Sunshine State Conference

Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards: February 5 - 11

02.12.24

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

SSC Athletes of the Week | February 5 - 11, 2024

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of February 5 - 11, 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 is tabbed Player of the Week for the second time in 2023-24 following his performance in Florida Southern’s 1-1 week. The Omaha, Nebraska forward began the week with 20 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and a block in a 97-90 road loss at Embry-Riddle. Arop then gave the Moccasins a double-double effort in a bounce-back, 98-88, win against Barry. He scored a game-high 27 points while pulling down 13 rebounds, blocking four shots, and tallying a steal. The graduate student totaled 47 points last week by shooting 68% from the field (21-31), 50% from behind the arc (4-8), and 33% from the free-throw line (1-3). Arop averaged 23.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1.5 steals while playing 31.5 minutes per game.

Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Week

Sergey Grishaev - Rollins
Junior - Forward - St. Petersburg, Russia

Grishaev takes Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in a pair of Rollins victories. The Russian registered three steals and four defensive rebounds in a 93-74 win at Saint Leo. Grishaev followed with four steals, a block, and seven defensive rebounds in an 83-80 win against Eckerd. Offensively, the junior had 23 points, five assists, and two offensive rebounds across the two games.
 

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Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Morgan Kane - Nova Southeastern
Grad Student - Forward - West Jordan, Utah

Kane collects Player of the Week for the second time in 2023-24 after leading NSU to wins over Florida Tech and Embry-Riddle. The graduate student from West Jordan, Utah, led all players in points (25) and rebounds (8) during a 69-56 Sharks victory over Florida Tech. In a 63-61 road win against ERAU, Kane scored 13 points while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. She totaled 33 points by shooting 60% from the field (9-15) and 79% from the line (15-19). Kane averaged 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists for NSU while playing 28.5 minutes per game last week. With the play of Kane, the Sharks have won 17 consecutive games dating back to December 2nd.

Women's Basketball Player of the Week

Karyzma Pierre - Palm Beach Atlantic
Freshman - Guard - Orlando, Florida

Pierre is named Defensive Player of the Week by leading all players in steals during two conference matchups. The guard from Orlando tallied three steals and four defensive rebounds as the Sailfish held Lynn to 12 points below their season scoring average in a 59-50 win in Boca Raton. Pierre then totaled three steals and five defensive rebounds in a 68-37 loss to ranked Tampa. Offensively, the freshman scored 23 points and recorded two assists and an offensive rebound.
 

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Baseball Player of the Week

Nathan Tinder - Rollins
Sophomore - Outfield/Pitcher - Winter Springs, Florida

Tinder picks up Player of the Week following his instrumental play in two games against No. 8 Colorado Mesa. The sophomore outfielder went 2-for-4 in his first appearance, driving in all four Rollins runs during a 4-3 Tars win. He recorded his first career home run and stole a base in the victory. Additionally, he pitched the final inning of the contest, earning the save. In the final game of the series, the Winter Springs, Florida native went 1-for-4 with two runs batted in. He finished the week with a .375/.375/.750 slash line at the plate, six RBI, and a run scored. Defensively, Tinder had four putouts in four chances.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Alex Canney - Tampa
Junior - Valrico, Florida

Canney earns Pitcher of the Week honors following his second appearance in 2024. The Valrico, Florida native started Tampa's series opener against No. 12 Newberry, earning the win in an 8-1 Spartans victory. The junior righty hurled 5.0 innings, allowing three hits, no walks, and one unearned run. Canney struck out five hitters, including two looking, as he held opposing hitters to a .200 average. This week's accolade is the fifth of his career.
 

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Softball Player of the Week

Brenna Lokeinsky - Nova Southeastern
Junior - Shortstop - Cooper City, Florida

Lokeinsky is selected Player of the Week for her performance in NSU's first home games of 2024. The Cooper City, Florida, native went 4-for-7 in a doubleheader sweep of Colorado Mines, with four runs scored and three runs batted in. She followed with a 3-for-8 effort in two wins over No. 6 East Stroudsburg, knocking in two runs and scoring three times. Defensively, the shortstop tallied 10 putouts and four assists in 14 chances while turning a double play. Lokeinsky finished the week 7-for-15 from the plate with three extra-base hits, including a home run. She had a .467 batting average, a .500 on-base percentage, a .867 slugging percentage, and 13 total bases.

Softball Pitcher of the Week

Alexis Martin - Barry
Freshman - Lake Havasu, Arizona

Martin is awarded Pitcher of the Week after finishing 3-0 in four appearances for Barry at the Panther Invitational. The Lake Havasu, Arizona native began the week with a seven-inning no-hit shutout of Chadron State, allowing two walks and striking out three. She then picked up a win following three innings of relief in a 2-1 victory over Saint Anselm. The freshman's lone blip was a rough inning against Auburn-Montgomery but jumped back into the circle with an eight-inning complete-game win against Colorado Mines. For the week, Martin tossed 19 innings, allowing 11 hits, two walks, and seven runs (six earned). She struck out seven batters while recording a 2.21 ERA and holding hitters to a .169 average.
 

