SSC Athletes of the Week: January 30 - February 5

SSC Athletes of the Week: January 30 - February 5

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Weekly Honors in Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Lacrosse, and Golf

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week | January 30 - February 5, 2017

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of January 30 - February 5, 2017. Athletes are nominated by Sports Information Directors of member institutions.

Men's Basketball Player of the Week
7365Elvar Fridriksson / Barry University / Jr. / Guard / Njardvik, Iceland
Fridriksson earns his second consecutive SSC Player of the Week award after leading Barry in two close conference victories this week. Fridriksson recorded 15 points, seven rebounds, and six assists as the Buccaneers defeated Lynn, 80-75. At home against Saint Leo, the Icelander tallied 23 points and 12 assists for his his team-leading fifth double double of the year. He also recorded five rebounds and a steal in the, 96-91, Barry victory. For the week, Fridriksson shot 14-for-27 from the floor (52%) and 9-for-10 from the free throw line (90%). With the play of Fridriksson, Barry moves to is now 17-2 overall and 10-2 in SSC play.

Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
7171Jarel Spellman / Florida Southern College / So. / Forward / Richmond, Virginia
Spellman is named Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season after tallying 13 blocks and 16 rebounds in two conference games. Spellman provided Florida Southern with eight rebounds (six defensive) and four blocks to go along with seven points in FSC’s loss at Saint Leo. Against Palm Beach Atlantic, the Richmond, Virginia posted a stat line of 18 points, eight rebounds (five defensive), nine blocks, and three steals as the Moccasin’s defeated the Sailfish. Spellman has now set the program record for most career blocks with 166 total. He was able to do so in 40 less games than it took Christophe Humbert to set the record. Florida Southern is now 9-13 overall and 7-6 in SSC play.
 
Women's Basketball Player of the Week
7265Chelsy Springs / Saint Leo University / Sr. / Orlando, Florida
Springs is awarded Player of the Week for the second time this season after leading Saint Leo University to a 1-1 week with the help of Springs’ back-to-back double-doubles. Springs scored ten points and added 11 rebounds and a block in a losing effort to Florida Southern. Against Barry, the Orlando, Florida native kept up the double-double numbers with a 15 points / 10 rebound effort. Springs added four assists, four blocks, and a steal as the Lions claimed a, 70-67, road victory over the Buccaneers. The program's first conference win of the season. Springs improves to 6-14 overall and 1-11 in league play.

Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
7208Carly McLendon / Rollins College / So. / Forward / Sanford, Florida
McLendon earns her fourth Defensive Player of the Week award, second consecutive after extending Rollins’ single season blocks record (57) across two games. The Sanford, Florida tallied eight points, six rebounds (four defensive), five blocks, and a steal in a, 52-50, win over Embry-Riddle.  Against No. 18 Eckerd, McLendon recorded a 12 point / 12 rebound (five defensive) double-double as the Tars were victorious, 69-54, in St. Petersburg. Rollins is now 15-6 overall and 9-4 in SSC play after seven consecutive wins.
 
Baseball Player of the Week
7386Derek Gibree / Saint Leo University / So. / Infield / Largo, Florida
Gibree batted .545 (6-for-11) in Saint Leo’s season opening series against West Alabama to earn the first SSC Player of the Week honors for 2017. Gibree went 2-for-4 in Friday’s season opener that ended with an 11-5 Lions’ win over the Tigers. In the victory, he connected on his first career homerun, a solo shot to left field that was part of a four-run fourth inning. In Sunday’s rubber game, Gibree belted another homerun, a two-run shot in the sixth, while going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Gibree went 2-for-3 in Saturday’s loss to West Alabama, drawing one hit by pitch and crossing the plate for one run. Altogether, the Largo, Florida product charted five runs, three RBI, two homeruns, a stolen base, and two HBP. Gibree’s slashline for the three-day series was .545 / .615 / 1.091.

7388Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Garrett Cave / University of Tampa / Jr. / Bushnell, Florida
Cave receives the first SSC Pitcher of the Week honor for 2017 after hurling four scoreless innings against Bentley last week. Cave struck out 10 of the 17 batters he faced, allowing two hits and two walks in his four innings of work. The Bushnell, Florida native recorded got the win for the Spartans as they shutout Bentley, 8-0, on opening day.
 
