USA South - Athlete of the Week

October 8, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.

Athletes of the Week

Football Offensive Player of the Week
Todd Faison, Christopher Newport - The senior quarterback from Franklin, Virginia threw five touchdowns and set two records in the Captains, 52-21, win over USA South rival Greensboro. Faison was 19-of-27 passing for a school record 331 yards. His five touchdown tosses also set a new school record. On the ground, Faison rushed nine times for 19 yards. Also Nominated: Michael Caparaso, Greensboro; Antonio Hammond, Averett; Rommel Hightower, Maryville; Brandon Parks, Methodist.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
Kyle Chewing, Maryville - The North Gwinnett, Georgia sophomore linebacker had a key third and goal stop in overtime as the Scots defeated USA South foe Ferrum, 26-23, in overtime. Chewing had a game-high 15 total tackles including eight solo tackles and seven assisted take downs. He also added one tackle for a loss of two yards. Also nominated: Griffin McConaghy, Averett; Ryan Picarella, Greensboro; Matt Long, Christopher Newport.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Brad Daniell, Maryville - The Tucker, Georgia junior place kicker connected on four field goals, including the game-winner, in a 26-23, overtime, win over USA South foe Ferrum. Daniell hit a 34-yarder in overtime to give the Scots the win. Earlier in the game, Daniell connected from 45 yards which is the fourth longest field goal in school history and the longest since 1986. Also nominated: Rod Hill, Greensboro.

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Kevin Lue, N.C. Wesleyan - The sophomore forward from Abidjan, Ivory Coast scored four goals during a 3-0 week for the Bishops. In a 12-0 win over USA South foe Averett, Lue tallied his third hat trick of the season with three goals. Lue scored N.C. Wesleyan's fifth, seventh and ninth goals of the game. In a 2-0 win over USA South rival Shenandoah, Lue scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 38th minute. Finally, in a 3-1 win over Kean, Lue came off the bench and was held scoreless but did manage one shot. Also Nominated: Andrew Clark, Greensboro; Kenny Huttman, Christopher Newport.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Matt Tengs, Christopher Newport - The sophomore goalkeeper from Springfield, Virginia helped the Captains to two shutouts and a 2-0 record last week. In a 6-0 win over USA South rival Shenandoah, Tengs played nearly 80 minutes without allowing a goal while stopping one shot. In a 1-0 win over USA South foe Methodist, Tengs made three saves while collecting his second shutout of the season. Tengs' biggest save of the game came late in the first half when he successfully defended a Methodist penalty kick which would have tied the score. Also Nominated: Alberto Faisca, N.C. Wesleyan; Sean Fogelson, Greensboro.

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Meredith Hester, N.C. Wesleyan - The Reston, Virginia sophomore forward scored four goals and added one assist for nine points in a 2-0 week for the Bishops. In a 7-2 win over USA South foe Mary Baldwin, Hester tallied a hat trick with three goals while adding one assist. In a 3-0 win over USA South rival Shenandoah, Hester completed the scoring with a goal in the 89th minute. Also Nominated: Whitney Roberson, Methodist; Tessa Hall, Greensboro; Nicole Boucher, Meredith.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Shae Tharrington, Meredith - The Lynchburg, Virginia freshman goalkeeper filled in at goal due to an injury and helped the Avenging Angels to a 1-1 record last week. In a 9-0 win over USA South foe Averett, Tharrington picked up her first collegiate shutout. In a 2-1 loss to regionally-ranked Roanoke, Tharrington kept the Avenging Angels in the contest by making six saves.

Volleyball Player of the Week
Kasey Carpenter, Averett - The senior setter from Mechanicsville, Virginia helped the Cougars to a 2-3 record last week. In 17 games, Carpenter posted 217 assists, 37 digs, nine kills, seven service aces and six blocks. In a 3-0 win over Roanoke, Carpenter had 48 assists, eight digs, one kill and one block. In a 3-0 victory over Greensboro, Carpenter tallied 34 assists, seven digs, two kills, two blocks and one service ace. In a 3-2 loss to Washington & Lee, Carpenter contributed a double-double with a week-high 53 assists and 11 digs. She also had four service aces, three kills and two blocks in the loss. In a 3-0 loss to Bridgewater, Carpenter had 45 assists, seven digs, two service aces, one kill and one block. Finally, in a 3-0 loss to Randolph-Macon, Carpenter accumulated 37 assists, four digs and two kills. Also nominated: Brittany Collins, Christopher Newport; Sara Elliott, Meredith; Kacie Hyatt, Greensboro; Sara Yeatman, Methodist.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Joy Daniels, Greensboro - The senior defensive specialist from Wanches, North Carolina did all she could defensively as The Pride went 2-3 last week. In 19 games, Daniels posted 107 digs, six service aces, one kill and one assist. In a 3-2 win over Methodist, Daniels had a team-high 25 digs with one service ace. In a 3-0 loss to Averett, Daniels tallied 18 digs. In a 3-0 loss to Bridgewater, Daniels contributed a match-high 21 digs with one kill and one service ace. In a 3-0 loss to Washington & Lee, Daniels had 13 digs and one service ace. Finally, in a 3-2 win over Randolph-Macon, Daniels contributed a week-high 30 digs with three service aces and one assist. Also nominated: Christie Kirby, Christopher Newport; Jordan Maupin, Averett; Jordan Grady, Methodist.

Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Husein Nasiro-Sigo, Methodist - The senior from Koffela, Ethiopia led the Monarchs to a 36th place finish out of 41 teams at the Walt Disney Classic 8K. Nasiro-Sigo finished eighth, out of 327 competitors, in a time of 25:43. Also Nominated: Paul Travers, Greensboro; Dustin Sweeney, Shenandoah.

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Krystal Patton, Methodist - The senior Fayetteville, North Carolina led the Monarchs at the Walt Disney Classic 8K. Patton finished 220th overall, out of 366 competitors, and first on the Monarch team in a time of 22:15. Also Nominated: Kathryn Stephens, Mary Baldwin; Jessica Panameno, Meredith.

Rookies of the Week

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
Darnell Walker, Greensboro - The freshman running back from Roxboro, North Carolina rushed for 38 yards on ten carries in a 52-21 loss to USA South rival Christopher Newport. Walker also caught one pass for 15 yards in the defeat.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Zack Brown, Ferrum - The freshman defensive back from Tifton, Georgia had a team-best 12 total tackles in a 26-23, overtime, loss to USA South foe Maryville. Brown had a team-high eight solo tackles and added four assisted take downs. Brown also intercepted a third quarter Maryville pass on Ferrum's own 11 yard line. Also Nominated: Christopher Nickle, Christopher Newport; Norman Stone, Averett.

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Marco Kirsch, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman midfielder from Celle, Germany helped the Bishops to a 3-0 record last week by scoring four goals and adding one assist. In a 12-0 win over USA South foe Averett, Kirsch scored two goals, including the game-winner, while also adding an assist. In a 2-0 win over USA South rival Shenandoah, Kirsch was held scoreless but did manage to get off five shots. Finally, in a 3-1 win over Kean, Kirsch tallied two goals, including the game-winner. Also Nominated: Deng Abiel, Greensboro.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Hevyn Diers, Methodist - The Tappan, New York freshman midfielder scored four goals and added one assist for nine points in a 2-0 week for the Monarchs. In a 6-0 win over USA South foe Shenandoah, Diers scored Methodist's second and fourth goals of the game. In an 11-0 win over USA South rival Mary Baldwin, Diers again scored twice while also assisting on the Monarchs' third goal of the game. Also nominated: Samantha LoPreto, Shenandoah; Katie Allegro, Greensboro; Alex Calvert, Meredith.

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Michelle Gabson, Greensboro - The freshman middle hitter from Apex, North Carolina had a well-rounded week as The Pride went 2-3. In 19 games, Gabson posted 104 kills, 53 digs, 12 service aces, six blocks and two assists. In a 3-2 win over Methodist, Gabson had a match-high 32 kills with five digs, three service aces, two assists and one block. In a 3-0 loss to Averett, Gabson tallied a double-double with a match-high 21 kills and 13 digs. She also added one block and one service ace in the loss. In a 3-0 loss to Bridgewater, Gabson contributed a match-high 16 kills with seven digs and one block. In a 3-0 loss to Washington & Lee, Gabson notched her second double-double of the week with 12 kills and 13 digs. She also added two blocks and one service ace in the defeat. Finally, in a 3-2 win over Randolph-Macon, Gabson contributed another double-double with 23 kills and a week-high 15 digs. She also added seven service aces and one block in the win. Also nominated: Shannon Andy, Averett.

Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Travis Fulp, Methodist - The freshman from Greensboro, North Carolina helped the Monarchs to a 36th place finish out of 41 teams at the Walt Disney Classic 8K. Fulp finished 285th overall, out of 327 competitors, and second on the Methodist team in a time of 35:33.

Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Diane Doroftei, Methodist - The junior from Jupiter, Florida, in her first year of collegiate running, helped the Monarchs at the Walt Disney Classic 8K. Doroftei finished 263rd overall, out of 366 competitors, and second on the Monarch team in a time of 23:11. Also Nominated: Lindsey Pellegrin, Mary Baldwin; Chelsea Thomas, Greensboro; Lauren McDonald, Meredith.

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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