Sunshine State Conference

SSC Weekly Awards Presented by Jimmy John's: February 7 - 13

02.14.22

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

SSC Athletes of the Week | February 7 - 13, 2022

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of February 7 - 13, 2022. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

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Men's Basketball Player of the Week

Sekou Sylla / Nova Southeastern University / Jr. / G-F / Brooklyn, New York
Sylla repeats as Player of the Week with his efforts against Saint Leo and Florida Southern. The guard/forward from Brooklyn scored a game-high 26 points and pulled in a team-high eight rebounds as the Sharks defeated Saint Leo, 91-74, on the road. The junior then scored a game-high 26 points and hauled in a game-high 16 rebounds as NSU posted a 96-76 win against Florida Southern to secure the SSC regular-season title. Sylla tallied 52 points by shooting 58% from the field (19-33) and 88% from the free-throw line (14-16). He averaged 26.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.5 steals per game while playing a total of 64 minutes. The weekly award is his fourth this season.

Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Toru Dean / Barry University / So. / Guard / Miami, Florida  

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Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Mackenzie Steele / Florida Southern College / Jr. / Guard / Plant City, Florida
Steele garners Player of the Week for her role in Florida Southern’s win over No. 15 Tampa. The Plant City, Florida product scored a game-high 21 points as the Moccasins defeated the Spartans, 66-41, in Lakeland. The junior guard also scored 13 points in a 71-58 win at Nova Southeastern. Steele tallied 34 points by shooting 41% from the field (11-27), 44% from behind the arc (7-16), and 83% from the free-throw line (5-6). She averaged 17.0 points and 1.50 assists per game while playing a total of 74 minutes.

Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Maya Price / Eckerd College / Jr. / Center / Bury St. Edmunds, England
Price is awarded Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts in an 82-58 win over Rollins. In the victory, the Briton tallied four steals, two blocks, and six defensive rebounds. Offensively, Price scored nine points, dished an assist, and pulled in four offensive boards. The weekly award is the fourth of her career.
 

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Baseball Player of the Week

Sam Schner / Florida Tech / So. / Center Field / Boca Raton, Florida
Schner's performance in a three-game series against Bentley earns him Player of the Week honors. The sophomore center fielder recorded a .500/.615/.600 slash line and reached base with five hits in 10 at-bats, a walk, and two hit-by-pitch. Schner accounted for 13 Panther runs, driving in six and scoring seven times. He also stole four bases in four attempts. Schner's top game of the week saw him go 3-for-5 at the plate, with a double, a run scored, and four runs batted in. Defensively, the Boca Raton, Florida product had six putouts in six chances.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Michael Paul / University of Tampa / Jr. / Clearwater, Florida  

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Softball Player of the Week

Payton Germer / Barry University / Sr. / Catcher / Winter Springs, Florida
Germer is honored as Player of the Week for her 2022 Florida Tech Invite performance. The Winter Springs, Florida, native went 9-for-20 at the plate across six games, with four runs scored and five runs batted in. In three games against Top-20 competition (No. 8 St. Anselm and No. 17 West Florida), Germer recorded six hits in 10 at-bats, drove in four, and scored four times. Defensively, the catcher tallied 27 putouts and four assists for the Buccaneers. With the play of Germer, Barry went 4-2 at the invitational and 2-1 against Top-20 teams.

Softball Pitcher of the Week

Kayla Betts / Saint Leo University / So. / Leesburg, Florida
Betts wins Pitcher of the Week accolades following a pair of Saint Leo victories. The Leesburg, Florida product began the week with four innings of work against Newberry, allowing two hits and a run (earned). She walked two and struck out six as the Lions won 13-5 in St. Augustine. Against Lenoir-Rhyne, Betts tossed a seven-inning complete game. She allowed five hits and two runs (one earned) while walking three and striking out six batters. Betts earned the victory as Saint Leo won 6-1 in St. Augustine. The sophomore recorded a 1.64 earned run average for the week and a .179 opponent batting average.

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Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Zach Rozgonyi / Florida Tech / So. / Attack / Elkridge, Maryland
Rozgonyi receives Offensive Player of the Week accolades after guiding Florida Tech to a 13-12 overtime victory at No. 17 Belmont Abbey. The Elkridge, Maryland native, paced the Panthers with a career-high five points in the win. Rozgonyi connected on a game-high four goals off nine total shots and five shots on goal. He also provided his team with an assist in the victory.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Blake Ulmer / University of Tampa / Jr. / Goal / Naples, Florida  

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Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Sallie Squire / Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University / So. / Midfield / Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Squire powered Embry-Riddle to a 14-12 road win over No. 17 Mount Olive to win Offensive Player of the Week. The sophomore from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, scored a game-high five goals off seven shots on goal and 10 total shots. In her first collegiate start and ERAU's first-ever win over a ranked opponent, Squire also provided her team with two draw controls and two ground balls.

Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Ryan Kelly / Florida Southern College / So. / Defense / Doylestown, Pennsylvania

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Men's Golfer of the Week

AJ Ewart / Barry University / Jr. / Coquitlam, British Columbia
Ewart is named Golfer of the Week for the third time in 2021-22 after winning the Matlock Collegiate Classic in Lakeland. The Canadian bested a field of 75 golfers by five strokes, finishing 12-under following rounds of 67-67-70. With the play of Ewart, Barry took the team title at this year's event by three strokes over host Florida Southern. The field included six ranked squads and three receiving votes in the latest coaches poll. The weekly award is the eighth of his career, placing him first all-time in SSC men's golf.

Women's Golfer of the Week

Francesca Santoni / Saint Leo University / Sr. / Torbole sul Garda, Italy
Santoni's win at the 2022 World Golf Invitational in St. Augustine earns her Golfer of the Week for the second time in her career. The Italian bested a field of 111 golfers by finishing 3-under following rounds of 72-69. With the play of Santoni, Saint Leo took second in the team competition at this year's event.

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Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Juan Ortiz Couder / Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University / Gr. / Madrid, Spain
Ortiz Couder takes Athlete of the Week honors following his role in ERAU's upset of No. 3 Saint Leo. The Spaniard, along with teammate Andres Donayre, helped the Eagles to the double point with a 6-3 win over Saint Leo's #1 duo. At #1 singles, Ortiz Couder came from behind to defeat No. 27 Bruno Faletto 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 7-5, and clinch the 4-3 ERAU win. Additionally, Ortiz Couder was victorious at #1 singles and #1 doubles against Florida National as the Eagles won 7-0.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Natalie Espinal / Nova Southeastern University / Jr. / Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Espinal is named Athlete of the Week following a combined five wins last week (2-0 singles and 3-0 doubles). The Tegucigalpa, Honduras native, picked up a victory in #1 doubles to start the week against St. Thomas. On the weekend, she then earned wins at the #1 in both singles and doubles against No. 18 North Georgia before adding two more at the top spot at Valdosta State. Espinal did not drop a set in either match.
 

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