Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of February 1 - 7, 2016. Athletes are nominated by Sports Information Directors of member institutions.
Men's Basketball
Yunio Barrueta / Barry University / Guard/ Forward/ Sr. / Miami, Fla.
Barrueta is awarded his third SSC Player of the Week honor after guiding Barry to two victories last week. In 60 minutes of action Barrueta recorded 59 points, 18 rebounds, two assists, and a blocked shot. In a conference victory over Saint Leo (102-75) he scored 18 points, shooting 6-14 from the field, tallying 10 rebounds, and an assist. He recorded his 10th double-double on the season marking ten or more double-doubles in each of his three seasons at Barry. As Barry defeated Palm Beach Atlantic (116-92), the Miami native picked up a career-high 41 points, eight rebounds, a blocked shot, and an assist. He shot 64 percent from the field, and 57 percent from beyond the arc. Barry is 17-3 on the season, 9-2 in SSC play.
Jarel Spellman / Florida Southern / Forward / Fr. / Richmond, Va.
Spellman is awarded his first SSC Defensive Player of the Week honor after recording his first collegiate triple-double last week. The Richmond native recorded the Moccasins second triple double in program history, with the first coming just nine games prior, as the Moccasins defeated Palm Beach Atlantic (91-77). Spellman shot 40 percent from the field, picking up nine defensive rebounds (13 total), 12 blocked shots, one assist, and scoring 10 points. In a loss at Florida Tech (82-79), Spellman picked up eight defensive rebounds, four blocked shots, and three assists. Spellman scored eight points and brought down ten rebounds against the Panthers. Florida Southern holds a 9-14 overall record, 4-8 in SSC play.
Women's Basketball
Monaye Merritt / Nova Southeastern / Guard / Sr. / Philadelphia, Pa.
Merritt, a two time SSC Defensive Player of the Week, earns her first SSC Player of the Week honors this season after helping the Sharks to victories over two conference opponents. The Sharks took down Florida Tech (71-64) with 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a blocked shot from Merritt. At Rollins (70-64 OT) the senior picked up 18 more points, nine rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a blocked shot. Merritt made five of seven shots at the line and went 50 percent shooting from the field. In both games the Philadelphia native was one rebound short of a double-double. The No. 13/14 Sharks are 19-3 overall, 11-1 in SSC play.
Kimbreli Flournoy / Barry University / Guard/Forward / Sr. / San Diego, Calif.
Flournoy earns her second SSC Defensive Player of the Week honor this season after averaging nine and a half defensive rebounds in two games against Saint Leo and Palm Beach Atlantic. Flournoy played in 27 minutes and brought down 10 defensive rebounds, four assists, three steals, and five assists in the 79-69 victory against Saint Leo. She had nine defensive rebounds against Palm Beach Atlantic and also picked up two steals, and an assist in the 67-57 victory. The Buccaneers are 15-6 overall, 7-4 in SSC play.
Baseball
Christopher Williams / University of Tampa / Jr.. / RHP / Odessa, Fla.
Williams struck out 10 batters in five innings to take this week’s SSC Pitcher of the Week. In relief against RV Georgia College, Williams allowed just one run (unearned) on two hits and did not walk a batter in Tampa’s 4-3 victory over the regional opponent. Williams was called upon to take over the mound duties for the Spartans in the fifth inning and closed out the game, earning the win. The defending national champions have started the 2016 season at 6-0.
Tyler Fairbanks / Rollins College / So. / CF / Potomac, Md.
Fairbanks slugged .833 in a three-game series for Rollins College against Young Harris on his way to winning SSC Player of the Week. Fairbanks went 7-for-12 at the plate with four runs batted in and a run scored across the span. Fairbank’s top performance of the week came in a 4-for-5 effort that yielded two RBI’s, a run scored, a homerun, and a stolen base. Rollins lost the game 9-8 and the series 2-1 despite his efforts. Fairbanks tallied a .583 batting average and added three stolen bases to his stats. Rollins is 2-4 overall, 1-2 in SSC play this season.
Softball
Stephanie Adkins / Saint Leo University / Jr. / Pitcher / Orlando, Fla.
Adkins earns SSC Pitcher of the Week honors after leading Saint Leo to wins over two Top-15 opponents this week. Against No. 3 Shorter, the Orlando, Florida native allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out 11 batters in the 6-2 complete game victory. Adkins followed up with a two-hit complete game shutout against #14 Florida Tech. She struck out nine opponents and allowed three walks. For the week, Adkins tallied at 0.50 ERA in 20 innings pitched across two complete games while holding opposing batters to a .176 average. The Lions have started the 2016 season at 4-0.
Brooke Samios-Uy / Saint Leo University / Fr. / INF / Baltimore, Md.
Samios-Uy take SSC Player of the Week honors following Saint Leo’s four wins at the Eckerd Spring Invitational. Samios-Uy went 7-for-13 with 12 total bases and collected six RBI across SLU’s four games. Against No. 3 Shorter, Samios-Uy wend 2-for-4 with a run scored. During the Lions’ 15-0 dismantling of the No. 14 Florida Tech Panthers, Samios-Uy drove in four runs off her first career home run and single. She also had a walk in the victory. Samios-Uy recorded a .538 batting average and slugged .923 on the week. Saint Leo is off to a 4-0 win after the first weekend of their season.
Golf
Abbey Williams / Florida Southern College / So. / Marietta, Ga.