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Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Mikey Berkman - Rollins
Senior - Attack - Winter Garden, Florida

Berkman garners Offensive Player of the Week honors after leading Rollins to an 18-11 win at Barton. The Winter Garden, Florida product led the game in points (10), goals (5), and assists (5). Berkman scored his five goals on 13 total shots and nine shots on goal. He also picked up two groundballs in the win. His 10 points are a career-high and the most in the SSC since February 2023.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Shahé Katchadurian - Rollins
Grad Student - Goalkeeper - Goldens Bridge, New York

Katchadurian wins Defensive Player of the Week following his performances in Rollins' road win against Barton (18-11). The Goldens Bridge, New York product had nine saves while facing 20 shots on goal and 34 total shots in the contest. The grad student caused two turnovers and picked up three ground balls in the victory. This week's accolade is the sixth of his career.

Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week

Alex Poma - Tampa
Grad Student - FOS - Marietta, Georgia

Poma takes Specialist of the Week honors for his performance in the X in wins at Flagler (15-6) and against No. 19 Rockhurst (23-7). The grad student from Marietta, Georgia, won just 7-of-18 face-offs in the season opener against Flagler but won 14-of-18 face-offs in the Top-20 win over Rockhurst. For the week, he totaled 21 wins and 15 losses in the middle for a .583 winning percentage. Poma also picked up eight groundballs and caused a turnover for the Spartans. This week's accolade is the second of his career.
 

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Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Caroline Gastonguay - Rollins
Grad Student - Attack - Lewiston, Maine

Gastonguay receives the Offensive Player of the Week nod for her play in the first three games on Rollins' 2024 schedule. The Lewiston, Maine product began the week with three goals, an assist, four groundballs, and two caused turnovers in a 21-12 win at Lee. She followed with a game-high five goals, two assists, and a caused turnover as the Tars took down Alabama-Huntsville, 19-11, in Montevallo. Finally, Gastonguay scored three goals and had an assist in Rollins' 23-3 win at Montevallo. For the week, the grad student had 15 points, 11 goals, and four assists, with a .720 shot on goal percentage (18-for-25). This week's accolade is the fourth of her career.

Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Anya Studebaker - Rollins
Sophomore - Goalkeeper - Sarasota, Florida

Studebaker is named Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts in goal during Rollins' three road victories against Lee (21-12), Alabama-Huntsville (19-11), and Montevallo (23-3). The Sarasota, Florida product tallied an 8.33 goals against average across the three games, allowing 25 goals in 150 minutes while saving 21 shots. She also picked four groundballs for the Tars.
 

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Men's Golfer of the Week

Mike Hay - Nova Southeastern
Grad Student - Middlesbrough, England

Hay takes Golfer of the Week after winning the Matlock Collegiate Classic at Lone Palm Golf Club in Lakeland, Florida. The Englishman won the 54-hole event with a 3-under 213. Hay opened with a 2-under round (70) but added two strokes in round two (72) and shot one under in round three (71). It is the first win for the grad student as a Shark. With Hay's play, NSU finished second of 15 teams.

Women's Golfer of the Week

Maia Samuelsson - Nova Southeastern
Junior - Karlstad, Sweden

Samuelsson picks up Golfer of the Week laurels following win at the World Golf Invitational at Slammer and Squire in St. Augustine, Florida. The Swede carded a 1-over, 217 to claim the title in a field that included numerous ranked squads. Samuelsson scored 70-74-73 across the three rounds to win the tournament by one stroke. It is the first win for the junior as a Shark. With Samuelsson's play, NSU finished third of 17 teams.
 

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Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week

David Rieme - Barry
Senior - Bramois, France

Rieme takes Athlete of the Week honors after defeating No. 4 Takeshi Taco from Valdosta State in singles action. In a 4-3 loss to No. 1 Valdosta State, Rieme came from behind to defeat Taco, 2-6, 7-6, 6-2 at #3 singles following a loss to him at #2 doubles (7-5). Additionally, Rieme helped Barry to a 7-0 win against Palm Beach Atlantic last week. He and teammate Joao Ferreria won at #2 doubles against the Sailfish, while the Frenchman won 6-1, 6-2 at #4 singles.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Natalie Espinal - Nova Southeastern
Grad Student - Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Espinal earns Athlete of the Week honors after leading NSU to conference wins over Palm Beach Atlantic (6-1) and No. 25 Tampa (7-0). Espinal and teammate Freya Davies won at #1 doubles 6-2 against PBA and 6-0 against Tampa. The Honduran also won at #1 singles 6-1, 6-0 against the Sailfish and 6-0, 6-3 against the Spartans. This week's accolade is the fifth of her career.
 

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