USA South Athletes of the Week - Sept. 3, 2012

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.)

Football Offensive Player of the Week
          Antwan Thorpe, Greensboro - The senior wide receiver from Oxford, North Carolina scored both of The Pride's touchdowns in a 14-13 victory over cross-town rival Guilford. Thorpe caught six passes for 155 yards including a 27-yard touchdown with 5:49 remaining in the game to help secure the team's first win since November 6, 2010. On special teams, he averaged 20.5 yards on two kickoff returns. For his efforts, Thorpe earned Greensboro-Guilford Soup Bowl Most Valuable Player honors. Also Nominated: Blake Williams, Maryville; Kirkland Brown, Averett; Aaron Edwards, Christopher Newport; Jacques Alston, N.C. Wesleyan; Vaughn Cross, Methodist.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
          Ed Harrington, N.C. Wesleyan - The Raleigh, North Carolina senior defensive back led the team in tackles in a 16-13, overtime, win over Ohio Northern. Harrington totaled six solo tackles and seven assisted take downs in the win. Also Nominated: Dylan Wolfenbarger, Maryville; Tyler Robertson, Averett; Justin Navarro, Christopher Newport; Terry Charles, Greensboro; Tae Motley, Ferrum.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
          B.G. Howell, N.C. Wesleyan - The Garner, North Carolina senior kicker connected on a 40-yard, game-winning, field goal in overtime of the Bishops' 16-13 victory over Ohio Northern. Howell also averaged 33.8 yards on six punts with two of the kicks landing inside of the 20 yard line. Also Nominated: Daniel Robinson, Maryville; Zachary Richman, Averett; Max Reber, Methodist.

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
          Eric McGinnis, Methodist - The junior forward from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania helped the Monarchs to a 2-0 record last week by scoring four goals with two assists for ten points. In a 4-0 win over Wooster, McGinnis assisted on the first, and eventual game-winning, goal in the second minute then scored an insurance goal in the 68th minute. In a 7-1 victory over Marietta, McGinnis tallied a hat trick by scoring the team's first, third and fourth goals while assisting on Methodist's second score of the contest. Also Nominated: Adrien Vakerics, LaGrange; Aaron Gustine, Ferrum; Nathan Brown, Averett.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
           Justin Robinson, Ferrum - The freshman goalkeeper from Front Royal, Virginia was 2-0 last week for the Panthers. Robinson played all 180 minutes, made nine saves and allowed just one goal. In a 2-1 win over Virginia Intermont, Robinson stopped four shots. In a 3-0 victory over Warren Wilson, Robinson notched a shutout by making five saves. Also Nominated: Ben Munger, Maryville; Paul Smart, LaGrange; Pat Hamel, Methodist; Logan Paussa, Greensboro.

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
          Taylor Hockley, Piedmont - The McDonough, Georgia sophomore forward tallied two game-winning goals in a 2-0 week for the Lions. In a 2-0 win over Westminster, Hockley scored the first, and eventual game-winning, score in the 21st minute. In a 1-0, double-overtime, victory over Fontbonne, Hockley tallied the game-winner in the 105th minute. Also Nominated: Caitlin Novak, Mary Baldwin; Kara Pegram, Ferrum; Rebecca Staylor, N.C. Wesleyan; Mendi Kallam, LaGrange; Eliza Evans, Meredith; Dani Gunderson, Christopher Newport; Camilla Sjoren, Averett; Sabre Jessup, William Peace; Allison Gibson, Greensboro.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
          Marjorie Hammond, Piedmont - The Lilburn, Georgia junior goalkeeper earned two wins and one shutout last week as the Lions posted a 2-0 record. In 175:06 minutes played, Hammond did not allow a goal and made seven saves. In a 2-0 win over Westminster, Hammond played all but 20 minutes and made three saves. In a 1-0, double-overtime, victory over Fontbonne, Hockley tallied the shutout by saving four shots. Also Nominated: Michelle Jones, Mary Baldwin; Hope Sims, LaGrange; Elena Currence, Christopher Newport.

