Sunshine State Conference

Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards: October 28 - November 3

11.04.24

Weekly Honors in Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Swimming, & Golf

SSC Athletes of the Week | October 28 - November 3, 2024

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of October 28 - November 3, 2024. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

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Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week

Diana Akopova, Barry
Senior - Outside Hitter - Mozdok, Russia - 9th SSC Weekly Award

Akopova totaled 61 kills and a .403 hitting percentage to earn her fourth SSC Weekly Award this season. The Russian began the week with a record-breaking performance at No. 17 Lynn. Akopova totaled a new SSC Four-Set Single Match high of 38 kills in a 3-1 loss to the Fighting Knights. She also tallied 19 digs, five total blocks, and an ace in the Top-25 match up. Akopova followed with a match-high 12 kills in a 3-0 win against Eckerd and a team-high 11 kills in a sweep of Saint Leo. The senior averaged 6.10 kills, 2.70 digs, and 1.20 blocks per set for the week. Akopova now owns nine SSC Weekly Awards. She is tied for the fifth most weekly awards in volleyball and eighth most among all Barry athletes.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week

Isabella Gentile, Lynn
Senior - Libero - Naples, Florida - 3rd SSC Weekly Award

Gentile totaled 102 digs, 7.29 per set, leading Lynn to a 2-1 week. The Naples, Florida, product opened the week with 29 digs, seven assists, and a service ace in a four-set win against No. 24 Barry. Gentile then tallied 38 digs, four assists, and an ace in Lynn's 3-2 victory over Nova Southeastern. In a 3-2 loss to Florida Tech, the senior totaled 35 digs, four assists, and an ace. Gentile's 38 digs against NSU is tied for 10th most all-time in SSC five-set matches. The weekly award is her second this season and the third of her career.  

Volleyball Setter of the Week

Zoey Seput, Tampa
Senior - Shorewood, Illinois - 3rd SSC Weekly Award

Seput picks up a third weekly award this season after recording 116 assists, 10.55 per set, as Tampa went 3-0 on the road in conference play. The senior from Shorewood, Illinois, provided the Spartans with 36 assists and 13 digs in a 3-0 win over Palm Beach Atlantic. Seput then recorded 50 assists, 18 digs, and two blocks in a 3-2 victory against Embry-Riddle. Finally, the senior tallied 30 assists, nine digs, and five blocks in a sweep of Rollins. With the play of Seput, Tampa registered a .291 hitting percentage with 13.7 kills per set.
 

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Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week

Mario Rekirsch, Florida Tech
Grad Student - Forward - Vienna, Austria

Rekirsch led the Panthers to a 4-1 win over regionally-ranked Nova Southeastern with a pair of goals during his 58 minutes on the pitch. The Austrian scored the game's first goal in the 13th minute off an assist by Armando Loyaz and Tomas Casas. Rekirsch followed with the game-winning goal in the 28th minute, unassisted. In a 1-0 loss to No. 1 Lynn earlier in the week, he played 70 minutes and led all players with three shots during his 70 minutes.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week

Fabio Menzel, Lynn
Grad Student - Defender - Bonn, Germany

Menzel played all 180 minutes in Lynn's two road wins against Florida Tech (1-0) and Eckerd (2-1). The German led the Fighting Knights' defensive unit, which allowed just three shots on goal over the two matches, with Lynn's only goal coming on a penalty kick. Menzel scored the only goal in Lynn's win at Florida Tech, hitting the back of the net in the 75th minute.
 

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Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week

Ashley Shimberg, Florida Southern
Graduate Student - Forward - Tampa, Florida - 2nd SSC Weekly Award

Shimberg picks up a second SSC Weekly Award this season after recording a hattrick in Florida Southern's 3-1 road win over No. 25 Embry-Riddle. The Tampa native opened the scoring with a strike in the 9th minute off an Ally Prentice assist. Shimberg knocked in the game-winner during the 38th minute and followed with another score in the 88th minute, both unassisted. She scored her three goals off six total shots and five shots on goal. In a 3-0 loss to Barry, Shimberg led the game with four shots.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week

Fernanda Mayrink, Barry
Freshman - Goalkeeper - Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Mayrink delivered a clean sheet for Barry in a 3-0 win at Florida Southern. The Brazilian recorded four saves while facing 14 total shots from the Moccasins. The shutout is the second of the season.
 

