Sunshine State Conference

SSC Athletes of the Week | April 5 - 11, 2021

Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of April 5-11, 2021. Athletes are nominated by Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions.

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Baseball Player of the Week

Tyler Epstein / Nova Southeastern University / Shortstop / Fr. / Pembroke Pines, Florida
Epstein reeled off three consecutive 3-for-5 and multi-RBI games to earn Player of the Week honors. The Pembroke Pines, Florida native led the Sharks to its first series win of the year with a .588 four-game average (10-for-17), a double, a triple, and a home run. Epstein notched eight RBI and five runs for the week, accounting for nearly 50-percent of all NSU runs across four outings. In addition to a .941 slugging percentage, Epstein reached base at a .632 clip and tallied a 1.573 OPS while also reaching base via a walk and hit by pitch. The freshman also stole one base and recorded 16 total bases. In the field at Shortstop, he was perfect, collecting 10 assists and six putouts.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Jaylyn Whitehead / Rollins College / Sr. / Orlando, Florida
Whitehead earns his second Pitcher of the Week honor this season following his performance in the series finale against Nova Southeastern. The Orlando native tossed a seven-inning complete-game shutout, allowing four hits and two walks. Whitehead struck out seven and limited opponent batters to a .167 average in the 2-0 Tars victory.
 

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Softball Player of the Week

Faith Allen / Palm Beach Atlantic University / Centerfield / So. / Dunedin, Florida
Allen earns weekly honors following a .615/.643/.692 slash line in a series sweep of Lynn. The Dunedin, Florida product went 8-for-13 at the plate with a double, three runs scored, and a walk. She reached base multiple times in all four games and stole two bags as part of her 14 total bases. In the outfield, Allen recorded three putouts and an assist in four chances.

Softball Pitcher of the Week

Mariah Galhouse / University of Tampa / Fr. / Spring Hill, Florida
Galhouse wins Pitcher of the Week accolades following a complete game shutout of Barry in Miami Shores. The Spring Hill, Florida native allowed four hits and no walks in the contest. She struck out seven batters as Tampa held on to a 1-0 victory.
 

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Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Xander Cosenza / Lynn University / Gr. / Midfield / Bay Shore, New York
Cosenza is awarded Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against No. 2 Tampa last week. The Bay Shore, New York product tallied a game-high four points off two goals and two assists. Cosenza connected on his two scores following eight shots, three of which were on goal. The midfielder also picked up a ground ball in the 7-6 loss.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Blake Ulmer / University of Tampa / So. / Goal / Naples, Florida
Ulmer was key for the Tampa defense in road victories at Rollins (10-7) and No. 17 Lynn (7-6) last week. The Naples, Florida native recorded 23 saves while facing 76 shots. He allowed 13 goals total, holding both teams to season-lows in goals scored. Ulmer also picked up three ground balls and posted a .639 save percentage. The weekly award is his second this season.

Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week

Ross Dickerson / University of Tampa / Sr. / FO / Berlin, Maryland
Dickerson earns his 14th career weekly award following a 20-for-34 performance at the X in road victories at Rollins (10-7) and No. 17 Lynn (7-6). The Berlin, Maryland product also picked up 10 ground balls in the Spartan wins. The senior remains second all-time among Tampa's weekly award winners. He is now tied for first among men's lacrosse athletes.
 

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Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Liz Fahey / Rollins College / Sr. / Midfield / Hagerstown, Maryland
Fahey captures Offensive Player of the Week honors following her efforts in Rollins' 14-13 victory at No. 4 Florida Southern. The Hagerstown, Maryland native recorded game-highs with five goals and six points, matching her career-high in both categories. Fahey's five scores came on nine shot attempts, with six shots on goal. She also provided the Tars with a ground ball and draw control in the win.

Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Hannah Forbes / Rollins College / Sr. / Defense / Marietta, Georgia
Forbes is awarded Defensive Player of the Week following her performance in Rollins' 14-13 victory at No. 4 Florida Southern. The defender was crucial in holding Florida Southern to its lowest goal total of the year. Forbes led the game with six draw controls, helping the Tars to an 18-10 draw control advantage. The Marietta, Georgia native aided in the Tars' scoring effort with two assists.
 

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Men's Golfer of the Week

AJ Ewart / Barry University / So. / Coquitlam, British Columbia
Ewart takes Golfer of the Week for the third time this season following his win at The Battle at the Shores. Ewart totaled a three-round score of 2-under (211) with individual rounds of 70, 72, 69 at the Par 71 Normandy Shores Golf Club. With the play of Ewart, Barry finished in a tie for second at the event. The weekly award is the fifth of his career, which places him in a tie for third all-time in SSC men's golf.

Women's Golfer of the Week

Kiira Riihijarvi / University of Tampa / Sr. / Oulu, Finland
Riihijarvi is awarded Golfer of the Week for the third time this season after a second-place finish at the Lynn Women's Invitational. The Finn totaled a three-round score of 2-under (214) following individual rounds of 71, 70, 72 at the Par 72 Boca Woods Country Club. Behind the play of Riihijarvi, the Spartans finished third of 10 teams. The weekly award is the sixth of her career, which places her in a tie for second all-time in SSC women's golf.
 

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Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Alessandro Giuliato / Barry University / Jr. / South Maurizio, Italy
Giuliato takes Athlete of the Week honors following his play at #1 Singles and #2 Doubles at No. 24 Florida Southern. Paired with Hugo Cazaban, Giuliato posted a 7-6(3) win over FSC's #2 tandem. At #1 singles, the Italian downed FSC's top athlete 6-3, 6-1. The weekly award is the second of his career.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Xiyao Wang / Barry University / Jr. / Chongqing, China
Wang is named Athlete of the Week following her efforts at #3 Singles and #2 Doubles against No. 3 Nova Southeastern and at No. 19 Florida Southern. The Chongqing, China product, along with partner Julie Razafindranaly, won 6-2 against NSU and 6-3 at FSC. In singles, Wang took down NSU's #3, 6-3, 6-2, then went, 6-2 6-1, against FSC's #3 athlete.
 

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Boat of the Week

Varsity 8 / Florida Tech
Florida Tech's Varsity 8 is awarded Boat of the Week laurels. The crew of Graysen Pensch (bow), Simona Vileniskyte, Sydney Spicer, Hannah Schilcher, Maclain Zajicek, Liza Lutter, Ismini Noni, Anna Kayser Gallego (stroke), and Abbigale Smith (coxswain) took first place in a race against Barry and DI opponent Drake. The Varsity 8 came out victorious as they finished in 6:54.69, 5.81 seconds quicker than Drake and over 16 seconds faster than SSC rival Embry-Riddle.
 

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Week-by-Week Winners: In Active Sports

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