Sunshine State Conference

Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards: October 23 - 29

10.30.23

Weekly Honors in Volleyball, Soccer, Golf, & Swimming

SSC Athletes of the Week | October 23 - 29, 2023

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of October 23 - 29, 2023. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

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Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week

Jaden McBride - Embry-Riddle
Junior - Outside Hitter - St. Johns, Florida

McBride collects her third Offensive Player of the Week of 2023 after her efforts in Embry-Riddle's two conference wins last week. In a 3-1 victory over Nova Southeastern, McBride registered a 15 kill / 16 dig double double, along with six blocks and three aces. The product of St. Johns, Florida, then tallied an 11 kill / 11 dig double-double, two aces, and two blocks in a sweep of Palm Beach Atlantic. The junior averaged 3.7 kills, 3.9 digs, 1.1 blocks, and .7 aces per set on her way to a fourth career weekly award.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week

Dana Gibbons - Embry-Riddle
Sophomore - Middle Blocker - Titusville, Florida

Gibbons is selected as Defensive Player of the Week following 1.7 blocks per set across a pair of Embry-Riddle conference wins. In a 3-1 win over Nova Southeastern, Gibbons recorded a match and career-high eight kills, along with three digs and six kills. The middle blocker from Titusville, Florida, recorded four blocks, a dig, and six kills as the Eagles swept Palm Beach Atlantic.

Volleyball Setter of the Week

Emily Edwards - Lynn
Grad Student - College Station, Texas

Edwards is named Setter of the Week for the fourth time in 2023 after averaging 9.63 assists per set during Lynn's two-game road trip. The College Station, Texas native totaled a match-high 42 assists with one error in a five-set loss at No. 2 Tampa. Edwards then registered a match-high 35 assists, with no errors, in a sweep at Florida Southern. The weekly award is the eighth of her career, tying her for third-most all-time among Lynn athletes.
 

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Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week

David Polanco - Barry
Junior - Midfielder - Key Biscayne, Florida

Polanco seizes Offensive Player of the Week with two game-winning goals, a hat-trick, and eight total points last week. The junior from Key Biscayne, Florida, scored early and often in Barry's 5-0 rout of Eckerd. His PK goal in the 16th minute proved to be the game-winner. The junior completed the hat-trick with scores in the 21st and 63rd minutes. At Florida Southern, Polanco knocked in a PK game-winner in the 81st minute, which secured the SSC regular season title and tournament No. 1 seed for the Buccaneers. Polanco's hat-trick against Eckerd is the first for the Buccaneer program since 2021.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week

Iker Berruezo - Barry
Senior - Defender - Garinoain, Spain

Berruezo is named Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in 2023 for his efforts in Barry's shutouts of Eckerd and Florida Southern. The Spaniard led Barry's defense during a 5-0 rout of Eckerd, limiting the Tritons to two shots on goal, and successfully defended three corner kicks in the shutout. The defender also scored in the 36th and 80th minutes of the match. In a 2-0 win at Florida Southern, the Berruezo-led defense held the Moccasins to one shot on goal and defended three corners. With the play of Berruezo, Barry secured the SSC regular season title and tournament No. 1 seed for the Buccaneers.
 

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Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week

Lauryn Wood - Florida Tech
Sophomore - Forward - Preston, England

Wood picks up Offensive Player of the Week for her performance in wins against No. 19 Flagler and Rollins. The forward from Preston, England, began the week with an insurance goal by way of a penalty kick in the 85th minute, helping the Panthers to a 2-0 win at Rollins. In a 3-1 win against Flagler, the sophomore tallied the first goal of the game in the 16th minute. Wood then knocked in the game-winner in the 54th minute, giving the Panthers program a win against a ranked program for the second consecutive season.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week

Hattie Kettle - Embry-Riddle
Junior - Defender - Bracknell, England

Kettle earns Defensive Player of the Week by leading Embry-Riddle's defense in a pair of shutouts and scoring a game-winner against Lynn. The Briton piloted an Eagles defense that held No. 19 Flagler in check on the road. Kettle and the Eagles' backline limited the Saints to three shots on goal in the 2-0 win. The defender was the key player in ERAU's 1-0 win over Lynn. She scored the game's only goal in the 86th minute to keep ERAU's conference regular season championship hopes alive. The Kettle-led Eagle defense held Lynn to a pair of shots on goal and defended six corner kicks in the shutout.
 

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Men's Golfer of the Week

Jake Nash - Saint Leo
Grad Student - Sarasota, Florida

Nash garners Golfer of the Week for the second time in 2023-24 after a tied third-place effort during the Copperhead Championship at the Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course in Innisbrook, Florida. The graduate student from Sarasota, Florida, shot 72-69-69 for a 3-under score of 210 over the 54-hole event. Nash finished tied for second in Par 3 scoring (1-under) and tied for fourth in Par 5 scoring (5-under).

Women's Golfer of the Week

Hannah Mitterberger - Nova Southeastern
Senior - Vienna, Austria

Mitterberger is named Golfer of the Week following a fourth-place showing at the Flagler Fall Slam. The Austrian shot a 2-over 146, besting 73 golfers during the two-day event at Marsh Creek Country Club in St. Augustine, Florida. Mitterberger was the top SSC performer at the event and led the Sharks to a third-place team finish, ahead of 11 squads.
 

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Men's Swimmer of the Week

Akos Hajagos - Florida Tech
Freshman - Budapest, Hungary

Hajagos receives Swimmer of the Week accolades following his performance in a 148-114 dual meet win against Lynn. The freshman from Hungary recorded victories in the 200 Fly (1:53.44) and 500 Free (4:42.44), defeating opponents by nine and two seconds, respectively. Hajagos also swam on the 200 Medley Relay and 200 Free Relay teams, both finished Top-3 at the meet.

Women's Swimmer of the Week

Laura Dekoninck - Lynn
Junior - Warsaw, Poland

Dekoninck is honored as Swimmer of the Week following her performance in Lynn's wins over Florida Tech and Rollins. Against Florida Tech, she won the 50 Free (24.52) and 100 Back (58.27) and helped Fighting Knights to wins in the 200 Free Relay (1:37.66) and 200 Medley Relay (1:46.68). The Warsaw, Poland native followed with three more wins in the 200 Free (1:58.58), 50 Free (24.25), and 100 Free (54.34) against Rollins. She also led the 400 Medley Relay to a win against the Tars. The weekly award is the second of her career.
 

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