Volleyball Player of the Week
         Cory Harris, Christopher Newport - The senior outside hitter from Williamsburg, Virginia averaged 3.3 kills, a .380 hitting percentage, 2.6 digs and 0.3 blocks per set last week as the top-ranked Captains posted a 4-0 record at the Captains Classic. In a 3-0 win over Bridgewater, Harris recorded 12 kills, eight digs, one service ace and one block. In a 3-0 victory over ninth-ranked Eastern, Harris totaled six digs, three kills and one block. In a 3-0 win over Texas-Tyler, Harris contributed nine kills and eight digs. Finally, in a 3-0 victory over Roger Williams, Harris totaled 15 kills, nine digs and one block. During the weekend, Harris became the fourth player in program history to reach the 1,000-kill and 1,000-dig plateaus. For her efforts, Harris earned All-Tournament team honors. Also Nominated: Paige Babb, Mary Baldwin; Kara Strickland, Maryville; Molly Markley, Meredith; Erin McKinstry, LaGrange; Savanna Butts, Averett; Liz Widenhouse, Greensboro.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
         Paige Eslinger, Piedmont - The senior libero from Ringgold, Georgia averaged 7.58 digs per set last week as the Lions posted a 3-1 record. In a 3-0 win over Mississippi College, Eslinger recorded 29 digs and one service ace. In a 3-0 loss to Birmingham Southern, Eslinger totaled 25 digs. In a 3-0 victory over LaGrange, Eslinger posted 24 digs, two assists and one service ace. Finally, in a 3-0 win over Huntingdon, Eslinger totaled 13 digs and one service ace. During the weekend, Eslinger became the school's all-time career digs leader passing the previous mark of 1,309. Also Nominated: Paige Aaron, Averett; Abby Hogge, Christopher Newport.

Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
          Ray Gamache, Christopher Newport - The senior from Burlington, Vermont placed first out of 43 runners last week at the CNU/VWC Opener. Gamache completed the 6K course in a time of 20:24.36, helping the Captains to a first place team finish. Also Nominated: Travis Wilson, Maryville.

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
          Sophia Stone, Mary Baldwin - The junior from Pacific Palisades, California placed first out of 46 runners at the CNU/VWC Opener last week. Stone completed the 5K course in a school-record time of 18:24, helping the Fighting Squirrels to a third place team finish. Also Nominated: Melissa Rizor, Christopher Newport.

Rookies of the Week

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
          Laron Ellerbe, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman quarterback from Richmond, North Carolina compiled 177 yards of total offense and one touchdown in a 16-13, overtime, victory over Ohio Northern. Ellerbe completed 7-of-16 passes for 88 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also carried the ball 25 times for 89 yards in the win. Also Nominated: Ray Brown, Averett; John Pappillion, Methodist; Eddie West, Greensboro.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
          Terrance Sharp, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman defensive lineman from Williamsburg, Virginia totaled six solo tackles and one sack in a 16-13, overtime, win over Ohio Northern. Sharp's sack resulted in a loss of seven yards. Also Nominated: Gabe Johnson, Maryville; Donald Redding, Averett; Harry McNeil, Greensboro.

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
          Paul Maithya, Ferrum - The freshman forward/midfielder from Virginia Beach, Virginia scored one goal and added one assist for three points in a 2-0 week for the Panthers. In a 2-1 win over Virginia Intermont, Maithya scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 27th minute. In a 3-0 victory over Warren Wilson, Maithya assisted on the third and final score of the match. Also Nominated: Mark Brewington, Christopher Newport; Paul Smart, LaGrange; Morgan Stevenson, Greensboro.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
          Elena Currence, Christopher Newport - The Reston, Virginia freshman goalkeeper collected her first career-shutout in her only appearance for the Captains last week. In a 3-0 win over Rutgers-Newark, Currence played all 72 minutes of a rain-shortening contest and stopped all three of the shots she faced. Also Nominated: Hailey Cowles, Mary Baldwin; Vanessa Batchelor, N.C. Wesleyan; Taylor Brown, Meredith; Tara Harrison, LaGrange; Sydney Melchert, William Peace; Melanie Raton, Greensboro; Morgan Funck, Ferrum. 

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
         Jasmine Aguinaldo, Meredith - The freshman middle blocker from Cary, North Carolina averaged 1.3 kills, a .368 hitting percentage, 2.9 digs, 1.3 blocks and 0.4 assists per set last week as the Avenging Angels posted a 3-1 record. In a 3-2 win over Randolph, Aguinaldo totaled nine digs, eight kills, three blocks, two assists and two service aces. In a 3-0 loss to Lynchburg, Aguinaldo posted ten digs, four blocks, one kill and one assist. In a 3-0 victory over Mary Baldwin, Aguinaldo contributed nine digs, five kills, four blocks, two assists and one service ace. Finally, in a 3-0 victory over Randolph, Aguinaldo tallied 13 kills, seven blocks and four kills. Also Nominated: Madison Coker, Maryville; Lindsey Boles, Averett; Taylor Cramsey, Averett; Cortland Phillips, Greensboro.

Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
           Josh Showalter, Christopher Newport - The freshman from Leesburg, Virginia placed second out of 43 runners last week at the CNU/VWC Opener. Showalter completed the 6K course in a time of 20:24.92, helping the Captains to a first place team finish.

Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
          Melissa Rizor, Christopher Newport - The freshman from Ashburn, Virginia placed second out of 46 runners at the CNU/VWC Opener last week. Rizor completed the 5K course in a time of 19:56, helping the Captains to a first place team finish. Also Nominated: Emily Guillaume, Maryville.