SSC Athletes of the Week: February 12 - 18
Weekly Honors in Basketball, Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Softball, and Tennis
SSC Athletes of the Week | February 12 - 18, 2018
Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of February 12 - 18, 2018. Athletes are nominated by Sports Information Directors of member institutions.
Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Jordan Majors / Florida Tech / Sr. / Guard / Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Majors grabs his second Player of the Week honors after playing a crucial role for Florida Tech in games against Barry University and Palm Beach Atlantic University. During a 95-90 loss to Barry, the Hopkinsville, Kentucky native tallied 32 points while dishing out seven assists as he played all 40 minutes for the Panthers. Majors followed with another 32-point / 40-minute effort, this time while dishing out three assists and grabbing seven total rebounds in an 86-77 win over Palm Beach Atlantic. For the week, Majors scored 64 points by shooting 56% from the field (16-33), and 81% from the free throw line (17-21). In 80 minutes on the court, the senior recorded ten assists, twelve rebounds, and two steals. With the play of Majors, FIT moves to 7-11 in league play and the Panthers Coach Mims earned his 600th career win.
Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Daniel Mortensen / Barry University / Jr. / Forward / Islev, Denmark
Mortensen picks up his third Defensive Player of the Week honor this season after his performances against Florida Tech and Nova Southeastern University last week. In a 95-90 win against Florida Tech, the Islev, Denmark native recorded a block and a steal while also grabbing five defensive rebounds for the Buccaneers. The junior forward added another block to go along with one steal and ten defensive rebounds in a 105-83 win against Nova Southeastern. Mortensen also provided Barry with plenty of offense as he averaged 12.5 points along with 9.5 rebounds across the two games.
Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Lauren Ellenberger / Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University / Jr. / Guard / Granger, Indiana
Ellenberger is named Player of the Week after averaging 19 points per game against two top conference opponents last week. Against Eckerd College, Ellenberger went 5-10 from the floor, 3-7 from behind the arc, and 2-2 at free throw line scoring a total of 15 points. She added three rebounds, four assists, and three steals as the Eagles fell 72-67. In Saturday’s 69-60 win over Tampa, the Granger, Indiana product tallied a career-high 23 points, while also grabbing four rebounds and dishing out four assists. For the week Granger scored a total of 38 points by shooting 62% from the field (13-21), 56% from three (9-16), and 100% from the free throw line (3-3).
Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Kiara Palmer / Barry University / Sr. / Forward / Miami, Florida
Palmer receives a third Defensive Player of the Week award this season following 17 defensive rebounds and seven blocks in two conference games. The Miami product posted a double-double against Florida Tech, grabbing 12 rebounds and scoring 12 points in a 60-45 loss to the Panthers. Palmer also came away with a steal and four blocks in the loss. The senior recorded three more blocked shots and a steal in a 69-57 win over Nova Southeastern, as Barry claimed a 69-57 victory over the Sharks. In the win, Palmer had another double-double, this time scoring 21 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.
Baseball Player of the Week
Brett Coffel / Saint Leo University / Jr. / C/OF / Clermont, Florda
Coffel is named Player of the Week after his role in Saint Leo’s series win over the University of West Alabama. The Clermont, Florida native recorded eight hits in thirteen at-bats as the Lions took two games from West Alabama. Coffel’s top performance was a 4-for-4 day at the plate, in which he drove in three runs and scored twice. In that same game, he provided SLU with a home run as well as a triple. Altogether, the Lion outfielder tallied seven RBIs, three runs, and a walk while slashing .615/.643/1.231 for the week.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Logan Browning / Florida Southern College / Jr. / Huntington Station, New York
Browning receives the SSC Pitcher of the Week honor for the fourth time in his career and first of the season after tossing seven innings against Lee University. The senior allowed just three hits, striking out seven batters, and walking four while giving up no runs. The Lakeland, Florida native moved to 2-0 on the year as FSC took the 7-2 victory.
Softball Player of the Week
Maddie Biggs / Palm Beach Atlantic University / Sr. / Outfielder / Plant City, Florida
Biggs takes home Player of the Week after leading Palm Beach Atlantic’s offense in a three-game series against Barry University. The Bradenton, Florida native hit .571 and slugged 1.286, while also producing four RBIs. Biggs hit a game-clinching two-run homer in the game against Barry on Saturday, driving in the only two runs of the game. In total Biggs went 4-for-7 (.571) with four RBIs and three extra-base hits. The Sophomore recorded at least one hit in every game of the series as PBA now stands at 7-2 overall.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Francais Olexa / Lynn University / Sr. / Delta, British Columbia
Olexa took the circle against No. 22 St. Mary's University and tossed a five-hit complete game to earn Pitcher of the Week. The senior allowed only one run in her first complete game shutout of the season, and fourth of her career. The Delta, British Columbia native, secured the SSC series victory over Nova Southeastern University. She came on in relief in the series finale and secured the final two outs with NSU threatening to increase its lead. Through her three total appearances, her opponents batted .176 as she only gave up nine hits. She also only allowed one run in all three appearances combined.
Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week
Andrew Kew / University of Tampa / Jr. / Attack / Oakville, Ontario
Kew earns Offensive Player of the Week honors for the fourth time in his career after a stellar performance against No. 1 Limestone College. The Oakville, Ontario native racked up six points from six goals off of sixteen shots in Tampa's 12-10 win over the Saints. He also picked four ground balls for the Spartans. The victory is the first for Tampa over Limestone.
Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Luke Posner / University of Tampa / Sr. / Defense / Madisonville, Louisiana
Posner comes away with his first Defensive Player of the Week honor for his efforts in Tampa’s upset of No. 1 Limestone College. The Madisonville, Louisiana product caused two turnovers and picked up one ground ball in Tampa’s 12-10 upset victory. The senior defender held the Saints’ Preseason First-Team All-American selection Charlie Sheehan to zero points in the game. The victory is the first for Tampa over Limestone.
Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week
Ross Dickerson / University of Tampa / So. / Midfield / Berlin, Maryland
Dickerson wins his second Specialist Player of the Week award this season after Tampa's win over No. 1 Limestone College. The Berlin, Maryland native won 21-25 faceoffs and picked up eight ground balls in the 12-10 Spartans victory. The victory is the first for Tampa over Limestone.
Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week
Dani Bursinger / Florida Southern College / Jr. / Midfield / Powell, Ohio
Bursinger earns Player of the Week after leading Florida Southern offensively against No. 1 Adelphi University. The Powell, Ohio native scored five goals and tallied two assists in a 17-16 win over the top-ranked Panthers. Bursinger scored the first goal of the game at the 27:01 mark of the first half. Bursinger also tallied 10 draw controls and converted all five of her shots on goal, scoring on five of seven total shots. Florida Southern completed the game with a 17-goal performance, the most by any Adelphi opponent since May 4, 2002.
Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Marina Jozokos / Florida Southern College / So. / Midfield / Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
Jozokos is awarded Defensive Player of the Week after her performance in the Moccasins upset of No. 1 Adelphi University. The Wolfeboro, New Hampshire native, collected seven draw controls and a game-high four ground balls. The sophomore midfielder also scored twice on three shots, helping Florida Southern to a 17-16 victory on Saturday.
Men's Golfer of the Week
John Coultas / Florida Southern College / Sr. / Valrico, Florida
Coultas successfully defended his title at the 2018 Matlock Collegiate Classic, becoming the fifth player in the tournament's 37-year history to win back-to-back. It was Coultas' first win of the season and the seventh of his career. His final score of 15-under (65-70-66=201) was the second lowest in tournament history, falling just one stroke off the record set by Florida Southern's Tim Crouch in 2013. It included only three bogeys, a tournament-best 16 birdies, and gave Coultas a 4-stroke win over a pair of golfers from Barry and a 6-stroke margin over the rest of the field. Coultas' performance helped 2nd-ranked Florida Southern win the team title with a -29 that was the second-lowest team score in history of the Matlock, and the best the Moccasins
have ever had in that event. It gave the Moccasins a six-shot win over 12th-ranked Barry University and put them nine shots ahead of top-ranked the University of West Florida.
Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Thomas Grinberg / Saint Leo University / Jr. / Vincennes, France
Grinberg earns Player of the Week after helping lead No. 7 Saint Leo to a 6-3 win over No. 11 Flagler College this past Sunday. Alongside his partner, Vincent Suillerot, Grinberg first took a doubles victory (8-3) followed by a singles victory at the number one spot (6-1, 6-2). Saint Leo men’s tennis advances their season to a 2-0 overall record.
Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Natalie Kallmunzerova / Lynn University / Fr. / Prague, Czech Republic
Kallmunzerova was the only Fighting Knight to win both of her matches on Friday, but Lynn University’s women’s tennis team still managed to knock off 17th-ranked Florida Southern in the team’s SSC opener, 6-3. Lynn fell behind 2-1 in doubles play, but Kallmunzerova and partner Eliska Petrackova logged a strong 8-1 victory at the second flight to get Lynn on the board. 15th-ranked Kallmunzerova picked up her second win of the day with a 7-5, 6-3 decision at the third singles flight. For the season, the Prague, Czech Republic product improves to 5-1 in doubles play and 4-2 in singles. Lynn improves to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the SSC.
