Sunshine State Conference

SSC Athletes of the Week | November 13 - 19, 2017

Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of  November 13 - 19, 2017. Athletes are nominated by Sports Information Directors of member institutions.

---

Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week

Mackenzie Redner / Eckerd College / Sr. / OH / Truckee, California
Redner receives Offensive Player of the Week after averaging 3.5 kills per set as Eckerd went 2-1 during the week. The Truckee, California native hit an impressive .381 for the week from the outside, beginning the week with 12 kills and a .478 hit percentage in a loss at the University of Tampa. She helped the Tritons rebound with a 17-kill performance in a three-set win over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a 13-kill effort in a four-set victory over Florida Tech. During the week, Redner tallied 42 kills and five digs. Eckerd finishes the regular season at 17-11 overall, 10-10 in SSC play.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week

Jen Kruglova / Saint Leo University / Sr. / Libero / Moscow, Russia
Kruglova picks up her third Defensive Player of the Week award this season after recording 50 digs and helping Saint Leo’s defensive hold opponents to a .174 hitting percentage. In the Lions’ loss to No. 22 Florida Southern College, Kruglova picked up 18 digs before turning around and leading the Lions with 18 more against Florida Tech. The Russian capped off the regular season with a 14-dig / one-kill performance against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The senior finished the last two matches with a 1.000 reception percentage and no errors in 13 attempts. During the week, she finished with a .944 reception percentage with just two errors in 36 attempts. Kruglova also added nine assists to her weekly stat line. Saint Leo sit at 22-6 on the year and 16-4 in SSC play.

Volleyball Setter of the Week

Sammy Mueller / University of Tampa / So. / Setter / Gainesville, Florida
Mueller earns Setter of the Week after leading Tampa to three conference victories. Against Eckerd, the Spartans came back after being down two sets to win in five. Mueller’s 47 total assists, six digs, and two blocks were instrumental in the comeback victory. Mueller then quarterbacked Tampa to another win against Barry University, this time recording a 50-assist/10-dig double-double. Additionally, Mueller provided two blocks and a service ace in the set. Finally, in the sweep of  Nova Southeastern University, Mueller recorded a 37-assist /14-dig double-double. The Gainesville, Florida product tallied 135 assists in 12 sets for an 11.25 average. She also totaled 30 digs, four blocks, four kills, and a service ace as the Spartans finish the regular season at 18-13 overall, 13-7 in league play.
 

---

Men’s Basketball Player of the Week

Sam Philpott / Rollins College / Sr. / Forward / Noblesville, Indiana
Philpott is awarded Player of the Week following a pair of conference victories for Rollins. In the conference opener against Florida Tech, Philpott led all scorers with 26 points and had a team-high six rebounds as the Tars went on to win 83-72. The Noblesville, Indiana product then paced Rollins to an 82-76 victory at Lynn University with a game-high 24 points. For the week, Philpott scored 50 points by shooting 64% from the field (18-28), 57% from three (4-7), and 83% from the free throw line (10-12). In 60 minutes on the court, the senior collected five assists and five rebounds while only turning the ball over twice. Rollins is now 2-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

David Dennis / Nova Southeastern University / Jr. / Guard / Canal Winchester, Ohio
Dennis filled up the stat sheet to earn this week's Defensive Player of the Week honor. The junior point guard averaged 18.5 points, 7.5 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.0 steals per game as NSU jumps out to a 3-0 start for the first time in 18 years. Dennis led the way with a team-high 19 points in an 87-81 victory over Lynn University. The Canal Winchester, Ohio native then contributed 18 points in the Sharks' 92-69 win against the University of Tampa. Dennis keyed an impressive defensive performance against the Spartans, one in which NSU forced a whopping 26 turnovers.
 

---

Women’s Basketball Player of the Week

Kayla Wright  / Nova Southeastern University / Sr. / Forward / Lauderhill, Florida
Wright takes Player of the Week following conference victories over Lynn University and the University of Tampa. In the conference opener against Lynn, Wright led NSU with 20 points and three blocks. The Sharks took down the Fighting Knights 70-66 on the road. The Lauderhill, Florida native then had a game-high 19 points in the Sharks’ 72-66 win over the University of Tampa. For the week, Wright scored 39 points by shooting 81% from the field (15-21) and 63% from the free throw line (5-8). In 42 minutes of action, Wright tallied five rebounds, a steal, and an assist. Nova Southeastern improves to 3-1 overall and begins SSC play 2-0. The weekly honor is the fourth of Wright’s career.

Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Carly McLendon / Rollins College / Jr. / Forward / Sanford, Florida
McLendon earns her sixth career Defensive Player of the Week honor following her efforts in a pair of SSC games. In the conference opener against Florida Tech, McLendon tallied two blocked shots, two steals, and four defensive rebounds. The Tars downed the Panthers 93-65. The Sanford, Florida product grabbed 12 boards (seven defensive) while blocking three shots as Rollins defeated Lynn 65-57. McLendon provided the Tars with 27 points, 18 rebounds, five blocks, two steals, and two assists across the two conference games.
 

---

Men’s Swimmer of the Week

Victor Rocha Furtado / Florida Tech / Jr. / Sao Paolo, Brazil
Rocha Furtado was dominant in this weekend's Panther Invitational. The Brazilian won five of the six races and relays he competed in and posted four NCAA “B” standard times, two NCAA provisional standard relay times, and a school record. He was part of 200 freestyle relay that finished 1st and set an NCAA provisional standard time of 1:20.78. He then set a “B” standard time as the first leg in the 200 free relay at a time of 19.97, just .15 off earning an “A” time. The junior won the 50 freestyle (20.04), 100 butterfly (48.48), and 100 freestyle (43.49) with “B” standard times. His 100 freestyle performance was a new school record and just .07 from earning the "A" standard time. Finally, Rocha Furtado took part in FIT’s 400 freestyle relay that won the final in an NCAA provisional standard time of 2:58.15. The weekly honor is the third his career.

Women’s Swimmer of the Week

Natalia Garriock / Saint Leo University / Sr. / Duncan, British Columbia
Garriock takes in her fifth career Swimmer of the Week after top performances for Saint Leo at the Florida Tech Panther Invitational over the weekend. When it was all said and done Garriock helped set four individual or relay NCAA “B” cut marks during the meet. Individually, she recorded NCAA “B” cut times in the 100 Butterfly (54.50) with a first-place finish, 100 Freestyle (51.05) where she finished second by .02 seconds, and in the 50 Freestyle (23.46) with a fourth-place finish. Garriock swam the third leg for Saint Leo’s first-place team in the 200 Medley Relay, which had an NCAA provisional mark time of 1:43.25. She also swam for Saint Leo’s 400 Free Relay team (3:27.83), which finished second behind Division I Georgia Southern University.
 

---

---