Bailey, Hayes and Leach named USA South Athletes of the Week

By Chuck Tidmore

Sports Information Assistant 

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Huntingdon College had three student-athletes named USA South Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week on Monday.

Senior quarterback Luke Bailey was named Football Offensive Player of the Week while sophomore linebacker Trey Hayes was named Football Defensive Player of the Week. Sophomore goalkeeper Leah Leach was named Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.

Bailey helped lead Huntingdon to a 52-49 win over Louisiana College on Saturday, and finished with 423 yards and three touchdowns on 24-of-39 passing. On the ground, Bailey rushed for 66 yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns.

With Saturday's effort, Bailey has been responsible for 66 career touchdowns (passing and rushing), breaking the Huntingdon record of 63 previously held by Zach Golson. Bailey also tied Golson's career passing touchdown record with 54.

Hayes, the 2015 USA South Defensive Rookie of the Year, started the season with a solid defensive effort. The Decatur, Ala. native led the Hawks with 12 tackles and had the game-clinching interception with 1:06 left to play in Saturday's game.

With the win, the Huntingdon football team moved to 21st in the D3football.com Top-25 poll. The Hawks started the season ranked 24th, the first time the program entered the season ranked in the preseason poll.

Leach and the Lady Hawks posted a 0-1-1 record during the past week. Leach allowed one goal and six saves in the 1-0 loss to Birmingham-Southern on Thursday. Against Toccoa Falls, Leach recorded her fifth career shutout. She finished with five saves in Saturday's double-overtime tie.

Below is the complete list of USA South Athletes of the Week.

FOOTBALL

Football Offensive Player of the Week
Luke Bailey, Huntingdon - The senior quarterback from Fairview, Alabama scored five touchdowns and accumulated 489 yards of total offense last week in a 52-49 win over Louisiana College. Through the air, Bailey was 24 of 39 for 423 yards with three touchdowns. On the ground, Bailey carried the ball 15 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns. With his performance, Bailey set a new program record for career touchdowns responsible for with 66. Also Nominated: Connor Blair, LaGrange, Sean Bowman, Averett; Malik Adams, N.C. Wesleyan; Harvey Taylor, Ferrum.

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
Brian Mann, Ferrum - The freshman running back from Pearisburg, Virginia rushed for 167 yards and scored two touchdowns in a 39-38 victory over Emory & Henry. Mann carried the ball 28 times for 6.0 yards per rush and scored a two-point conversion. He also returned three punts for a total of 102 yards. Also Nominated: Christian Bratton, Averett; Mac Seagle, Maryville.

Football Defensive Player of the Week 
Trey Hayes, Huntingdon - The Decatur, Alabama sophomore linebacker recorded 12 total tackles and had the game-clinching interception in a 52-49 win over Louisiana College last week. Hayes made seven solo tackles with five assisted take downs. His interception came with just over a minute remaining in the game and sealed the victory for the Hawks. Also Nominated: Zachary Chambers, N.C. Wesleyan; Al Matthews, Ferrum; Caleb Williams, Averett; Brandon Penn, LaGrange; Mark Stanford, Methodist; Ethan Williams, Maryville.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Billy Higgins, Ferrum - The freshman linebacker from Virginia Beach, Virginia totaled nine tackles and broke up one pass in a 39-38 win over Emory & Henry. Higgins collected six solo tackles and three assisted take downs. Also Nominated: Connor Showalter, Averett; Brandon Williams, Huntingdon.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Kiontai Button, LaGrange - The Darien, Georgia sophomore kick returner become the first Panther to return a kickoff for a score since 2008 in a 47-27 victory over Birmingham Southern last week. Button's touchdown was 94 yards which is the longest return in program history. He totaled 174 all-purpose yards in the win. Also Nominated: Cole Westberry, Averett; Brandon Johnson, Methodist; Chase Young, Huntingdon.

MEN'S SOCCER

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Chris Deleon, William Peace - The junior midfielder from Woodbridge, Virginia tallied three goals in a 1-1 week for the Pacers. In a 10-0 win over Warren Wilson, Deleon scored the match's first goal in the ninth minute then added another to open the scoring in the second half. In a 2-1 loss at Southern Virginia, Deleon tallied the team's only goal which occurred in the final minute of play. Also Nominated: David Cuperman, Averett; Tim Baker, Maryville; Chase Kane, Piedmont.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Austin Bramhall, Averett - The freshman goalkeeper from Herndon, Virginia posted a 1-1 record for the Cougars last week by stopping 16 shots in 208 minutes in net. In a 3-2, double-overtime, loss to Mary Washington, Bramhall collected ten saves. In a 2-1, double-overtime victory over Marymount, Bramhall stopped six shots. Also Nominated: Ryan Jorgensen, Maryville.

