TAMPA, Fla. – The Sun Conference announces the players of the week for men's and women's cross country, football, men's golf, men's and women's soccer, and volleyball for the week of September 8, 2025. This is the first men's golf awards of 2025-26.
The men's and women's soccer honors are presented by WinWon, the Official Sports Technology Platform of The Sun. To learn more about WinWon, please click here.
All 13 awards are based on performances from September 1 – September 7.
Football Players of the Week
Defensive Player of the Week
Rashad Orr, Ave Maria
Sophomore | Haines City, Fla. | Defensive Back
Notes: Rashad Orr was all over the field for the Gyrene defense in their season opener against Lindsey Wilson. Orr blocked a PAT, becoming the first Gyrene to do so since 2022. Later in the game, Orr recorded the first takeaway of the season, forcing a fumble and recovering it too. All three, the block, forced fumble and fumble recovery, were the first of the sophomore's career.
Offensive Player of the Week
Keely Watson, St. Thomas
Senior | Jacksonville, Fla. | Quarterback
Notes: The veteran four year starter Keely Watson had a solid first game against UFTL going 12 for 20 with 151 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Jaelyn Thomas, St. Thomas
Junior | Lauderhill, Fla. | Wide Receiver/Return
Notes: Thomas had a huge impact on punt return for the Bobcats. He had two returns for 95 yards, with one going for a 66 yard touchdown.
Volleyball Players of the Week
Attacker of the Week
Wiktoria Telecka, New College of Florida
Junior | Zgorzala, Poland | Outside Hitter
Notes: Averaged nearly 4 kills per set and logged 56 total kills during the Mighty Banyan VolleyPalooza which saw NCF go 3-1 to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Defender of the Week
Makenzi Bennett, Keiser
Sophomore | Byron Center, Mich. | Defensive Specialist
Notes: Makenzi Bennett anchored Keiser's back row in the Sun Conference opener, playing a key role in the Seahawks' sweep over Warner. The sophomore recorded a match-high 19 digs, averaging 6.33 per set, while posting a perfect 1.000 reception percentage on 14 attempts. She also chipped in two service aces and added one assist, rounding out a complete defensive effort.
Setter of the Week
Rafaela Domingos, New College of Florida
Senior | Araraquara, Brazil | Setter
Notes: Domingos had another stellar week as she recorded 184 total assists and averaged over 12 per set in the Banyans 3-1 weekend at the Mighty Banyan VolleyPalooza. She had over 50 assists in two matches and had 43 in a 3-0 sweep of FNU.
Men's Soccer Players of the Week
Defensive Player of the Week
Noa Sonntag, SCAD Savannah
Freshman | Freiburg, Germany | Goalkeeper
Notes: Sonntag picked up his first collegiate shutout and win on Saturday, boasting a clean sheet against Brewton-Parker at home. The freshman totaled four saves in his 90 minutes of work to earn the win.
Offensive Player of the Week
Mateo Rolon, Ave Maria
Sophomore | Capitan Bermudez, Santa Fe, Argentina | Midfielder
Notes: Mateo Rolon had a big game against the Warner Royals, recording the first hat trick in three years to the day for Ave Maria. The first goal was off a free kick, which he bent around the wall, his second goal was off his own rebound off the post, and the second goal was from 28 yards out.
Women's Soccer Players of the Week
Defensive Player of the Week
Sofia Diaz, Southeastern
Sophomore | Bradenton, Fla. | Goalkeeper
Notes: Diaz helped the Fire run a blank sheet on two Top 17 teams in the NAIA this past week. Blanking #16 Truett McConnell and #17 Georgia Gwinnett, both on the road this weekend. Against the Bears, she had three saves in 90 minutes. Against the Grizzlies, she secured five saves, including a PK with 10 seconds left in the first half to preserve a victory. Diaz now boasts a 2-0-1 record, with two shutouts to her name.
Offensive Player of the Week
Claire Wrobleski, Ave Maria
Sophomore | Plains, Mont. | Midfielder
Notes: Claire Wrobleski was on fire for the Gyrenes this week. Against Thomas, she recorded her second multi-goal game of the season and the fifth of her career. Both goals were to give the Gyrenes a lead over the Night Hawks, with the second counting as the game winning goal. Against Carolina, Wrobleski struck again for her third goal of the week. She might have been able to make it four, having received a free kick in the box following a card against the Bruins, but the match entered its second lightning delay right after the card and was called with just 71 minutes played.
Cross Country Runners of the Week
Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Parker Doll, St. Thomas
Sophomore
Notes: Finished 5th at the Keiser Invite, leading the Bobcats to a second-place team showing in a field that featured NCAA Division I and II programs. First NAIA runners to cross the finish line.
Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Amirah Johnson, Warner
Freshman | Tampa, Fla.
Notes: A big blue debut indeed! Freshman runner, Amirah Johnson, posted a 14:40 in the Women's 4K in this weekend's 2025 Swan City Cross Country Classic. Placing 9th overall in the event out of 113 total runners, Johnson not only finished Top 10, but was also the top SUN Conference finisher.
Golfers of the Week
Men's Golfer of the Week
Connor Scott, SCAD Savannah
Senior | London, England
Notes: Scott led the field, shooting a one-over 73 to lead the Bees to the first win of the season against NCAA DII Savannah State. SCAD as a team shot a 306 to Savannah State's 317 to earn the win.