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Men's Basketball Player of the Week

Dallas Graziani, Nova Southeastern
Junior - Guard - Pembroke Pines, Florida - 3rd SSC Weekly Award

Graziani captured Most Valuable Player honors at the 2024 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic following a pair of NSU victories. The Pembroke Pines, Florida guard started the event with an 18-point / 13-assist double double in a 122-99 win over No. 7 Gannon. The junior followed with a 17-point / 17-assist double double and nine steals in a 116-81 defeat of St. Thomas Aquinas. Graziani totaled 35 points last week by shooting 63% from the field (14-22), 33% from behind the arc (1-3), and 74% from the free-throw line (6-8). He averaged 17.5 points, 15.0 assists, 6.5 steals, and 3.0 rebounds while playing 38.5 minutes per game. His 17 assists against St. Thomas Aquinas are the second most in SSC single-game history, while his nine steals are tied for seventh. The weekly award is the third of his career.  

Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Alex Steen, Florida Southern
Junior - Forward - Panama City Beach, Florida - 5th SSC Weekly Award

Steen totaled 10 defensive rebounds and seven blocks in two games to earn All-Tournament honors at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. The junior led Florida Southern defensively in a 91-86 overtime victory against preseason No. 1 Minnesota State with game-highs in blocks (5) and rebounds (12). In a 90-85 loss to Point Loma, Steen totaled five defensive rebounds and a pair of blocks. Offensively, he scored 45 points with a .625 field goal percentage and pulled down nine offensive rebounds. The weekly award is the fifth of his career.
 

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Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Zoe Piller, Tampa
Senior - Forward/Center - Brentwood, Tennessee - 3rd SSC Weekly Award

Piller helped Tampa pick up two wins at the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic following a pair of double double performances. The senior from Brentwood, Tennessee, opened the season with 12 points along with game-highs in rebounds (11) and blocks (4) as Tampa defeated Seattle Pacific (65-49). The forward/center followed with game-highs in points (30) and rebounds (12) during a win against Simon Fraser (66-51). Piller totaled 42 points by shooting 71% from the field (17-24) and 80% from the free-throw line (8-10). She averaged 21.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks while playing 31.5 minutes per game. The weekly award is the third of her career.

Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Sariana Rodriguez, Tampa
Grad Student - Guard - Morovis, Puerto Rico

Rodriguez totaled seven defensive rebounds, four blocks, and three steals for Tampa in three games at the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic. In wins against Seattle Pacific (65-49) and Simon Fraser (66-51), she averaged 2.0 blocks, 1.0 steals, 3.0 rebounds, and 38.5 minutes played. She also added a steal in 19 minutes during a win against St. Edward's (70-57). Offensively, the Morovis, Puerto Rico product totaled 18 points and eight assists across the three games.
 

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Men's Golfer of the Week

RJ Glod, Rollins
Senior - Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Glod won The Citrus Intercollegiate on ChampionsGate Golf Club's International Course in ChampionsGate, Florida. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida native bested 83 golfers by two strokes with a 54-hole score of 4-under, 212 following rounds of 72-69-71. Glod led the tournament in Par 4 scoring (4-under) and was tied for third in total Par-3 scoring (1-under). With Glod's victory, Rollins finished the 16-team tournament field in second place.

Women's Golfer of the Week

Amelia Ruiz Topali, Lynn
Sophomore - Santiago, Chile - 2nd SSC Weekly Award

Ruiz Topali won the Ralph Hayes Toyota D2 Elite Invitational at Currahee Golf Club in Toccoa, Georgia. The Chilean outscored 79 golfers with a 54-hole score of 2-under, 208 following rounds of 70-68-70. The sophomore was the only golfer in the field to shoot even par or better in all three rounds. With the play of Ruiz Topali, Lynn finished second in a field of 16 teams. The weekly award is her second this season.
 

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Men's Swimmer of the Week

Parker Knollman, Tampa
Senior - Edgewood, Kentucky - 2nd SSC Weekly Award

Knollman helped Tampa victories against No. 16 Florida Southern and No. 8 Nova Southeastern with five first place performances. Against the FSC, The Edgewood, Kentucky product led his team to victory in the 400 Medley Relay (3:14.59) and 400 Free Relay (2:57.86) while also championing the 100 Fly (48.01). Against NSU, Knollman took first in the 100 Back (47.85) and 200 Back (1:45.59). Knollman's times in the 100 Fly, 100 Back, and 200 Back all met the NCAA D2 "B" standard. The weekly award is the second of his career.

Women's Swimmer of the Week

Kristina Orban, Nova Southeastern
Freshman - Malmo, Sweden - 2nd SSC Weekly Award

Orban recorded four wins en route to an NSU victory over No. 7 Tampa. In relays, the Swede led the 200 Medley (1:42.22) and 400 Free (3:25.81) teams to victories. Individually, Orban was victorious in the 100 Free (51.32) and 100 Fly (55.97). She surpassed the NCAA "B" Standard in both her individual swims and the 200 Medley Relay. The weekly award is her second this season.
 

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