Sunshine State Conference

Sunshine State Conference Weekly Awards: September 23 - 29

09.30.24

Weekly Honors in Volleyball, Soccer, Cross Country, and Golf

SSC Athletes of the Week | September 23 - 29, 2024

Sunshine State Conference Athletes of the Week are chosen from a pool of nominees for their performances during the week of September 23 - 29, 2024. Athletic Communication Directors of member institutions nominate athletes.

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Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week

Isabella Rujano, Embry-Riddle
Junior - Outside Hitter/Rightside - Orlando, Florida

Rujano piloted Embry-Riddle to a 2-0 start in SSC play with 39 kills over eight sets and a .341 hitting percentage. The Orlando native opened the week with a career-high 25 kills on 60 attempts, 23 digs, and six service aces in a 3-2 win over Florida Tech. The junior followed with 14 kills on 31 attempts and nine digs in a 3-0 win at Rollins. Rujano averaged 4.88 kills, 4.00 digs, and 0.75 service aces per set last week.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week

Marley Navaretta, Nova Southeastern
Sophomore - Defensive Specialist - Palm City, Florida

Navaretta totaled 32 digs, 5.33 per set, across Nova Southeastern's wins against Rollins and Florida Tech last week. At Rollins, Navaretta gave the Sharks a game-high 16 digs and a pair of assists. The Palm City, Florida native then registered 16 digs and an assist while hosting Florida Tech. With Navaretta's play, the Sharks swept the Tars and Panthers to open the conference season 2-0.

Volleyball Setter of the Week

Gabrielle Spankus, Nova Southeastern
Junior - Palm Harbor, Florida - 2nd SSC Weekly Award

Spankus averaged 12.3 assists per set as NSU defeated Rollins and Florida Tech to open league play. The junior from Palm Harbor, Florida, helped the Sharks to a 3-0 win at Rollins on Friday following 34 assists, six digs, three blocks, and two kills. On Saturday, she led Nova Southeastern to a sweep of the Panthers with 40 assists, 10 digs, and a block. With the play of Spankus, the Sharks tallied a .322 team hitting percentage. The weekly award is the second of her career.
 

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Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week

Robert Thorarinsson, Eckerd
Sophomore - Defender - Gardabaer, Iceland

Thorarinsson scored the game-winner in Eckerd's 3-2 victory at Division I Stetson. Tied 2-2 late into the game, the defender scored, unassisted, to give Eckerd the edge in the 83rd minute. The Icelander's first goal of the season gave the Tritons program its first win of 2024.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week

Henry Haferkorn, Lynn
Grad Student - Defender - Datteln, Germany

Haferkorn provided late-game heroics and piloted Lynn's defense to a shutout of conference-foe Nova Southeastern. The German played all 90 minutes, leading the Fighting Knights' backline, which held NSU to zero shots on goal and just two total shots. Haferkorn connected on a header off a corner kick with under 10 seconds on the clock, delivering Lynn the 1-0 victory.
 

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Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week

Sofia Suarez, Nova Southeastern
Junior - Midfielder - Miami Lakes, Florida

Suarez scored twice in Nova Southeastern's 4-2 conference-opening win against Lynn. The junior from Miami, Lakes, Florida, knocked in the game's first goal in the 8th minute off a Tabea Schutt assist. Suarez followed with the game's second goal, finding the back of the net in the 30th minute from an Isabel Davis assist. Suarez's goals came off five shots, three of which were on goal, during her 87 minutes on the pitch.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week

Kaitlin Sinkler, Florida Tech
Junior - Goalkeeper - Decatur, Georgia

Sinkler's clean sheet guided Florida Tech to a 2-0 win over Embry-Riddle in conference play. The junior from Decatur, Georgia, tallied two saves in the 35th minute to preserve a 0-0 draw heading into the half. Sinkler tallied her third and final save in the 71st minute, earning her a second shutout of 2024.
 

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Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week

Luke Sweatman, Lynn
Senior - Thibodaux, Louisiana

Sweatman placed third at the St. Thomas Invitational in Miami with a 6,000-meter time of 20:00.3. The Thibodaux, Louisiana, product finished ahead of 29 runners by averaging a 5:21.9 mile during Saturday's race.

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week

Jessica Lombardo, Lynn
Freshman - Southington, Connecticut

Lombardo won the St. Thomas Invitational in Miami with a 6,000-meter time of 23:53.4. The Southington, Connecticut native averaged a 6:24.4 mile to finish ahead of 31 runners. Following Lombardo's performance, Lynn claimed the victory over three teams.
 

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Men's Golfer of the Week

Raines Holmes, Palm Beach Atlantic
Junior - Vero Beach, Florida

Holmes finished solo second in The National Preview at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The Vero Beach, Florida native finished the weather-shortened event with a 36-hole score of 6-under, 136, following rounds of 65 and 71. Holmes was the top SSC finisher at the tournament, leading Palm Beach Atlantic to a third-place finish against a 14-team field that included 10 Top-25 squads.

Women's Golfer of the Week

Ariana Carvalho, Nova Southeastern
Sophomore - Windermere, Florida

Carvalho went three-for-three in match play against Division I opponents during Jacksonville's "Match at the Marsh" at Marsh Landing Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach. The sophomore finished 6&4 in NSU's 4-1 opening-round win against Bethune-Cookman. The Windermere, Florida product followed with a 6&5 victory during a narrow 3-2 loss to Stetson. Finally, Carvalho won 3&1 in a 4-1 third-place match loss to Northern Alabama. Carvalho was the only non-Division I golfer to win three matches at the event.
 

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