Four Hawks earn USA South Athlete of the Week honors

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Four Huntingdon student-athletes were recognized by the USA South Athletic Conference on Monday.

In the first Athletes of the Week release of the season, two Huntingdon football players and two women's soccer players were chosen for their performances this past weekend.

In football, junior Otis Porter was named Offensive Player of the Week and freshman Linell Tarver was chosen as Defensive Rookie of the Week. For women's soccer, junior Meredith Harrison was named Player of the Week and freshman Kylie Kersh was selected as the Rookie of the Week.

Porter led the Hawks with seven receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown in a 38-24 loss to Guilford College. Porter only scored once, but made key plays to set up two other Huntingdon scores. On two separate scoring drives, facing third-and-15 both times, Porter picked up the crucial first down to keep the drive alive.

Tarver, in his first collegiate game, made an impact for the Huntingdon defense. The linebacker was the Hawks' second leading tackler with nine stops in the loss to Guilford.

Harrison and Kersh helped lead Huntingdon to its first 2-0 start since 2003. Harrison scored three goals in a 6-0 win over Centenary on Friday and scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Millsaps on Sunday. The win over Millsaps snapped a six-game losing streak to the Majors.

Kersh recorded two shutouts in her first two collegiate starts at goalkeeper. She recorded two saves against Centenary and two saves against Millsaps.

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

FOOTBALL

Football Offensive Player of the Week
Otis Porter, Huntingdon - The junior wide receiver from Montgomery, Alabama caught seven passes for 153 yards with one touchdown in a 38-24 loss to Guilford last week. Porter caught two passes on third downs which kept eventual touchdown scoring drives alive. Also Nominated: Sean Bowman, Averett.

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
David Apiag, LaGrange - The freshman wide receiver from Columbus, Georgia caught three passes for 81 yards and scored one touchdown in a 29-25 loss to Birmingham Southern last week. Apiag's first collegiate touchdown was his long catch of the day, 72 yards. Also Nominated: Delquan Bigelow, Averett.

Football Defensive Player of the Week 
Montel Lee, Ferrum - The Andalusia, Alabama senior defensive lineman setup the game-winning score with a fourth quarter forced fumble and recovery in a 13-8 victory over Emory & Henry last week. With just over a minute to play in the game, Lee stripped the running back of the ball, grabbed it and returned it five yards which led to a Panther touchdown three plays later with 37 seconds left in the final quarter. Lee also compiled five solo tackles, four of which were for a loss of 19 total yards, including three sacks. Also Nominated: Dejon Brooks, Averett; Trey Hayes, Huntingdon; Fabian Ryan, LaGrange.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Linell Tarver, Huntingdon - The freshman linebacker from Honolulu, Hawaii totaled nine tackles in a 38-24 loss to Guilford last week. Tarver collected six solo tackles and three assisted take downs. Also Nominated: None.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Cole Westberry, Averett - The sophomore kicker from Youngsville, North Carolina set the program record for the longest field goal with a 51-yarder in a 20-17 loss to Hampden-Sydney last week. He also handled the punting duties and averaged 39.0 per attempt including a long of 52 with two landing inside the 20 yard line. Also Nominated: None.

MEN'S SOCCER

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Chris Deleon, William Peace - The senior midfielder from Woodbridge, Virginia tallied three goals in a 2-0 week for the Pacers. In an 8-0 win over Valley Forge, Deleon scored one tally. In a 3-1 victory over Shenandoah, Deleon tallied two goals. Also Nominated: David Cuperman, Averett; Carlos Barragan, Greensboro; Michael Lyons, Ferrum; Randy Reichenberger, Maryville.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Nate Long, Maryville - The freshman defender from Belmont, North Carolina helped the Scots post a 2-0 record last week by leading a defense which allowed just one goal in two contests. Maryville picked up a 2-0 win over Eastern Mennonite before grabbing a 2-1 victory over Wilmington (OH). Also Nominated: Marius Olavesen, Averett; Christian Ortiz, William Peace; Marco Rivera, Ferrum; Cole Watkins, Greensboro.

