September 17, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.

Athletes of the Week

Football Offensive Player of the Week
          Torrey Lowe, Greensboro - The junior running back from Southern Pines, North Carolina ran the ball 26 times for 104 yards, good for a 4.4 yard average, with one touchdown as The Pride defeated Gallaudet, 48-7. Lowe scored his lone touchdown on a 14-yard run in the second quarter. Lowe also caught two passes for 11 yards as Greensboro posted its largest margin of victory in the program's history. Also Nominated: Antonio Hammond, Averett; Rommel Hightower, Maryville; Steven Burant, N.C. Wesleyan; Mike Hill, Methodist; Tunde Ogun, Christopher Newport.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
          Bo Brown, N.C. Wesleyan - The Rocky Mount, North Carolina senior linebacker had a team-high 11 tackles as the Bishops defeated Emory & Henry, 20-16. Brown accounted for eight solo tackles and three assisted take downs. Also nominated: Corey Boatman, Maryville; Andre Garvin, Averett; Brick Crowder, Greensboro; Daryl Lawrence, Methodist.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
          Rod Hill, Greensboro - The Lumberton, North Carolina senior defensive back scored two special teams touchdowns in The Pride's, 48-7, win over Gallaudet. Hill returned the opening kickoff of the second half 60 yards for the score. Also in the third quarter, Hill collected a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown. Hill also contributed defensively with two tackles and an interception. Also nominated: Antonio Hammond, Averett; Andy Ottolini, Maryville; Matt Barcus, Christopher Newport.

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
           Troy Mellanson, Greensboro - The senior forward from Antigua scored four goals for eight points during a 2-0 week for The Pride. Mellanson came off the bench in a 6-0 win over USA South foe Averett to earn a hat trick by scoring three goals. He then scored the first goal of the game in a 2-1, overtime, win over previously unbeaten Mary Washington. Also Nominated: Aaron Rudolf, Averett; Alimamy Kargbo, N.C. Wesleyan; Michael Caro, Christopher Newport; Bret Brennan, Methodist; Adam Aldinger, Shenandoah.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
           Drew Griffith, Greensboro - The junior defender from Salisbury, North Carolina helped lead The Pride to a 2-0 record last week. Griffith was part of a stifling defense that allowed just one goal and nine shots on goal in two contests. He was key in the Pride's, 2-1 overtime, win over previously unbeaten Mary Washington. Also Nominated: Joe Dusewicz, Averett.

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
          Maggie Hart, Meredith - The Mooresville, North Carolina sophomore forward scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick to secure Meredith's first-ever USA South win, a 2-1 victory over N.C. Wesleyan.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
          Shana Saganich, Greensboro - The Mcleansville, North Carolina junior goalkeeper played 200 minutes 0last week as The Pride went 0-1-1. In the two contests, Saganich allowed three goals while stopping 21 shots. In a 0-0, overtime tie versus Lynchburg, Saganich stopped 11 shots and earned her fourth shutout of the season. In a 3-1 loss to Washington & Lee, Saganich made ten saves but saw her streak of 278 scoreless minutes in net come to an end. Also nominated: Tunisa Bumphus, Averett; Sarah Chadwick, Meredith.

Volleyball Player of the Week
         Samantha Kirby, Averett - The sophomore middle hitter from Lenoir, North Carolina led the Cougars to a 3-0 record last week, all against USA South competition. In ten games, Kirby posted 65 kills, a .559 hitting percentage, five digs and four blocks. In a 3-0 win over Peace, Kirby had a match-high 18 kills with two digs and three blocks. In a 3-0 victory over Shenandoah, Kirby tallied a match-high 20 kills with one assist, one service ace and one block. Finally, in a 3-1 win over Methodist, Kirby notched a week-high 27 kills with three digs. Also nominated: Caitlin George, N.C. Wesleyan; Keshia Judd, Greensboro; Allie Wolfe, Christopher Newport; Jessica Walker, Ferrum; Sara Yeatman, Methodist; Morgan White, Meredith.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
         Christie Kirby, Christopher Newport - The sophomore defensive specialist from Manassas, Virginia led the Captains in digs in three USA South matches. Kirby had 36 digs in the three contests, good for a 4.00 per game average. In a 3-0 win over Mary Baldwin, Kirby contributed seven digs and one assist. In a 3-0 win over Meredith, Kirby posted a game-high 13 digs with one assist. In a 3-0 victory over Peace, Kirby tallied a week-high 16 digs with one service ace. Also nominated: Meredith Schwane, Averett; Jordan Grady, Methodist; Stephanie Sports, Peace.

Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
          Husein Nasiro-Sigo, Methodist - The senior from Koffela, Ethiopia led the Monarchs to an 11th place finish at the Adidas Raleigh Invitational. Nasiro-Sigo completed the 5K course in a time of 16:25 which was good for a tenth place finish overall. Nasiro-Sigo was the first Division-III runner to cross the finish line. Also Nominated: David Woodson, Christopher Newport; Francois Theriault, Greensboro.

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
          Jessica Panameno, Meredith - The junior from Somerville, Massachusetts helped the Avenging Angels to a second place finish at the Salem Invitational 5K. Panameno placed 3rd out of 26 runners with a time of 23:32. Also Nominated: Amy Wampler, Christopher Newport.
 

Rookies of the Week

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
          Mark Williams, Averett - The freshman running back from Gainesville, Florida was a threat out of the backfield in a 47-13 loss to Guilford. Williams ran the ball three times for ten yards but caught five passes for 83 yards with a touchdown. Also Nominated: Josh Heasty, Greensboro.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
          Demetrius Christian, Maryville - The freshman cornerback from Sanford, Florida had a key interception on the Maryville one-yard line to stall a Huntingdon drive. Christian also had a pass break-up as the Scots defeated Huntingdon, 27-24, in overtime. Also Nominated: Logan Smyth, Averett.

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
          Marco Kirsch, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman midfielder from Celle, Germany had scored three times last week as the Bishops went 2-0. In a 4-2 win over Barton, Kirsch scored twice, including the game-winner. In a 4-0 victory over USA South rival Ferrum, Kirsch scored the second goal of the game. Also Nominated: Deng Abiel, Greensboro; John Bowman, Averett.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
          Kaitlin Naill, Shenandoah - The Alexandria, Virginia freshman midfielder scored four goals in a 1-1 week for the Hornets. Naill scored all four of her goals and all four of Shenandoah's goals in a 4-0 win over Hollins. The Hornets were shutout, 3-0, by PSU-Altoona in their only other contest of the week. Also nominated: Alex Calvert, Meredith; Hevyn Diers, Methodist.

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
          Ryann Lowery, Christopher Newport - The freshman setter from Centreville, Virginia helped the Captains to a 3-0 record last week. In six games coming off the bench, Lowery contributed 50 assists, ten digs, seven kills, five blocks and two service aces. In a 3-0 win over Mary Baldwin, Lowery had 14 assists, four blocks, three digs, one service ace and one kill. In a 3-0 victory over Meredith, Lowery had a game-high 20 assists with three digs, three kills, one service ace and one block. In a 3-0 win over Peace, Lowery tallied 16 assists with four digs and three kills. Also Nominated: Michelle Gabson, Greensboro; Mallory Booker, Meredith; Alyssa Balzano, N.C. Wesleyan.

Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
          Travis Fulp, Methodist - The freshman from Greensboro, North Carolina led the Monarchs to an 11th place finish at the Adidas Raleigh Invitational. Fulp completed the course in a time of 19:23 which was good for a 50th place finish.

Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
          Diane Doroftei, Methodist - The freshman from Jupiter, Florida helped placed 31st overall at the Adidas Raleigh Invitational with a time of 22:44. Doroftei was the first Division-III runner to cross the finish line at the event. Also Nominated: Tiffany Austin, Greensboro; Jennie Ott, Shenandoah; Edie Nault, Christopher Newport.

For more information, please contact the USA South Sports Information Director Mike Christie at
(910) 630-7326 or sid@usasouth.net

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