TAMPA, Fla. – The Sun Conference presents this week’s Player of the Week awards. Here is a quick recap of some of last week’s SUN action.
Volleyball
Keiser went 5-0 on the week with four non-conference wins and finished the weekend with a conference win over Warner, 3-0. Ave Maria picked up two conference wins this week, beating both Warner and Coastal Georgia in five sets. SEU went 2-0 on the week with a non-conference win over Trinity College and a SUN win over Coastal Georgia (3-1). No. 23 St. Thomas won their only match of the week, topping Webber International 3-1.
Football
SUN football this past week featured No. 8 Keiser remaining unbeaten in the conference with a win over Warner, 69-6. No. 21 St. Thomas won the Battle of Miami Gardens over Florida Memorial by a 31-17 score. Southeastern beat Thomas (Ga.) 34-20 while Ave Maria defeated Webber (30-7).
Women’s Soccer
In SUN women’s soccer action, No. 13 Southeastern went 2-0 on the week with wins over No. 17 St. Thomas (3-1) and Warner (9-0). No. 5 SCAD Savannah and No. 18 Keiser had a big top-20 matchup on Thursday, tying 1-1 before each earning a win on Saturday.
Men’s Soccer
Florida Memorial and Warner squared off on Monday to resume a suspended SUN match, with the Lions claiming the 3-1 victory. No. 3 St. Thomas remains undefeated in conference play after wins against (RV) Southeastern and Warner, both 4-1 final scores. Keiser and SCAD tied in the midweek contest before both squads won their weekend matchup.
All awards are based on performances from October 9-15.
Volleyball Players of the Week
Sun Conference Volleyball Attacker of the Week
Brooklynn Slater - Keiser | So. - Outside Hitter - Las Vegas, Nev.
Averaging 4.19 kills per set this past week, Brooklynn Slater helped lead the Seahawks to a 5-0 record (1-0 SUN). Posting 67 total kills, Slater hit .286 on the week with three matches over .300. She also collected 49 total digs, including double-digit outings versus UMFK (Oct. 12) and at Warner (Oct. 14). With two double-doubles this past week, Slater has total 10 for the season. During the week, Slater became the first player in the NAIA this season to reach the 500-kill plateau. She currently leads the NAIA in total kills (513) and has recorded 582.0 points (No. 1 in the NAIA). Slater is averaging 4.28 kills per set (No. 1 in the NAIA). Slater also added five service aces this week to increase a total to 47 (No. 2 in the conference).
Sun Conference Volleyball Defender of the Week
Bianca Grassi - St. Thomas | Jr. - Libero - Livorno, Italy
Bianca Grassi continues to keep the back row locked down for the Bobcats. Grassi had 24 digs in the one match this week for aa 6.00 set average. The junior had another clean week with a reception error on 34 attempts. Grassi leads the conference in digs per set average with 5.36 and the only player above 5.00. STU is oonn aa 12 match win streak and perfect 8-0 in SUN play.
Sun Conference Volleyball Setter of the Week
Hannah Heide - Keiser | Sr. - Setter - Jupiter, Fla.
Hannah Heide registered 161 assists this past week to help lead Keiser to a 5-0 (1-0 SUN) record. Averaging 10.06 assists per set, Heide increased her season total to 1,105, leading both the Sun Conference and the NAIA. She is second in the conference in assists per set this season (9.36). Heide has now tallied 3,874 career assists - 101 shy of becoming the school's all-time leader (Brooklyn VandeHei - 3,975). She also posted two double-double this past week to move her season total to 15.
Football Players of the Week
Sun Conference Football Defensive Player of the Week
Jhaqwori Austin - St. Thomas | Sr. - Defensive Back - Miami Gardens, Fla.
Jhaqwori Austin did it all on the defensive end taming an explosive offense and keeping them to their lowest scoring game this season at 17 points. Austin had five tackles, a fumble recovery, and interception. The fumble recovery led to a field goal to put the game at 24-9 and the interception sealed the game as it ended FMU's final drive of the game. STU is now 3-0 overall over the Lions and move to 2-1 in SUN action.
Sun Conference Football Offensive Player of the Week
Bryan Stiemke - Ave Maria | Jr. - Running Back - Bel Air, Md.
Stiemke continued his tear through the NAIA, as the national leader in rushing yards per game was at it again. The junior rushed for 247 yards and 39 carries, and added a 51-yard touchdown reception to finish the night with 298 yards of offense. Stiemke is currently running for 181 yards per game, nearly 40 more than any other player in the nation.
Sun Conference Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Wendol Philord - Keiser | Jr. - Defensive Back - Miramar, Fla.
Now three-time Sun Conference Special Teams Player of the Week Wendol Philord had another strong outing during the Seahawks' 69-6 win over Warner on Saturday. The native of Miramar, Florida, took the opening kick 82 yards for the score to give Keiser an early 7-0 lead. The 82-yard return is the second longest in the Sun Conference this season and tied for the fourth longest in Keiser history. It was the first kick return for a touchdown for Philord, who is now the only Keiser player in program history to return a kickoff, a punt, an interception, and a fumble for a touchdown. On Saturday, he also registered a 26-yard punt return to finish the day with 108 return yards. Philord is one of only two players this season in the NAIA to record both a kick return and a punt return for a touchdown. This season, Philord ranks No. 13 in the NAIA in yards per kick return (26.0) and is No. 3 in the NAIA in yards per punt return (17.5). He also led the team in total tackles (7) with 1.0 TFL, and one pass breakup versus the Royals.
Women’s Soccer Players of the Week
Sun Conference Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Micaela Owen - Southeastern | Gr. - Goalkeeper - Lewisville, Texas
Owen recorded a lifetime best 16 saves to help the Fire knock off No. 17 St. Thomas on the road Wednesday. She has helped the Fire record seven shutout victories this season and ranks second in The Sun in save percentage.
Sun Conference Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Katie Carnes - Southeastern | Jr. - Midfielder - Lakeland, Fla.
Carnes scored the first goal of a 3-1 win at No. 17 St. Thomas and scored twice in a win over Warner on Saturday. All three of her shots on goal during the week found the back of the net.
Men’s Soccer Players of the Week
Sun Conference Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Noah Tolcachier - St. Thomas | Gr. - Defender - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Noah Tolcachier held it down on the backline for the #3 Bobcats as they improve to 12-0-1 on the year and 10-0 in SUN play with another two game sweep this week. Tolcachier was big reason for that especially against Webber as the defender scored the game winning goal in the 76th minute. Against the Warriors, the defense held them to just one shot in the first half and that would be the only one all game. The Warriors only attempted one corner kick as well that as in the first half. Against SEU there was only one goal on four shots on frame. The defense also held the Fire to just one corner kick all game. The shutout of WIU was the seventh of the year.
Sun Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Phillip Hoeltgen - SCAD Savannah | Sr. - Midfielder - Munich, Germany
Holtgen had a big week for the Bees, scoring a hat trick against Ave Maria and adding an assist in the 2-2 draw with No. 17 Keiser as SCAD went 1-0-1 on the week.
Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Andrew Rodriguez - Webber International | So. - Sarasota, Fla.
Rodriguez finished 1st for the Warriors in the SSC Preview at Holloway Park with a time of 31:59.8 in the 8k race. He helped the team to a top-15 finish in Lakeland.
Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Regina Baird - Ave Maria | Fr. - Reston, Va.
Baird was the highest SUN individual finisher at the Sunshine State Conference Preview with a time of 27:31.45 in the 6k race.
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