Sunshine State Conference

Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards: March 25 - 31

04.01.24

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

SSC Athletes of the Week | March 25 - 31, 2024

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of March 25 - 31, 2024. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

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Baseball Player of the Week

Zeth Rodriguez - Nova Southeastern
Junior - Infield - Gainesville, Florida

Rodriguez is tabbed Player of the Week for his performance in a three-game series against No. 1 Tampa. The junior led the Sharks to a walk-off win following a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth of game two against the top-ranked Spartans. Rodriguez helped hand UT its third loss of the season after a 2-for-5 effort at the plate in game two, with two extra-base hits, two RBI, and two runs scored. For the week, the infielder tallied a .385 batting average (5-for-13), a .385 on-base percentage, and a .692 slugging percentage. Defensively, he recorded two putouts and five assists in seven chances at third base.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week

Max Meyer - Embry-Riddle
Junior - Georgetown, Indiana

Meyer collects Pitcher of the Week by delivering Embry-Riddle a win in long relief against Florida Tech. The junior from Georgetown, Indiana, took the mound in the second inning against the Panthers and tossed 6.2 scoreless innings as ERAU earned a 6-2 victory. Meyer allowed two hits and a walk while also hitting two batters in his appearance. He struck out four and held opposing hitters to a 0.91 batting average.
 

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Softball Player of the Week

Lilly Kiester - Tampa
Junior - Outfield - Tampa, Florida

Kiester is selected Player of the Week for her performance in Tampa's series win over No. 25 Nova Southeastern. The Spartans' #2 hitter was 4-for-8 at the plate with three runs batted in, three runs scored, a walk, and a sacrifice. In addition to her team-leading .500 batting average, she registered a .556 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage in three games against NSU. Defensively, the outfielder registered 10 putouts in 10 chances.

Softball Pitcher of the Week

Josey Sumpter - Lynn
Senior - Neches, Texas

Sumpter picks up Pitcher of the Week following a 14-inning complete game win at Palm Beach Atlantic. The Neches, Texas product faced 55 Sailfish and tossed 188 pitches, leading the Fighting Knights to a 3-2 road win. Sumpter registered a .786 WHIP with 11 hits and no walks allowed. She finished the contest with a 1.00 ERA, five strikeouts, and a .204 opponent batting average. After seven scoreless innings, Sumpter helped her cause with a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the 14th to win the game for Lynn.
 

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Men's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Isaiah Hines - Embry-Riddle
Senior - Attack - Dallas, Texas

Hines secures Offensive Player of the Week after leading Embry-Riddle to a 15-14 win at No. 14 Florida Southern. The Attackman from Dallas tallied game-highs in points (8), goals (5), and assists (3) during the overtime thriller. Hines also provided the Eagles with two groundballs in the upset. He scored his five goals on nine shots and five shots on goal. It is the highest-ranked win in ERAU program history and the Eagles' first victory against FSC. This latest weekly award marks the second in his career.

Men's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Tristan Lenard - Lynn
Sophomore - Goalkeeper - Haymarket, Virginia

Lenard collects Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in 2024 with his performance in a loss to No. 20 Saint Leo (13-11). The Haymarket, Virginia native tallied 14 saves and allowed 13 goals for a .519 save percentage. He also provided the Fighting Knights with four groundballs and two caused turnovers in the contest. Lenard faced 38 total shots during his 60 minutes in goal.

Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week

Michael Flores - Saint Leo
Senior - FOS - Apopka, Florida

Flores grabs his third Specialist of the Week nod in 2024 for his face-off performance during a win at Lynn (13-11). The senior from Apopka, Florida, won 20-of-25 face-offs for a .800 winning percentage. Flores also picked a career-high 18 groundballs for the Lions in the win, which is tied for the eighth most in SSC single-game history. This week's accolade is the ninth of his career, tying him for third-most in Saint Leo history and fourth-most among SSC men's lacrosse winners.
 

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Women's Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week

Elizabeth Clagett - Lynn
Sophomore - Midfield - Duck, North Carolina

Clagett earns Offensive Player of the Week with her performance in Lynn's wins against Montevallo (16-9) and No. 8 Embry-Riddle (17-16). The sophomore from Duck, North Carolina, piloted the Fighting Knights to an upset of ERAU following a game-high five goals, an assist, two draw controls, and a groundball. Clagett scored a game-high four goals against Montevallo and added three draw controls. Clagett tallied nine goals last week off 14 shots and 12 shots on goal.

Women's Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week

Jessica Harclerode - Saint Leo
Sophomore - Goalkeeper - Sayville, New York

Harclerode wins Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in 2024 following her role in Saint Leo's 15-11 win at No. 15 Rollins. The Sayville, New York native recorded 14 saves and allowed 11 goals while facing 32 shots. Harclerode picked up 11 groundballs in the Top-25 win, which is tied for the second most in SSC single-game history. This week's accolade is the fifth of her career.
 

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Men's Golfer of the Week

Josh DiZinno - Eckerd
Sophomore - Alexandria, Virginia

DiZinno is awarded Golfer of the Week following his win at the Saint Anselm Florida Invite at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando. The Alexandria, Virginia product carded a 4-under score of 140 following rounds of 67 and 73. DiZinnio tallied 15 pars, 12 birdies, and an eagle to defeat the field by four strokes. With the win, DiZinno became the first Triton to win a tournament since Jeff Evanier won the Jay Jennison Memorial on September 27, 2011.
 

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Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Chris Fok Kow - Florida Southern
Senior - Balaclava, Mauritius

Fok Kow wins Athlete of the Week honors a second time in 2024 for his efforts against West Alabama and No. 14 Embry-Riddle. The Balaclava, Mauritius native began the week with a #1 doubles win (6-3) along with partner Mario Garoz against UWA. At #2 singles, Fok Kow was leading (7-5, 2-1) before the FSC clinched the win. Against ERAU, Fok Kow and Garoz defeated the Eagles' No. 27 ranked doubles team (6-3) at #1 doubles. The senior went on to defeat No. 26 Joshua Nuyts (6-3, 6-2) at #2 singles, completing the undefeated week. This week's accolade is the third of his career.

Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week

Deniza Marcinkevica - Lynn
Grad Student - Riga, Latvia

Marcinkevica is named Athlete of the Week after leading Lynn to a 4-3 victory over No. 1 Barry. The Latvian and partner Jade Marie took the #1 doubles win, 6-2, despite the Fighting Knights dropping the team doubles point. Marcinkevica kept it rolling in singles play, earning the #3 win (6-4, 6-4). With the play of Marcinkevica, Lynn handed Barry its first NCAA Division II loss since the SSC Tournament in 2019 and the first SSC league defeat since earlier in that same 2019 campaign.
 

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Women's Rowing Boat of the Week

Embry-Riddle Varsity 8

Embry-Riddle's Varsity 8 claims Boat of the Week following a top performance at the FIRA Championships. The V8, Abby Webb, Kristen Vigna, Shelby Ernst, Sofia Lorenzini, Soleil Edwards, Elise Dezotell, Aria Moses, Alexandra Weilert, and Jadyn Harjung defeated a field of No. 7 Rollins, Florida, UCF, FSU, Barry, and USF by 9.36 seconds with a time 7:02.77. With the V8 win, the Eagles claimed the FIRA title by 58 points.
 

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