Sunshine State Conference

Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards: January 30 - February 5

02.06.23

Weekly Honors in basketball, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and tennis

SSC Athletes of the Week | January 30 - February 5, 2023

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, 2023. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

---

 

---

Men's Basketball Player of the Week

Sean Houpt / Florida Tech / Sr. / Guard / Danville, Illinois
Houpt pulls in Player of the Week accolades following Florida Tech's two road wins last week. The Danville, Illinois native began the week with a game-high 20 points as the Panthers took down Barry, 76-74, in overtime. Houpt played all 45 minutes in the win, adding six rebounds, three assists, and two steals to his stat sheet. The senior followed with a game-high 33 points, tying his career high, in a 77-72 victory at Eckerd. Houpt registered seven rebounds and three steals in FT's ninth conference victory of the year. He totaled 53 points last week by shooting 43% from the field (13-30), 85% from the free-throw line (22-26), and 42% from behind the arc (5-12). The guard averaged 41.0 minutes, 26.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.5 steals across the two contests. The weekly award is the third of his career and the second in 2022-23.
Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Hutton Yenor / Rollins / Gr. / Guard / Orlando, Florida
Yenor is named Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in 2022-23 following his play in a pair of SSC games. The Orlando native registered five steals, eight defensive rebounds, and a blocked shot in a 75-60 win over Tampa. During a 88-78 loss to Barry, Yenor provided the Tars with five steals, three defensive rebounds, and a blocked shot. Offensively, he scored 42 points, distributed six assists, and had three offensive rebounds.
 

---

Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Sofia Persson / Eckerd / Jr. / Guard / Arvika, Sweden
Persson repeats as Player of the Week following her efforts in wins against Florida Southern and Florida Tech. In a 73-68 win over FSC, she scored 20 points, pulled in nine rebounds, dished six assists, and grabbed one steal. The Swede then led Eckerd to an 80-55 win over Florida Tech with a game-high 19 points, along with three steals and two rebounds. The junior guard totaled 37 points last week by shooting 40% from the field (12-30), 27% from behind the arc (3-11), and 91% from the line (10-11). Persson averaged 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 per game while playing all 73 minutes. The weekly award is the fifth of her career.

Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Lauryn Vieira / Eckerd / Jr. / Guard / Haute-Savoie, France
Vieira receives Defensive Player of the Week for the third time in 2022-23 by leading Eckerd in wins against Florida Southern and Florida Tech. The Haute-Savoie, France native, tallied two steals and three defensive rebounds as the Tritons won, 73-68, over FSC. The junior recorded eight defensive rebounds, four steals, and a block in an 80-55 victory against Eckerd. Offensively, Vieira scored 20 points, dished 11 assists, and pulled in two offensive rebounds. The weekly award is the fourth of her career.
 

---

Baseball Player of the Week

Byron Murray / Lynn / Sr. / Center Field / Nassau, Bahamas
Murray's performance in Lynn's first three games of the year earns him Player of the Week honors. The senior center fielder recorded a .429/.471/.929 slash line, reaching base with six hits in 14 at-bats and two walks. Murray accounted for 12 Fighting Knight runs, driving in six and scoring six times. He also stole a pair of bases in two attempts and reached 13 total bases. Murray's top game of the week came in a 20-20 tie with Colorado Christian, where he went 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run, a stolen base, a sacrifice fly, two walks, three runs scored, and four runs batted in. Defensively, the Bahamian had four putouts and an assist in five chances.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Curtis Perry / Eckerd / So. / Fall River, Massachusetts  

---

Softball Player of the Week

Ryleigh Langwell / Nova Southeastern / Sr. / Outfield / Granger, Indiana
Langwell is honored as Player of the Week for her performance against Alabama-Huntsville and No. 12 Valdosta State. The Granger, Indiana, native went 10-for-15 at the plate across four games, with four runs batted in, two runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base. In two games against nationally ranked VSU, she recorded five hits in eight at-bats, drove in three, and scored three times. Defensively, the left fielder tallied 12 putouts in 12 chances. Langwell finished the week with a .667 batting average, a .688 on-base percentage, a .800 slugging percentage, and 12 total bases.

Softball Pitcher of the Week

Kayla Betts / Saint Leo / Jr. / Leesburg, Florida
Betts wins Pitcher of the Week accolades following two wins, a save, and no runs allowed in 16 innings pitched at the Gulf Shores Invitational. The Leesburg, Florida product opened the season with a three-hit complete game shutout of No. 4 Auburn-Montgomery, in which she struck out 10 batters. The Lions bested the UAM 3-0, and Betts earned her first win of the year. She followed with two innings of relief, grabbing the save against Montevallo. She allowed a walk and struck out five of the seven batters she faced. Finally, Betts recorded her second career no-hitter with a seven-inning complete game against West Georgia. The junior struck out 16 batters and walked two in the 9-0 Saint Leo victory. Betts recorded a .060 opponent batting average and struck out 31 hitters to secure the second weekly award of her career.
 

---

Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Sean Nolan / Florida Southern / Sr. / Attack / Cross River, New York
Nolan receives Offensive Player of the Week laurels after guiding Florida Southern to road wins over Alabama-Huntsville (14-4) and Montevallo (23-4). The Cross River, New York native, paced the Moccasins with four points off three goals and an assist against UAH. The senior went on to lead FSC in points with six by scoring five goals and adding an assist in the win at Montevallo. Nolan scored his eight goals on 17 total shots and 12 on goal.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Blake Ulmer / Tampa / Sr. / Goal / Naples, Florida  

---

Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Chris Fok Kow / Florida Southern / Jr. / Balaclava, Mauritius
Fok Kow takes Athlete of the Week honors following his role in FSC's win against Gustavus Adolphus. The Balaclava, Mauritius native and teammate Matteo Feggi took the win at the #1 doubles (6-3) to begin the match. At #1 singles, Fok Kow came from behind to defeat his opponent 6-3 in the first set and took the second 6-4, helping clinch the 6-1 FSC win.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Kamilya Shailina / Saint Leo / So. / Almaty, Kazakhstan
Shailina is named Athlete of the Week following her role in Saint Leo's 7-0 over Ave Maria. The Kazakhstani picked up a 6-0 victory, with partner Luzia Obermeier, at #2 doubles to start the match. Shailina then bested her opponent 6-3, 6-3 at #4 singles.
 

---

---

---