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Chatchai Mize, Ferrum - The freshman forward from Carroll County, Virginia tallied two goals and one assist as the Panthers posted a 2-0 record last week. In a 3-1 win over Southern Virginia, Mize scored his first collegiate goal. In an 8-0 victory over Gallaudet, Mize netted a goal and added his first collegiate assist. Also Nominated: Milan Card, Maryville; Darli Mihindou, Greensboro; Asher Francis, Averett; Hunter Hall, Huntingdon.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Meredith Harrison, Huntingdon - The Eagle, Idaho junior forward tallied four goals, two of which were game-winners, with one assist in a 2-0 week for the Hawks. In a 6-0 victory over Centenary, Harrison scored a hat-trick with three goals to go along with one assist. In a 1-0 win over Millsaps, Harrison scored the contest's only goal in the 26th minute. Also Nominated: Capri Clark, Methodist; Addy Cronan, Covenant; Mercedes Fisher, Greensboro; Kirstie King, Meredith; Emily Meador, Averett; Shannon Reagan, Maryville; Katie Tanner, Wesleyan.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Jaisa Loch, Meredith - The Grimesland, North Carolina junior goalkeeper posted two shutouts as the Avenging Angels were 2-0 last week. In 180 minutes in net, Loch stopped all seven shots she faced. In a 1-0 win over Sewanee, Loch made three stops while in a 2-0 victory over Southern Virginia, she collected four saves. Also Nominated: Kelly Allen, Maryville; Bailee Brown, Averett; Keeley Catarineau, Greensboro; Kylie Kersh, Huntingdon; Kylie Lovett, Wesleyan.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Kylie Kersh, Huntingdon - The Conyers, Georgia freshman goalkeeper posted two shutouts as the Hawks were 2-0 last week. In 180 minutes in net, Kersh stopped all four shots she faced. In both a 6-0 win over Centenary and a 1-0 victory over Millsaps, Kersh stopped two shots. Also Nominated: Nadia Al-Shahabi, Wesleyan; Alexis Chase, Greensboro; Emily Meador, Averett; Kathryn Nelson, Meredith; Paige Simons, Covenant; Bailey Sipos, Maryville.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball Player of the Week
Brianna Williams, Averett - The sophomore right side/middle hitter from Manassas, Virginia averaged 2.25 kills, with a .548 hitting percentage and 1.00 blocks per set as the Cougars posted a 4-0 record last week at the 23rd Annual Cougar Classic. In a 3-0 win over Randolph, Williams tallied 11 kills, five blocks and four digs. In a 3-0 victory over Southern Virginia, Williams posted four kills, three service aces, three blocks and two digs. In a 3-0 win over Roanoke, Williams totaled four kills, two service aces, two digs and two blocks. Finally, in a 3-0 victory over Guilford, Williams tallied eight kills, two blocks and one service ace. For her efforts, Williams was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Also Nominated: Danyale Berry, Greensboro; Alex Hafliger, Meredith; Cassidy Hayes, Methodist; Schuyler Moore, Covenant; Taylor Moulton, Salem; Brianne Sidner, Maryville; Carson Williams, William Peace. 

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Maggie Hawks, Salem - The freshman libero from Mt. Airy, North Carolina averaged 6.27 digs per set as the Spirits posted a 2-2 record last week. In a 3-1 loss to Catholic, Hawks totaled 26 digs, four assists, one kill and one service ace. In a 3-0 win over Eastern Mennonite, Hawks posted 16 digs, two assists and one kill. In a 3-1 loss to Lynchburg, Hawks contributed 27 digs and one assist. Finally, in a 3-0 win over Mary Baldwin, Hawks did not play. Also Nominated: Kaitlyn Flickinger, Maryville; Emily Horn, Greensboro; Samantha Smith, Meredith; Emily Stanley, Averett.

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
McKenzie Miller, Averett - The freshman setter from Danville, Virginia averaged 4.50 assists to go along with 1.42 digs and 1.00 service aces per set as the Cougars posted a 4-0 record last week at the 23rd Annual Cougar Classic. In a 3-0 win over Randolph, Miller tallied 14 assists, six service aces and five digs. In a 3-0 victory over Southern Virginia, Miller posted nine assists, three digs and one kill. In a 3-0 win over Roanoke, Miller totaled 14 assists, six service aces, four digs and one kill. Finally, in a 3-0 victory over Guilford, Miller tallied 17 assists, five digs and one kill. Also Nominated: Megan Andrews, Methodist; Danyale Berry, Greensboro; Maggie Hawks, Salem; Catherine Heape, Wesleyan; Arin Wyttenbach, Maryville.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Caleb Aikens, Covenant - The freshman from Crossville, Tennessee placed seventh out of 79 runners at the Georgie Division III Invitational hosted by Berry College last week. Aikens completed the 8,000-meter course in a time of 27:38 helping the Scots to a third place team finish. Also Nominated: Daniel Beckett, Maryville; Alfredo Garcia Huerta, Averett; Elijah Sarmiento, Huntingdon.

Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Caleb Aikens, Covenant - The freshman from Crossville, Tennessee placed seventh out of 79 runners at the Georgie Division III Invitational hosted by Berry College last week. Aikens completed the 8,000-meter course in a time of 27:38 helping the Scots to a third place team finish. Also Nominated: Mack Brooks, Methodist; R.J. Dyson, Averett; Elijah Sarmiento, Huntingdon.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Lilly Smith, Covenant - The junior from Weaverville, North Carolina placed ninth out of 72 runners at the Georgie Division III Invitational hosted by Berry College last week. Smith completed the 6,000-meter course in a time of 24:48, helping the Scots to a third place team finish. Also Nominated: Macy Brinson, Meredith; Hailey Chandler, Averett; Damali Thomas, Huntingdon.

Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Makayla Lawler, Methodist - The freshman from Knob Noster, Missouri placed first out of 65 runners at the Palmetto State Festival last week. Lawler completed the 5,000-meter course in a time of 20:09, helping the Monarchs first place team finish. Also Nominated: Taylor Williams, Maryville; Heather Hall, Covenant; Hailey Chandler, Averett; Karen Perez, Meredith; Damali Thomas, Huntingdon.