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Daniel Surley, Averett - The freshman midfielder from Newcastle Upon Tyne, England tallied two goals as the Cougars posted a 1-1 record last week. In a 3-2, double-overtime, loss to Mary Washington, Surley scored his first collegiate goal in the 79th minute to force overtime. In a 2-1, double-overtime victory over Marymount, Surley netted a goal in double-overtime to clinch the win for Averett. Also Nominated: Shamarr Perry, Ferrum; Tyler Jones, N.C. Wesleyan; Tommy Hill, Piedmont.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Anna Rae Porcelli, Greensboro - The Wilmington, North Carolina freshman forward tallied five goals with two assists in a 2-0 week for the Pride. In a 12-0 victory over Hollins, Porcelli scored her first career hat-trick with three goals to go along with two assists. In a 13-0 win over Sweet Briar, Porcelli tallied two scored. Also Nominated: Chloe Hudson, Ferrum; Ellice Johnson, Meredith; Cassidy Reich, Piedmont.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Leah Leach, Huntingdon - The Palm Coast, Florida sophomore goalkeeper posted a 0-1-1 record for the Hawks last week as she stopped 11 of the 12 shots she faced in 200 minutes between the pipes. In a 1-0 loss at Birmingham Southern, Leach made six saves. In a scoreless, double-overtime, tie versus Toccoa Falls, Leach tallied five saves to earn the shutout. Also Nominated: Hannah Stiles, Greensboro; Rachel Lemay, Covenant.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Anna Rae Porcelli, Greensboro - The Wilmington, North Carolina freshman forward tallied five goals with two assists in a 2-0 week for the Pride. In a 12-0 victory over Hollins, Porcelli scored her first career hat-trick with three goals to go along with two assists. In a 13-0 win over Sweet Briar, Porcelli tallied two scored. Also Nominated: None.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball Player of the Week
Hannah Shields, Averett - The junior outside hitter from Keeling, Virginia averaged 5.53 kills, with a .295 hitting percentage and 3.63 digs per set as the Cougars posted a 5-0 record last week. Shields tallied double-doubles in all but one match last week. In a 3-2 win over Southern Virginia, Shields tallied 27 kills, 24 digs, four service aces and one assist. In a 3-0 win over Frostburg State, Shields posted 18 kills, 18 digs, five assists, three service aces and two blocks. In a 3-2 victory over Roanoke, Shields totaled 20 kills, 13 assists, one assist and one block. In a 3-0 win over Emory & Henry, Shields tallied 20 kills and 11 digs. Finally, in a 3-0 victory over Randolph, Shields posted 20 kills, three digs, one service ace and one block. For her efforts at Averett's Cougar Classic, Shields was named the Most Valuable Player. Also Nominated: Alex Hafliger, Meredith; Katelyn Durmire, Piedmont; Julia Vineyard, Maryville; Shayla Moss, Greensboro; Schuyler Moore, Covenant; Laura Bland, William Peace; Bria Rochelle, Huntingdon.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Christina Huber, N.C. Wesleyan - The senior defensive specialist from Virginia Beach, Virginia averaged 5.91 digs per set as the Bishops posted a 1-4 record last week. In a 3-2 loss to William Peace, Huber totaled 22 digs and two assists. In a 3-0 win over Emory & Henry, Hendrix posted 34 digs and one assist. In a 3-1 loss to Randolph, Huber contributed 22 digs and two assists. In a 3-2 loss at Salve Regina, Huber posted 25 digs, one kill, one assist and one service ace. Finally, in a 3-2 loss to Guilford, Huber totaled 27 digs, two assists and one service ace. Also Nominated: Keegan Lynch, Meredith; Haley Hixon, Piedmont; Kaitlyn Flickinger, Maryville; Hannah Shields, Averett; Tori Belcher, Greensboro; Carson Williams, William Peace; Bria Rochelle, Huntingdon.

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Caroline Corey, Meredith - The freshman outside hitter from Greenville, North Carolina averaged 3.07 kills with a .280 hitting percentage and 1.67 digs per set as the Avenging Angels posted a 4-0 record last week. In a 3-0 win over Ferrum, Corey notched seven kills, eight digs and two blocks. In a 3-2 victory over Shenandoah, Corey posted nine kills, two digs and two blocks. In a 3-0 win over Mt. Aloysius, Corey posted ten kills, three digs and three blocks, Finally, in a 3-1 victory over Virginia Wesleyan, Corey recorded a double-double of 20 kills and 12 digs with two service aces and two blocks. Also Nominated: Brianne Sidner, Maryville; Abby Taylor, Averett; Breanna Wilton, Greensboro; Lainey Choiniere, Piedmont; Mya Parks, William Peace; Alexis Creasman, Huntingdon.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Daniel Beckett, Maryville - The freshman from Knoxville, Tennessee placed fifth out of 30 runners at the Covenant College Mountaintop Invitational last week. Beckett completed the 5K course in a time of 17:34 helping the Scots to a third place team finish. Also Nominated: Micha Sneller, Covenant; Cody Parker, Piedmont.

Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Daniel Beckett, Maryville - The freshman from Knoxville, Tennessee placed fifth out of 30 runners at the Covenant College Mountaintop Invitational last week. Beckett completed the 5K course in a time of 17:34 helping the Scots to a third place team finish. Also Nominated: Nathan Galloway, Piedmont; Caleb Keitt, Covenant.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Lilly Smith, Covenant - The sophomore from Weaverville, North Carolina placed second out of 20 runners at the Covenant College Mountaintop Invitational last week. Smith completed the two mile course in a personal best time of 13:33, helping the Scots to a second place team finish. Also Nominated: Macy Brinson, Meredith; Reese Bowles, Piedmont.

Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Analee Bradach, Piedmont - The freshman from Auburn, Georgia placed 34th out of 66 runners at the Berry College Watermelon Run last week. Bradach completed the 6K course in a time of 27:00, helping the Lions to a third place team finish. Also Nominated: Susanna Cook, Maryville; Anna Danek, Covenant

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