Softball Player of the Week
7385Brianne Lint / Rollins College / Jr. / Utility / Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Lint was selected as Player of the Week after drove in five runs, scored four times, and delivered two extra base hits four games for Rollins. In her top game of the week, Lint registered three RBIs and scored a run in an upset win over No. 23 Alabama Huntsville. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida native then recorded four assists while playing second base in a pitchers duel against No. 1 North Alabama. Lint then went 2-2 as she batted in two runners and scored twice, including hitting a homerun to secure the Tars victory over Delta State. For the week, Lint had a batting average of .455, slugging percentage of .818, and on base percentage of .571.

Softball Pitcher of the Week
7394Makaleigh Dooley / University of Tampa / So. / Tampa, Florida
Dooley was selected as Pitcher of the Week after she led Tampa with two complete game victories this past week. In a 3-1 victory over Eckerd, Dooley allowed four hits and a walk while striking out seven batters. The Tampa native then threw a seven inning complete game shutout against Chadron State. The Spartans defeated Chadron State, 2-0, with Dooley providing seven strikeouts and allowing just three hits. For the week, Dooley posted .64 ERA across 14 innings pitched.
Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week
7389Kyle Pauwels / Saint Leo University / Jr. / Attack / Kamloops, British Columbia
Pauwels was perfect in his first game for the Saint Leo as he tallied four points in an upset victory over No. 7 LIU Post. Pauwels scored four goals on four shots for 100-percent accuracy in the win. The Kamloops, British Columbia native tallied his first two goals to give the Lions a 3-1 lead in the first quarter before LIU Post would answer with five unanswered. Pauwels’ third and fourth goals were back-to-back, within 10 seconds of each other, in the fourth quarter to bring the score even at 10. The Lions would eventually take the lead and go on to take down No. 7 LIU Post to open the season.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
7390Thomas Tatarian / Saint Leo University / So. / Goalkeeper / Shoreham, New York
In his first career start, Tatarian earned his first career win in net as the Saint Leo Lions upset No. 7 LIU Post, 14-11. Tatarian only allowed two goals in the second half of action. He made some crucial saves down the stretch as the Lions mounted their comeback after trailing for the first three quarters. Tatarian finished his first career start with 14 save on 25 shots on goal, and 39 total shots.

Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week
7392Sam Watts / University of Tampa / Jr. / Midfield / Buffalo, New York
Watts was selected as the Men’s Lacrosse Specialist Player of the Week after he won 17-of-20 faceoffs in first career game as a Spartan. In a 15-8 victory over Tusculum, the Buffalo, New York native also registered 10 ground balls and scored a goal for the No. 4 Spartans.

Women's Golfer of the Week
7387Shannon McKew / Florida Southern College / Sr. / Cockeysville, Maryland
McKew, a senior from Cockeysville Maryland, was selected as the Women’s Golfer of the Week after she opened up her season with her first top-five finish after she tied for fifth place at the Barton College Invitational. She had a share of the lead after round one with a three-over par 75 and followed that with a 76 in the second round. She finished three strokes out of first in a field of 86 golfers, and she was one of only two who were at 76 or better in both rounds of the tournament. She helped the Moccasins finish third out of 17 teams.
 
Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week
7391Mehdi Laalej / Lynn University / Jr. / Meknes, Morocco
Laalej was selected as the Men’s Tennis athlete of the week after going 1-1 in the opening week of play. The junior from Meknes, Morocco moved up the the No. 1 singles spot this season as the No. 8 Lynn swept St. Thomas, 9-0, before falling to No. 5 Valdosta State, 5-4, in a marathon match. Against VSU, Laalej posted a statement victory, taking down the third-ranked player in the nation, Leo Blay, in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) at the top singles flight to help keep the Fighting Knights alive. Against St. Thomas in the season opener Laalej won 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles and teamed up with Jakub Jiricka for the first time and won 8-1 at No. 1 doubles.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week
7393Sonja Larsen / Barry University / Jr. / Verden, Germany
Larsen earns Player of the Week honors after helping Barry to a team win over Division I and 22-match winners in 2016, Bethune-Cookman. Larsen claimed a (6-2, 6-1) victory over Mina Matsuba in the No. 1 singles position. The Verden, Germany native then paired with Ana Pain in No. 2 doubles play to win, 8-0, over Deborah Bravo/Alejandra Vidal.
Nov. 14: Marcus Dewberry, Saint Leo; Jarel Spellman, Florida Southern
Nov. 21: Adrian Gonzalez, Barry; Daniel Mortensen, Barry
Nov. 28: Dwayne Gibson, Nova Southeastern; Duke Shelton, Tampa
Dec. 5: Justin Satchell, Saint Leo; Drushaun McLaurn, Eckerd
Dec. 12: Anthony Gamble, Tampa; Vieux Kande, Lynn
Dec. 20: Harrison Goodrick, Nova Southeastern; Kevin O'Brien, Lynn
Jan. 2: Adrian Gonzalez, Barry; Daniel Mortensen, Barry
Jan. 9: Drushaun McLaurn, Eckerd; Daniel Mortensen, Barry
Jan. 16: Jack Rauch, Florida Southern; Jarel Spellman, Florida Southern
Jan. 23: Marcus Dewberry, Saint Leo; Obi Kyei, Eckerd
Jan. 30: Elvar Fridriksson, Barry; Jarel Spellman, Florida Southern
Feb. 6: Elvar Fridriksson, Barry; Jarel Spellman, Florida Southern
2016-17 SSC Women's Basketball Award Winners (Player; Defensive Player)
Nov. 14: Jensen Blassage, Florida Southern; Gianna Vastola, Florida Southern
Nov. 21: Taylor Buie, Nova Southeastern; Victoria Vine, Eckerd
Nov. 28: Christen Prasse, Nova Southeastern; Carly McLendon, Rollins
Dec. 5: Shequana Harris, Florida Tech; Ada Yalcin, Eckerd
Dec. 12: Megan Piggott, Nova Southeastern; Kacie Juday, Eckerd
Dec. 20: Chelsy Springs, Saint Leo; Asia Royster, Saint Leo
Jan. 2: Anna Deegan, Eckerd; Kacie Juday, Eckerd
Jan. 9: Camille Giardina, Florida Southern; Kacie Juday, Eckerd
Jan. 16: Gianna Vastola, Florida Southern; Carly McLendon, Rollins
Jan. 23: Elena de Alfredo, Tampa; Kacie Juday, Eckerd
Jan. 30: Julia Ingler, Rollins; Carly McLendon, Rollins
Feb. 6: Chelsy Springs, Saint Leo; Carly McLendon, Rollins
2017 SSC Baseball Award Winners (Player, Pitcher)
Feb. 6: Derek Gibree, Saint Leo; Garrett Cave, Tampa
2017 SSC Softball Award Winners (Player, Pitcher)
Feb. 6: Brianne Lint, Rollins, Makaleigh Dooley, Tampa
2017 SSC Men's Lacrosse Award Winners (Offensive, Defensive, Specialist)
Feb. 6: Kyle Pauwels, Saint Leo; Thomas Tatarian, Saint Leo; Sam Watts, Tampa
2017 SSC Golf Award Winners (Men, Women)
Sept. 12: John VanDerLaan; Florida Southern; None
Sept. 19: Will Hall, Rollins; Charlotte Puts, Barry
Sept. 26: John Coultas, Florida Southern; Marie Coors, Saint Leo
Oct. 3: None; Lexie Toth, Rollins
Oct. 10: John Coultas, Florida Southern; Jenny Ayala, Lynn
Oct. 16: None; Viviana Vazquez, Rollins
Oct. 24: Richard Mansell, Nova Southeastern; Vilde Eriksen, Saint Leo
Oct. 31: Niclas Weiland, Barry; Tilda Larsson, Barry
Nov. 7: Jakob Van de Flierdt, Rollins; Brittany LaPadula, Florida Tech
Feb. 6: None; Shannon McKew, Florida Southern
2017 SSC Tennis Award Winners (Men, Women)
Feb. 6: Mehdi Laalej, Lynn; Sonja Larsen, Barry