Bailey and Puller named USA South Athletes of the Week
By Chuck Tidmore
Sports Information Assistant
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Huntingdon's Luke Bailey and Mac Puller were named USA South Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week on Monday.
Bailey was named Football Offensive Player of the Week while Puller was named Men's Soccer Player of the Week.
Bailey, a senior quarterback from Fairview, Ala., led the Hawks to a dominant 49-28 win over Birmingham-Southern on Saturday night. Bailey finished the game with 318 yards of total offense. He passed for 268 yards and three touchdowns on a 20-of-26 night and rushed 11 times for 50 yards and one touchdown.
In the first quarter, Bailey broke the Hawks' record for career passing touchdowns with a 29-yard pass to Diggan Andre. In three seasons, Bailey has thrown for 57 touchdowns. In the second quarter, Bailey connected with Nick Haas for a 76-yard touchdown. After the Panthers pulled within two touchdowns of Huntingdon, Bailey found Haas again for a 14-yard touchdown which sealed the win for the Hawks.
With the win, the Huntingdon football team moved to 19th in the D3football.com Top-25 poll. The Hawks were ranked 21st in last week's ranking.
Puller had an impressive weekend for the Hawks. The sophomore midfielder from Severna Park, Md. scored three times and recorded one assist while the Hawks went 1-0-1 this weekend.
On Saturday, Puller scored his first career goal in the third minute of an 8-1 win over Toccoa Falls. Just under three minutes later, Puller assisted Brendon Van Emelen for the Hawks second goal. Puller scored the game's final goal in the 66th minute.
On Sunday, Puller gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead in the 16th minute. The Hawks went on to draw Berea 2-2 on Sunday.
Below is the complete list of the USA South Athletes of the Week.
FOOTBALL
Football Offensive Player of the Week
Luke Bailey, Huntingdon - The senior quarterback from Fairview, Alabama scored four touchdowns and accumulated 318 yards of total offense last week in a 49-28 win over Birmingham Southern. Through the air, Bailey was 20 of 26 for 268 yards with three touchdowns. On the ground, Bailey carried the ball 11 times for 50 yards and one touchdown. Also Nominated: Nick Myers, Maryville; Mac Graham, Greensboro; Terrance Owens II, Averett.
Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
Brian Mann, Ferrum - The freshman running back from Pearisburg, Virginia rushed for 147 yards and scored one touchdown in a 53-33 victory over Shenandoah. Mann carried the ball 21 times for 7.0 yards per rush. He also returned one punt for 49 yards. Also Nominated: Donaven Wise, Maryville.
Football Defensive Player of the Week
Mark Stanford, Methodist - The Deltona, Florida junior linebacker recorded 10 total tackles, three of which were for a loss of yardage, with one pass break-up in a 47-32 loss at Guilford last week. Stanford made six solo tackles with four assisted take downs. He was in on two sacks and made three tackles for a total loss of 15 yards. Also Nominated: A.J. Cheeks, Averett; Ron McGriff, Maryville; Trey Cronin, Greensboro; Trey Hayes, Huntingdon.
Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Cedric Brown, Maryville - The freshman linebacker from Memphis, Tennessee totaled four tackles and intercepted one pass in a 38-0 win over Hanover. Brown's four tackles were all solo and his interception came in the third quarter. Also Nominated: Dayton Koontz, Methodist; Connor Showalter, Averett; Brandon Williams, Huntingdon.
Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Herbert Bridges, Greensboro - The High Point, North Carolina senior kick returner set-up a Greensboro touchdown by returning a fourth-quarter kickoff 67 yards in a 42-22 loss to Newport News Apprentice last week. Bridges also added five tackles and one pass break-up as a defensive back. Also Nominated: Max Peets, Maryville; Chase Young, Huntingdon.
MEN'S SOCCER
Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Mac Puller, Huntingdon - The sophomore midfielder from Severna Park, Maryland tallied three goals with one assist in a 1-0-1 week for the Hawks. In an 8-1 win over Toccoa Falls, Puller scored two goals which including his first career score and added an assist. In a 2-2 tie with Berea, Puller tallied a goal in the 16th minute which gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead. Also Nominated: Cullen Copland, Piedmont; Caleb Lucas, Maryville; Tobias Andreasson, Averett; Chris Deleon, William Peace.
Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Mitch Barry, Piedmont - The freshman goalkeeper from Snellville, Georgia posted a 1-0-1 record for the Lions last week by stopping eight shots in 190 minutes in net. In a 7-0 win over Toccoa Falls, Berry did not face a shot on net. In a 1-1 tie at Sewanee, Berry collected eight saves. Also Nominated: Hayden Puryear, Maryville; Austin Bramhall, Averett; Christian Ortiz, William Peace.
Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Errick Sturm, LaGrange - The freshman midfielder from Griffin, Georgia tallied two goals and one assist as the Panthers posted a 2-1 record last week. In a 5-1 loss to Guilford, Sturm scored his first collegiate goal and the team's only score of the match. In a 4-0 victory over Toccoa Falls, Sturm assisted on the team's third goal of the contest. Finally, in a 1-0 win over Berea, Sturm scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 32nd minute. Also Nominated: Mitch Barry, Piedmont; Chris Fernandez, Maryville; Shamarr Perry, Ferrum; Jesse Riggs, Covenant.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Jessica Wallace, Meredith - The Kitty Hawk, North Carolina sophomore forward tallied four goals in a 1-1 week for the Avenging Angels. In a 2-1 loss to Southern Virginia, Wallace gave Meredith an early lead with the team's only goal of the match. In a 6-1 victory over Guilford, Wallace tallied a hat trick with three goals, all in the first half. Also Nominated: Nicholl Perez, Wesleyan; Meredith Priest, Greensboro; Martha Santos, Salem; Savanna Cingilli, Covenant; Annalies Jobsis, Averett.
Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Sydney Priest, Salem - The Frisco, Texas junior defender anchored a Spirit defense that did not allow a goal in three wins last week. Salem collected victories over Eastern Mennonite (1-0), Guilford (2-0) and Southern Virginia (2-0). In the victory over Guilford, Priest scored the first goal of the contest which proved to be the game winner. Also Nominated: Jenna Maschino, Huntingdon; Bailee Brown, Averett.
Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Meredith Priest, Greensboro - The Asheboro, North Carolina freshman midfielder tallied one goal with one assist in a 5-1 victory over Warren Wilson in the team's only contest of last week. Priest assisted on the game-tying goal in the 25th minute before scoring a goal of her own in the 56th minute. Also Nominated: Hannah Elvington, Meredith; Jordan Grubbs, Salem; Kirsten Clancy, Averett.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball Player of the Week
Hannah Shields, Averett - The junior outside hitter from Keeling, Virginia averaged 4.38 kills and 3.38 digs per set as the Cougars posted a 2-2 record last week. In a 3-1 win over St. Mary's, Shields tallied a double-double of 19 kills and 19 digs with two assists, two blocks and one service ace. In a 3-0 loss to Washington & Lee, Shields posted 11 kills, nine digs, one assist, one service ace and one block. In a 3-0 victory over Southern Virginia, Shields totaled 18 kills, nine digs and three service aces. Finally, in a 3-0 loss to Randolph-Macon, Shields tallied nine kills and seven digs. For her efforts at the Washington & Lee Invitational, Shields was named to the All-Tournament Team. Also Nominated: Kylie Taffer, Salem; Caroline Corey, Meredith; Julia Vineyard, Maryville; Lauren Sanders, LaGrange; Darrian Bolt, Greensboro; Amanda Trotter, Piedmont; Schuyler Moore, Covenant; Liana Solomon, William Peace; Kalen Morgan, Huntingdon; Cassidy Hayes, Methodist.
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Sarah Hendrix, Ferrum - The senior defensive specialist from Summerfield, North Carolina averaged 6.93 digs per set as the Panthers posted a 2-3 record last week. In a 3-0 loss to Lynchburg, Hendrix totaled 11 digs, one kill and one service ace. In a 3-0 loss to Roanoke, Hendrix posted 16 digs, one kill, one assist and three service aces. In a 3-0 win over Mary Baldwin, Hendrix contributed 28 digs, four service aces and one assist. In a 3-0 victory over Hollins, Hendrix posted 22 digs, six service aces, two assists and one kill. Finally, in a 3-0 loss to Randolph, Hendrix totaled 27 digs and three assists. Also Nominated: Mariah Sharon, Salem; Haley Hixon, Piedmont; Keegan Lynch, Meredith; Tori Belcher, Greensboro; Christiana Summa, Averett; Carson Williams, William Peace; Bria Rochelle, Huntingdon.
Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Caroline Corey, Meredith - The freshman outside hitter from Greenville, North Carolina averaged 4.27 kills with a .345 hitting percentage and 1.00 digs per set as the Avenging Angels posted a 3-0 record last week. In a 3-1 win over St. Andrew's, Corey notched 13 kills, three kills and three blocks. In a 3-1 victory over St. Augustine's, Corey posted 21 kills, six digs, one assist and one block. Finally, in a 3-0 win over Guilford, Corey posted 13 kills, two digs and one block. Also Nominated: Hannah Delcamp, Salem; Erica Balkcum, Piedmont; Saidee McDaniel, Maryville; Breanna Wilton, Greensboro; Brianna Williams, Averett; Mya Parks, William Peace; Alexis Creasman, Huntingdon; Annabelle Ronelli, Methodist.
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Nathan Galloway, Piedmont - The freshman from Jefferson, Georgia placed 93rd out of 226 runners at the Furman Cross Country Classic last week. Galloway completed the 8K course in a time of 27:48 helping the Lions to an 11th place team finish. The time set a new freshman program record at the 8,000-meter distance. Also Nominated: Micha Sneller, Covenant; Jayson Dillard, Averett.
Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Nathan Galloway, Piedmont - The freshman from Jefferson, Georgia placed 93rd out of 226 runners at the Furman Cross Country Classic last week. Galloway completed the 8K course in a time of 27:48 helping the Lions to an 11th place team finish. The time set a new freshman program record at the 8,000-meter distance. Also Nominated: Jayson Dillard, Averett; Caleb Keitt, Covenant; Endashaw Tonja, Methodist.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Lilly Smith, Covenant - The sophomore from Weaverville, North Carolina placed 36th out of 76 runners at the UTC PowerAde Invitational last week. Smith completed the two mile course in a program record time of 12:46, helping the Scots to a second place team finish (non-Division I). Smith's time was 16 seconds faster than the previous record. Also Nominated: Melissa Teeple, Ferrum; Macy Brinson, Meredith; Mekides Tamerat, Methodist; Frida Lundquist, Averett.
Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Caroline Diorio, Meredith - The freshman from Cary, North Carolina placed 19th out of 83 runners at the Barton College Invitational last week. Diorio completed the 5K course in a time of 22:40, helping the Avenging Angels to a fourth place team finish. Also Nominated: Anna Danek, Covenant.
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