Week-by-Week Winners
2017-18 SSC Men's Basketball Award Winners (Player; Defense)
Nov. 6: Grant Gullet, Palm Beach Atlantic; Tyreece Brice, Saint Leo
Nov. 13: Pat Bacon, Tampa; Duke Shelton, Tampa
Nov. 20: Sam Philpott, Rollins; David Dennis, Nova Southeastern
Nov. 27: Jack Rauch, Florida Southern; Brett Hanson, Florida Southern
Dec. 4: David Dennis, Nova Southeastern, Daniel Mortensen, Barry
Dec. 11: Sam Daniel, Florida Tech; Richard Coil, Florida Tech
Dec. 20: David Dennis, Nova Southeastern; Joshua Hawkins, Embry-Riddle
Jan. 1: Brett Hanson, Florida Southern; Daniel Mortensen, Barry
Jan. 8: Jordan Majors, Florida Tech; Ja'Kwan Jones, Florida Southern
Jan. 15: Ognjen Miljkovic, Embry-Riddle; Nashad Mackey, Embry-Riddle
Jan. 22: Sam Philpott, Rollins; Ja'Kwan Jones, Florida Southern
Jan. 29: Jeff Merton, Rollins; DeAndre King, Saint Leo
Feb. 5: Jonathan Lawton, Florida Southern; Ja'Kwan Jones, Florida Southern
Feb. 12: Elvar Fridriksson, Barry; Dwayne Gibson, Nova Southeastern
Feb. 19: Jordan Majors, Florida Tech; Daniel Mortensen, Barry
2017-18 SSC Women's Basketball Award Winners (Player; Defense)
Nov. 13: Anja Fuchs-Robetin, Florida Southern; Kacie Juday, Eckerd
Nov. 20: Kayla Wright, Nova Southeastern; Carly McLendon, Rollins
Nov. 27: Barbara Cousino, Barry; Anja Fuchs-Robetin, Florida Southern
Dec. 4: Kiara Palmer, Barry, Carly McLendon, Rollins
Dec. 11: Tara Fields, Embry-Riddle; Carly McLendon, Rollins
Dec. 20: Alison Hughes, Nova Southeastern; Kiara Palmer, Barry
Jan. 1: Kayla Wright, Nova Southeastern; None
Jan. 8: Hannah Grim, Palm Beach Atlantic; Anja Fuchs-Robetin, Florida Southern
Jan. 15: Jensen Blassage, Florida Southern; Carly McLendon, Rollins
Jan. 22: Anja Fuchs-Robetin, Florida Southern; Kacie Juday, Eckerd
Jan. 29: Zoe Richards, Eckerd; Kacie Juday, Eckerd
Feb. 5: Camille Giardina, Florida Southern; Anja Fuchs-Robetin, Florida Southern
Feb. 12: Nikira Hooks, Saint Leo; Anja Fuchs-Robetin, Florida Southern
Feb. 19: Lauren Ellenberger, Embry-Riddle; Kiara Palmer, Barry
2018 SSC Baseball Award Winners (Player; Pitcher)
Feb 5: : Andrew Labosky, Nova Southeastern; Devin Conn, Nova Southeastern
Feb. 12: Riley Herold, Palm Beach Atlantic; Keven Pimentel, Tampa
Feb. 19: Brett Coffel, Saint Leo; Logan Browning, Florida Southern
2018 SSC Softball Award Winners (Player; Pitcher)
Feb. 5: Kacie Kelly, Saint Leo; Alison Mitts, Saint Leo
Feb. 12: Shannon Bell, Florida Southern; Lexie Storrer, Nova Southeastern
Feb. 19: Maddie Biggs, Palm Beach Atlantic; Francais Olexa, Lynn
2018 SSC Men's Lacrosse Award Winners (Offense; Defense; Specialist)
Feb. 5: Jake Gilmour, Saint Leo; Andrew Hoemann, Rollins; Ross Dickerson, Tampa
Feb. 12: Kyle Pauwels, Saint Leo; Thomas Tatarian, Saint Leo; Ian Heggblod, Embry-Riddle
Feb. 19: Andrew Kew, Tampa; Luke Posner, Tampa; Ross Dickerson, Tampa
2018 SSC Women's Lacrosse Award Winners (Offense; Defense)
Feb. 12: Lauren Tybor, Florida Tech; Bridget Sutter, Tampa
Feb. 19: Dani Bursinger, Florida Southern; Marina Jozokos, Florida Southern
2017-18 SSC Golf Award Winners (Men; Women)
Sept. 18: None; Tori Higgins, Florida Southern
Sept. 25: John Coultas, Florida Southern; Anna Jakobsson, Saint Leo
Oct. 2: Max O'Hagan, Florida Tech; Jaime Freedman, Nova Southeastern
Oct. 9: Dylan Allen, Palm Beach Atlantic; Taylor Heinz, Palm Beach Atlantic
Oct. 16: Morgan Egloff, Rollins; Jenny Ayala, Lynn
Oct. 23: John VanDerLaan, Florida Southern; Kiira Riihijarvi, Tampa
Oct. 30: None; Tilda Larsson, Barry
Nov. 5: John VanDerLaan, Florida Southern; Tilda Larsson, Barry
Feb. 5: None; Amanda Gartrell, Florida Southern
Feb. 12: Max O'Hagan, Florida Tech; Noelle Beijer, Florida Tech
Feb. 19: John Coultas, Florida Southern; None
2018 SSC Tennis Award Winners (Men; Women)
Feb. 5: Kay Bartmann, Lynn; Klaudia Boczova, Lynn
Feb. 12: Kay Bartmann, Lynn; Sonja Larsen, Barry
Feb. 19: Thomas Grinberg, Saint Leo; Natalie Kallmunzerova, Lynn