Sunshine State Conference

Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards: February 12 - 18

02.19.24

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

SSC Athletes of the Week | February 12 - 18, 2024

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of February 12 - 18, 2024. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

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Men's Basketball Player of the Week

Akol Arop - Florida Southern
Grad Student - Forward - Omaha, Nebraska

Arop repeats as Player of the Week following his performance in a pair of SSC wins. The Omaha, Nebraska forward began the week with a 37-point / 12-rebound double-double, both game highs, in a 110-108 double overtime win against Saint Leo. Arop also tallied two blocks and a steal in the contest. The graduate student then gave the Moccasins a double-double effort in an 87-79 road win against Lynn. He scored a team-high 21 points while pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds and blocking a game-high three shots. Arop totaled 58 points last week by shooting 68% from the field (26-38) and 75% from the free-throw line (6-8). He averaged 29.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks while playing 38.0 minutes per game. This week's accolade is his third of 2023-24.

Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Elias Martin - Florida Tech
Senior - Forward - Green Cove Springs, Florida

Martin is awarded Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in 2023-24 for his performance in Florida Tech's road wins over Palm Beach Atlantic and Barry. The senior from Green Cove Springs, Florida, tallied four blocks, two steals, and three defensive rebounds in the Panthers' 74-70 win at PBA. Martin went on to record six blocks and five defensive rebounds in a 72-62 victory at Barry. Offensively, the forward scored 17 points, pulled in four offensive rebounds, and had three assists across the two games. This week's accolade is the third of his career.
 

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Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Kash Ayuso - Palm Beach Atlantic
Senior - Guard - West Palm Beach, Florida

Ayuso is named Player of the Week after averaging 36 points per game in a pair of conference contests. The senior from West Palm Beach, Florida, amassed 42 points as the Sailfish fell to Florida Tech on the road (78-76). Her scoring performance stands as the fourth-best single-game scoring mark in conference history and the second-best of 2023-24. Ayuso also provided the Sailfish with eight steals, six rebounds, four assists, and a block in the game. Ayuso's stellar play continued as she helped PBA push No. 21 Nova Southeastern to overtime, ultimately falling 89-85 to the SSC's top team. She registered game-highs in points (30) and assists (7) while also pulling in five rebounds, grabbing three steals, and blocking a shot. Ayuso totaled 72 points last week by shooting 47% from the field (27-57), 35% from behind the arc (6-17), and 80% from the line (12-15). Ayuso averaged 36.0 points, 5.5 assists, 5.5 steals, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists steals for PBA while playing 38.5 minutes per game last week. Her shots attempted this week, 28 against Florida Tech and 29 against NSU, rank fourth and tied for fifth in the SSC record book, respectively. This week's accolade is the second of her career.

Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Andjela Pavicevic - Saint Leo
Junior - Forward - Kula, Serbia

Pavicevic collects Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in 2023-24 following her performance in Saint Leo's 1-1 week. The junior forward registered five blocks, two steals, and 10 defensive rebounds as the Lions fell at Florida Southern (78-73) and defeated Embry-Riddle (68-61). Offensively, she tallied nine points, four assists, and an offensive rebound for the Lions last week.
 

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Baseball Player of the Week

Shawn Dougherty - Lynn
Senior - Outfield - Mickleton, New Jersey

Dougherty nabs Player of the Week accolades by leading Lynn offensively in a game against Lane and a three-game series versus Delta State. The senior went 6-for-18 from the plate last week with nine runs batted in, four runs scored, two home runs, a triple, a double, and two walks. The Mickleton, New Jersey native's top game of the week came in game two against DSU, where he went 2-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored. Dougherty slashed .333/.400/.833, tallied 15 total bases and reached base safely in all four games. Defensively, the outfielder had eight putouts and an assist in nine chances.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Edward Berry - Rollins
Junior - Mountain Brook, Alabama

Berry is tabbed Pitcher of the Week for his performance on the bump versus No. 7 West Florida. The Mountain Brook, Alabama hurler led the Tars to a win following a quality start of seven innings, four hits allowed, and two runs allowed (one earned). The junior righty issued no walks and struck out six as he held Argonaut hitters to a .167 average.
 

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Softball Player of the Week

Briana Neal - Saint Leo
Sophomore - Second Base - Sanford, Florida

Neal captures Player of the Week honors after leading Saint Leo's offense to a sweep of Rollins on the road. The sophomore went 6-for-11 at the plate with three extra-base hits, five runs batted in, six runs scored, and two walks. Neal also stole four bases in four attempts against the Tars. The Sanford, Florida native finished the week with a .545 batting average, a .583 on-base percentage, a 1.000 slugging percentage, and 11 total bases thanks largely to a home run and two doubles. In each contest, Neal had no less than two hits, an RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base.

