USA South Athletes of the Week - Sept. 24, 2012

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.)

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Jalon Brown, Christopher Newport - The sophomore midfielder from Yorktown, Virginia helped the Captains to a 2-0 record last week by scoring two goals, both of which were game-winners, and adding one assist for five points. In a 2-1 win over Lynchburg, Brown netted a penalty kick with less than four minutes remaining in the match. In a 2-0 victory over USA South foe Maryville, Brown scored the first goal of the match in the fourth minute then assisted on an insurance tally in the 25th minute. Also Nominated: Sidney Smith, Piedmont; Mark-Antony Liljeklev, Averett.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Manbi Nyepon, Greensboro - The junior goalkeeper from Liberia, West Africa was 1-0-1 last week for The Pride. Nyepon played all 200 minutes, made 21 saves and allowed just one goal. In a 1-0 victory over St. Andrew, Nyepon stopped all 11 shots he faced en route to the shutout. In a 1-1, double-overtime, tie versus USA South foe Methodist, Nyepon made ten saves to preserve the draw. Also Nominated: Nate Barker, Averett; Alec Faulkner, Christopher Newport.

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Camilla Sjoren, Averett - The Landvetter, Sweden junior midfielder tallied three goals and one assist in a 2-0 week versus USA South competition. In a 4-1 win over Methodist, Sjoren scored two goals, including the game-winner in the 33rd minute. In a 6-2 victory over N.C. Wesleyan, Sjoren assisted on the first goal of the match just 31 seconds into the contest before tallying a score of her own in the 23rd minute. Also Nominated: Ashley Howarth, Maryville; Brittany Gray, LaGrange; Dani Gunderson, Christopher Newport; Jessie Davis, Meredith; Taylor Hockley, Piedmont.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Michelle Foulke, Maryville - The Parkland, Florida junior goalkeeper collected a win in her only action last week, a 2-1 victory over USA South foe Christopher Newport. Foulke stopped nine of the ten shots she faced to earn the win. Also Nominated: Malin Borjesson, Averett; Chelsea Totaro, LaGrange.

Volleyball Player of the Week
Bailey Jensen, Christopher Newport - The senior middle blocker from Ashburn, Virginia averaged 3.4 kills, a .500 hitting percentage, 1.2 service aces, 1.2 digs, 1.0 blocks and 0.6 assists per set last week as the Captains posted a 3-0 record. In a 3-0 win over Catholic, Jensen played just two sets and notched nine kills, three digs, two service aces and two blocks. Additionally in the win over Catholic, Jensen became the eighth player in CNU history to reach the 1,000-kill milestone. In a 3-0 victory over USA South rival Ferrum, Jensen played just one set and tallied three service aces, two digs, one block and one kill. Finally, in a 3-0 win over USA South foe Meredith, Jensen played just two sets and contributed seven kills, two assists, two blocks, one dig and one service ace. Also Nominated: Kaitlin Norman, Piedmont; Kelsey Handel, Maryville; Liz Widenhouse, Greensboro; Sarah Sparks, Averett; Taylor Johnson, N.C. Wesleyan; Stephanie Wood, Methodist.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Shana Ayers, N.C. Wesleyan - The senior defensive specialist from Frankfort, Kentucky averaged 6.9 digs per set last week as Bishops posted a 3-1 record. In a 3-2 loss to Methodist, Ayers recorded 26 digs, three assists and one service ace. In a 3-0 win over Guilford, Ayers totaled 18 digs, three kills and three service aces. In a 3-0 win over USA South rival Averett, Ayers posted 26 digs. Finally, in a 3-1 victory over USA South foe William Peace, Ayers totaled 34 digs, two assists, one kill and one service ace. Also Nominated: Abby Hogge, Christopher Newport; Ally White, Meredith; Danielle Simpson, Greensboro; Hayley Williams, Methodist; Paige Aaron, Averett.

Rookies of the Week

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Andri Bjarnason, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman forward from Bolungarvik, Iceland scored a goal and assisted on another in a 3-1 victory over USA South foe Averett, the team's only action of last week. Bjarnason tied the score with a goal in the 50th minute then assisted on an insurance tally in the 89th minute. Also Nominated: Craig Gage, Greensboro.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Taylor Brown, Meredith - The Cary, North Carolina freshman forward tallied three goals and added an assist as the Avenging Angels posted a 2-1 record last week. In a 3-0 loss to Lynchburg, Brown was held scoreless. In a 3-0 win over USA South rival LaGrange, Brown assisted on the first and eventual game-winning score, in the seventh minute before scoring a goal of her own in the 73rd minute. Finally, in a 3-2 victory over USA South foe Piedmont, Brown scored two goals, including the game-winner with less than seven minutes remaining in the match. Also Nominated: Jade Cotton, LaGrange; Shaydah Naraghi, Christopher Newport; Sierra Siegel, Maryville.

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Rachel Conway, Christopher Newport - The freshman setter from Fairfax, Virginia averaged 9.8 assists, 2.0 digs and 1.0 service aces per set last week as the Captains posted a 3-0 record. In a 3-0 win over Catholic, Conway played just one set and notched 12 assists with one dig. In a 3-0 victory over USA South rival Ferrum, Conway played just two sets and tallied 16 assists, three digs, three service aces, two kills and one block. Finally, in a 3-0 win over USA South foe Meredith, Conway played just two sets and contributed 21 assists, a career-high six digs, two service aces and one block. Also Nominated: Cartland Phillips, Greensboro; Jasmine Aguinaldo, Meredith; Lindsey Boles, Averett.

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