Williams is named the first SSC Golfer of the Week for the 2016 season. Williams was Florida Southern's top golfer in the Tusculum/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate, their first tournament of the spring. Williams had scores of 76 and 80 to finish in a tie for fifth place. She was four strokes behind the winner. The fifth-place finish was the best of her career.
Tennis
Pavel Mojha / Lynn University / Sr. / Budweis, Czech Republic
Mojha captures the first SSC Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honors this season. Mojha went 2-0 at No.1 doubles and 2-0 and No. 2 singles in Lynn's two wins this week (8-1 vs. St. Thomas, 9-0 vs. Ave Maria).Lynn is ranked sixth in Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. Mojha is ranked 46th in singles. Mojha is one of ten SSC tennis players ranked in the top- 50 by ITA.
Grace Mpassy / Lynn University / So. / Berlin, Germany
Mpassy captures the first SSC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week honors this season. The sophomore did not drop a set in Fighting Knight's 9-0 sweep over St. Thomas. Mpassy won 8-0 at No. 2 doubles and 6-0 at No. 3 singles.Lynn is ranked fifth in Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings.
Men's Lacrosse
Justin Diamond / Rollins College / Jr. / Att / Syracuse, N.Y.
Diamond is awarded the SSC Offensive Player of the Week award after leading Rollins to victory over Young Harris. Diamond led the game in scoring with four goals as the Tars overcame Young Harris, 13-6, in their season opener. The Syracuse, New York native rattled off 13 shots and six shots on goal while adding three ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Jake Hogan / Rollins College / So. / Goal / Westwood, Mass
SSC Defensive Player of the Week goes to Hogan who was instrumental in helping the Tars to a season opening win over Young Harris. The Westwood, Massachusetts native faced a total of 31 shots and 15 shots on frame from the Mountain Lions. Hogan allowed only six goals while making nine saves. He held Young Harris scoreless in the second quarter, and allowed only one goal in the third stanza en route to a 13-6 win.
Travis Wunder / Florida Tech / Jr. / M-FO / Westminster, Md.
Wunder takes SSC Specialist of the Week following his faceoff dominance against Young Harris. The Westminster, Maryland native won 21-of-32 draws against a committee of faceoff specialists from YHC. Wunder also gathered five ground balls as Florida Tech came from behind to defeat the Mountain Lions, 16-14. Wunder’s performance was pivotal in the Panthers' fourth quarter surge to victory.
Women's Lacrosse
Tyler Thomas / Rollins College / Sr. / Att / Winter Park, Fla.
Thomas takes SSC Offensive Player of the Week honor after a six-goal performance in Rollins’ season opener at Tampa. Thomas led the game in scoring with six goals. The Winter Park, Fla. native rattled off eight shots and six shots on frame, scoring on all of her shots placed on goal as Rollins defeated Tampa 13-6.
Malorie Olin / Rollins College / So. / Goal / Skaneteles, N.Y.
Olin garners the SSC Defensive Player of the Week award after anchoring the Rollins defense in an early season conference victory over Tampa. Olin faced a total of 26 shots and 20 shots on goal by the Spartans, making 14 saves while allowing only six goals.
2015-16 SSC Men's Basketball Award Winners (Player; Defense)
Nov. 16: Caleb Stewart, Saint Leo;
Corbin Jackson, Florida Tech
Nov. 23: Dylan Travis, Florida Southern;
Corbin Jackson, Florida Tech
Nov. 30: Fred Landers, Lynn;
Obi Kyei, Eckerd
Dec. 7: Marcus Dewberry, Saint Leo;
Deion Clark, Rollins
Dec. 14: Drushaun McLauren, Eckerd;
Yunio Barrueta, Barry
Dec. 21: Kevin Walsh, Eckerd;
Dylan Travis, Florida Southern
Jan. 4: Yunio Barrueta, Barry;
Corbin Jackson, Florida Tech
Jan. 11: Marcus Dewberry, Saint Leo;
EJ Moody, Eckerd
Jan. 18: Jerrick Stevenson, Eckerd;
Duke Shelton, Tampa
Jan. 25: Yunio Barrueta, Barry;
David Johnson, Lynn
Feb. 1: Marcus Dewberry, Saint Leo;
Tray Leonard, Barry
Feb. 8: Yunio Barrueta, Barry;
Jarel Spellman, Florida Southern
2015-16 SSC Women's Basketball Award Winners (Player; Defense)
Nov. 16: Sydni Payne, Florida Southern;
Monaye Merritt, Nova Southeastern
Nov. 23: Shequana Harris, Florida Tech;
Sydni Payne, Florida Southern
Nov. 30: Jensen Blassage, Florida Southern;
Mariah Harris, Florida Southern
Dec. 7: Shequana Harris, Florida Tech;
Monaye Merritt, Nova Southeastern
Dec. 14: Charla Nelson-James, Lynn;
Kimbreli Flournoy, Barry
Dec. 21: Kayla Wright, Nova Southeastern;
Angela Alvarez, Tampa
Jan. 4: Ines Kerin, Barry;
Alysia Johnson, Saint Leo
Jan. 11: Kayla Wright, Nova Southeastern;
Jensen Blassage, Florida Southern
Jan. 18: Molly Blomer, Nova Southeastern;
Mariah Harris, Florida Southern
Jan. 25: Juliana Callavaro, Tampa;
Angela Alvarez, Tampa
Feb. 1: Irene Sanchez, Barry;
Kaila Britten, Barry
Feb. 8: Monaye Merritt, Nova Southeastern;
Kimbreli Flournoy, Barry