Softball Pitcher of the Week

Kate DeSimone - Tampa
Junior - Royal Palm Beach, Florida

DeSimone picks up Pitcher of the Week with her three-hit shutout effort against Lynn. The Royal Palm Beach, Florida product tossed all seven innings in Tampa's 6-0 win over the Fighting Knights. She allowed a walk, double, and two singles in the victory. DeSimone struck out six batters, including two looking, while holding Lynn to a .125 batting average.
 

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Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Tyler Hopkins - Palm Beach Atlantic
Freshman - Attack - Clarksville, Maryland

Hopkins gathers Offensive Player of the Week honors after leading Palm Beach Atlantic to a 21-8 road win over Chowan. The Clarksville, Maryland, product led the game with six points following four goals and a pair of assists. Hopkins scored his goals on eight total shots and four shots on goal.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

JP Panchookian - Florida Tech
Senior - Defender - Davie, Florida

Panchookian wins Defensive Player of the Week following his performances against a Flagler team receiving votes in the USILA poll. The Davie, Florida native caused a game-high three turnovers and picked up a groundball in a 14-13 Panthers loss. In Flagler's four contests this season, all against SSC competition, no player has more caused turnovers against the Saints than Panchookian.

Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week

Jack Maranto - Florida Tech
Senior - FOS - Joppa, Maryland

Maranto is named Specialist of the Week for his performance in the X during a narrow loss to Flagler (14-13). The senior from Joppa, Maryland, won 9-of-15 face-offs for a .600 winning percentage. Maranto also picked up three groundballs for the Panthers in the loss. In Flagler's four contests this season, all against SSC competition, no player with 5+ wins in the middle has a better face-off win percentage against the Saints than Maranto.
 

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Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Jackie Stoller - Florida Southern
Grad Student - Attack - Wayland, Massachusetts

Stoller secures Offensive Player of the Week for her performance in FSC's first three games on the 2024 schedule. The Wayland, Massachusetts native began the week with a career-high seven goals and two assists in a 23-16 win at No. 9 Flagler. She followed with five goals, four assists, and three groundballs as the Moccasins took down No. 12 Indianapolis, 22-14, in Huntsville. Lastly, Stoller scored six goals, dished three assists, picked up five groundballs, and caused a turnover in FSC's 20-5 win at Alabama-Hunstville. The grad student averaged 9.0 points, 6.0 goals, 3.0 assists, and 2.7 groundballs per game for the week. Stoller also had a .952 shot-on-goal percentage, with 20-of-21 total shots hitting the mark. This week's accolade is the second of her career.

Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Caitlin Gavin - Embry-Riddle
Freshman - Defender - Marietta, Georgia

Gavin collects Defensive Player of the Week for her play in Embry-Riddle's win at No. 11 Wingate (14-13). The Marietta, Georgia freshman led all players in the contest with five caused turnovers and five ground balls. She also collected five of the Eagles' 20 draw controls. Offensively, the defender scored once and provided her team with three assists in the win.
 

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Women's Golfer of the Week

Sofia Dyhre - Eckerd
Freshman - Gothenburg, Sweden

Dyhre is awarded Golfer of the Week following a Top-7 showing at the Spring Kick-Off Intercollegiate hosted by Lincoln Memorial at South Hampton Country Club in St. Augustine, Florida. The Swede carded a 9-over, 225 to tie for seventh in a field of 87 golfers. Dyhre scored 76-71-78 across the three rounds to help the Tritons finish fourth of 17 teams.
 

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Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Bastien Rieme - Barry
Senior - Sion, France

Rieme takes Athlete of the Week honors for his role in Barry's ITA Indoor Championship run. With the play of the Frenchman, the Buccaneers took down No. 8 Wayne State (4-2), No. 6 Columbus State (4-2), and No. 3 Saint Leo (4-3) to lift the trophy for a second time in program history. At #5 singles, Rieme bested WSU (6-3, 6-3), CSU (6-2, 6-3), and SLU (4-6, 6-2, 6-3). Along with teammate Tim Riedel, the duo was undefeated at #3 doubles (6-2), (7-6[4]), (6-1), respectively.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Alina Michalitsch - Barry
Freshman - Neustadt, Austria

Michalitsch garners Athlete of the Week honors after leading Barry to wins against NAIA No. 6 St. Thomas (7-0) and No. 2 Nova Southeastern (5-2). The Austrian began the week with a victory in a marathon match at #2 singles against STU (6-1, 5-7, 11-9). Michalitsch followed with another dramatic finish against NSU, defeating No. 33 Freya Davies in come-from-behind fashion (3-6, 6-4, 10-6) at #2 singles.
 

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