a 3-0 win over Greensboro, Sparks recorded nine kills, eight digs, two blocks and one service ace in just two sets played. In a 3-0 victory over Mary Baldwin, Sparks totaled eight kills, eight digs, two service aces and one block in just two sets played. Finally, in a 3-0 win over Meredith, Sparks notched a double-double of 19 kills and ten digs. She also added five blocks and three assists in the victory. Also Nominated: Christie Fellows, Christopher Newport; Molly Markley, Meredith; Stephanie Wood, Methodist.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
         Abby Hogge, Christopher Newport - The junior libero from Clifton, Virginia averaged 3.6 digs per set last week as the Captains posted a 4-0 record versus USA South competition. In the first of two matches versus Shenandoah, a 3-0 win, Hogge tallied 11 digs and one service ace. In the second match versus Shenandoah, a 3-0 win, Hogge notched ten digs and one assist. In a 3-0 victory over Greensboro, Hogge totaled 12 digs and one assist. Finally, in a 3-0 win over Methodist, Hogge contributed ten digs and two service aces. Also Nominated: MaryBeth Finegan, Meredith; Rachel Evans, Methodist; Paige Aaron, Averett.

Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
          Ray Gamache, Christopher Newport - The junior from Burlington, Vermont placed 15th out of 162 runners last week at the Don Cathcart Invitational hosted by Salisbury. Gamache completed the 8K course in a time of 25:36, helping the Captains to a fourth place team finish. Also Nominated: Ryan Taylor, Shenandoah; Craig Cicero, Methodist.

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
          Sophia Stone, Mary Baldwin - The sophomore from Pacific Palisades, California placed second out of 144 runners at the  Don Cathcart Invitational hosted by Salisbury last week. Stone completed the 6K course in a new school-record time of 21:17, helping the Fighting Squirrels to a, 11th place team finish. Also Nominated: Katie Ballard, Methodist; Jade Zaharoff, Christopher Newport.

Rookies of the Week

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
          Jacques Alston, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman running back from Kenly, North Carolina led the Bishop ground attack in a 29-0 victory over USA South rival Averett. Alston averaged nearly five yards-per-carry with a total of 131 yards. Two weeks ago, in 24-17 loss to LaGrange, Alston had a team-high 61 rushing yards and a 6-yard touchdown run. Also Nominated: Rudy Rudolph, Christopher Newport.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
          Austin Arbuckle, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman linebacker from Fleming Island, Florida totaled three tackles and one interception in a 29-0 win over USA South rival Averett. Arbuckle returned his first career interception 28 yards. His interception eventually led to a Bishop field goal. Two weeks ago, in a 24-17 loss to LaGrange, Arbuckle totaled two tackles. Also Nominated: Ervin Brown, Averett; Zach Naylor, Maryville.

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
          Eirik Nordseth, Methodist - The freshman forward from Steinkjer, Norway notched two goals in a 2-0 week for the Monarchs. In a 2-0 win over USA South foe Shenandoah, Nordseth scored an insurance goal in the 60th minute. In a 3-2, double-overtime, win over Marymount, Nordseth won the match with a goal in the 97th minute. Also Nominated: Omar Kanten, N.C. Wesleyan.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
          Shireen Unvala, Greensboro - The Berks County, Pennsylvania freshman goalkeeper earned one shutout last week as The Pride posted a 2-0 record versus USA South competition. In 180 minutes played, Unvala allowed just one goal and made four saves. In a 9-1 win over Mary Baldwin, Unvala allowed one goal and made one save. In a 1-0 victory over Shenandoah, Unvala stopped all three shots en route to the shutout. Also Nominated: Mathilda Hansson, Averett. 

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
         Nicole Barringer, Averett - The freshman setter from Landis, North Carolina averaged 11.6 assists, 1.6 digs and 1.0 kills per set last week as the Cougars posted a 3-0 versus USA South competition. In a 3-0 win over Greensboro, Barringer recorded 18 assists, three kills, two digs, one service ace and one block in just two sets played. In a 3-0 victory over Mary Baldwin, Barringer totaled 27 assists, two service aces, two blocks and one dig in just two sets played. Finally, in a 3-0 win over Meredith, Barringer notched 36 assists, eight digs, four kills, two service aces and two digs. Also Nominated: Samantha Schambach, Shenandoah; Jessie Kolden, Christopher Newport.

Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
          Brad Turner, Christopher Newport - The freshman from Williamsburg, Virginia placed 41st out of 162 runners last week at the Don Cathcart Invitational hosted by Salisbury. Turner completed the 8K course in a time of 27:02, helping the Captains to a fourth place team finish. Also Nominated: Kager Lee, Methodist.

Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
          Julie Machamer, Christopher Newport - The freshman from Norfolk, Virginia placed 24th out of 144 runners last week at the Don Cathcart Invitational hosted by Salisbury. Machamer finished the 6K course in a time of 23:31, helping the Captains to a seventh place team finish. Also Nominated: Dorothy Earner, Shenandoah; Kenesha Bigelow, Methodist.

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