USA South Athletes of the Week - Sept. 17, 2012

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.)

Football Offensive Player of the Week
Ryan Throndset, Greensboro - The sophomore quarterback from Woodbine, Maryland threw two touchdown passes in a 20-13 victory over Apprentice School last week. Throndset was 28-of-41 (68.3%) through the air for 290 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His two scores gave The Pride an early 17-0 cushion. Also Nominated: Chad Brooks, Maryville; Ed Russ, LaGrange; Ke'Von White, Averett; Tim Reynolds, Ferrum; Vaughn Cross, Methodist.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
Evan Moog, Christopher Newport - The Williamsburg, Virginia junior linebacker tallied 13 tackles and an interception in a 20-7 victory over Shenandoah. Moog totaled seven solo tackles and six assisted take downs, including 2.5 tackles for a loss of five yards. Moog's interception came with less than a minute to play in the game, helping to secure the win. Also Nominated: Brian Fuquay, Averett; Jatavious Adams, Ferrum; Joshua Krebs, Maryville; Travis Welch, Greensboro.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Mason Studer, Christopher Newport - The Norfolk, Virginia sophomore punter averaged 44.9 yards per attempt in a 20-7 victory over Shenandoah. Studer punted nine times which tied the single-game school record. He landed two of the punts inside the 20-yard line in the win. Also Nominated: Ryan Ristaino, Averett; Chasen Williams, Maryville; Kent Gibson, LaGrange.

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 three goals with one assist for seven points. In a 3-1 win over Virginia Wesleyan, McGinnis was involved in each tally as he notched two goals, including the game-winner, and assisted on one score. In a 2-1 victory over USA South foe Averett, McGinnis scored the first goal of the match in the sixth minute. Also Nominated: David Lethco, Maryville; Earl Floyd, Greensboro; Jalon Brown, Christopher Newport; Kevin Folsom, LaGrange; Kevin Vigebo, Averett.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Ben Munger, Maryville - The sophomore goalkeeper from Cullman, Alabama was 2-0 last week for the Scots. Munger played all 180 minutes, made seven saves and allowed just one goal. In a 2-0 victory over USA South rival LaGrange, Munger stopped all three shots to record the shutout. In a 2-1 win over Sewanee, Munger collected four saves. Also Nominated: Leifur Kristjansson, N.C. Wesleyan; Manbi Nyepon, Greensboro; Nate Barker, Averett; Sean Moriarty, Christopher Newport.

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Allison Gibson, Greensboro - The Gibsonville, North Carolina sophomore forward tallied two goals, including the game-winner, in a 3-1 victory over USA South rival Christopher Newport in the team's lone contest of last week. Gibson opened the scoring with a goal in the 34th minute then notched the eventual winner in the 49th minute. Also Nominated: Casey Johnson, Ferrum; Jesse Davis, Meredith; Pernilla Milton, Averett; Phoebe Leo, Maryville; Rebecca Staylor, N.C. Wesleyan; Sydney Dorsey, LaGrange.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Caitlyn Deaton, Ferrum - The Woodbridge, Virginia sophomore goalkeeper collected a win in the team's only action last week, a 2-1 win over USA South foe Piedmont. Deaton was put to work and stopped all but one of the 15 shots she faced. Also Nominated: Lizzy Simmons, Maryville; Malin Borjesson, Averett; Shireen Unvala, Greensboro.

Volleyball Player of the Week
Allison Sparks, Averett - The junior outside hitter from Ruffin, North Carolina averaged 4.5 kills, a .317 hitting percentage and 3.5 digs per set last week as the Cougars posted a 2-1 record. In each of the three matches, Sparks notched double-figure kill and dig totals. In a 3-1 loss to Lynchburg, Sparks recorded 14 kills, 16 digs, two blocks, one assist and one service ace. In a 3-1 victory over Randolph, Sparks totaled 26 kills, 14 digs, three assists and one block. Finally, in a 3-2 win over Washington & Lee, Sparks contributed 18 kills, 15 digs, two service aces, one assist and one block. Also Nominated: Jessie Kolden, Christopher Newport; Kaitlin Norman, Piedmont; Kelsey Handel, Maryville; Meredith Smith, N.C. Wesleyan; Stephanie Wood, Methodist.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Abby Hogge, Christopher Newport - The senior defensive specialist from Clifton, Virginia averaged 4.9 digs per set last week as the fourth-ranked Captains posted a 3-1 record and earned the Championship of the Trinity National Invitational. In a 3-0 win over Trinity, Hogge recorded 13 digs. In a 3-2 loss to fifth-ranked Emory, Hogge totaled 20 digs and one kill. In a 3-0 win over UC Santa Cruz, Hogge posted 13 digs and one service ace. Finally, in a 3-1 victory over sixth-ranked Cal Lutheran, Hogge totaled 28 digs, two assists and one service ace. During the win over Cal Lutheran, Hogge collected her 2,014th career dig which is now a new school record. For her efforts during the weekend, she was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player. Also Nominated: Kara Strickland, Maryville; Paige Aaron, Averett; Shana Ayers, N.C. Wesleyan.

Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Josh Showalter, Christopher Newport - The freshman from Leesburg, Virginia placed 36th out of 86 runners and first among D-III competitors, last week at the William & Mary Invitational. Showalter completed the 8K course in a time of 27:24, helping the Captains to a sixth place team finish. Also Nominated: None.

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Sophia Stone, Mary Baldwin - The junior from Pacific Palisades, California placed second out of 57 runners at the James Madison University Invitational last week. Stone completed the 5.2K course in a time of 19:01, helping the Fighting Squirrels to a sixth place team finish. Also Nominated: Karen Bumiller, Christopher Newport; Lauren Brandner, LaGrange; Morgan Youd, Meredith.

Rookies of the Week

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
Evan Pittenger, Maryville - The freshman quarterback from Fayetteville, Tennessee engineered the eventual game-winning score in the fourth quarter of a 24-17 win over Sewanee. Pittenger finished 3-of-4 passing for 55 yards with one touchdown and one interception. With less than seven minutes remaining and the score tied, Pittenger connected with Ed Johnson for a ten-yard touchdown which proved to be the difference in the game. He also ran the ball two times for six yards in the victory. Also Nominated: John Pappillion, Methodist; Martin Smith, Averett.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Gabe Johnson, Maryville - The freshman linebacker from Villa Rica, Georgia totaled 11 tackles and one forced fumble in a 24-17 win over Sewanee. Johnson collected four solo tackles and seven assisted take downs while 2.5 of his tackles resulted in a loss of three total yards. Also Nominated: Christian Best, Averett; Desmond Gillis, Greensboro.

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Alex Waddell, Maryville - The freshman midfielder from Maryville, Tennessee scored the first goal of the match, which turned out to be the game-winner, in a 2-0 victory over USA South foe LaGrange. In a 2-1 win over Sewanee, Waddell was held scoreless but did manage one shot. Also Nominated: Andri Bjarnason, N.C. Wesleyan; Hunter Harnett, Christopher Newport; Mike Ilodigwe, Methodist.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Melanie Raton, Greensboro - The Fredericksburg, Virginia freshman midfielder tallied a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory over Christopher Newport in the team's only contest last week. Raton assisted on the match's first goal of the game in the 34th minute and tallied an insurance score of her own in the 78th minute. Also Nominated: Courtney Mustain, Averett; Erin Dullahan, Mary Baldwin; Nicole Liette, N.C. Wesleyan; Samanatha Turner, Maryville.

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Karly Klimas, Methodist - The freshman defensive specialist from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina averaged 3.8 digs and 0.8 service aces per set last week as the Monarchs posted a 3-0 record. In a 3-0 win over William Peace, Klimas totaled 14 digs, four service aces and one assist. In a 3-0 victory over Huntingdon, Klimas contributed eight digs and two service aces. Finally, in a 3-0 win over Salem, Klimas tallied 12 digs and one service ace. Also Nominated: Lindsey Boles, Averett.

Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Josh Showalter, Christopher Newport - The freshman from Leesburg, Virginia placed 36th out of 86 runners, first among D-III competitors, last week at the William & Mary Invitational. Showalter completed the 8K course in a time of 27:24, helping the Captains to a sixth place team finish. Also Nominated: None.

Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Lydia Cromwell, Christopher Newport - The freshman from Round Hill, Virginia placed 27th out of 79 runners at the William & Mary Invitational last week. Cromwell completed the 5K course in a time of 19:44, helping the Captains to a fifth place team finish. Also Nominated: Illa Jones, Meredith; Wendy Deptula, Mary Baldwin.

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