Brownell named USA South Defensive Player of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Huntingdon linebacker Zach Brownell was named a USA South Athlete of the Week on Monday.

The senior was named the Football Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in a 35-16 win over Ferrum on Saturday. Brownell recorded 16 tackles as the Hawks won their fourth straight game.

After missing the first two games of the season, the Prattville native is averaging a USA South-best 12.6 tackles per game. He leads Huntingdon with 63 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and three fumble recoveries in five games.

Brownell is second in the USA South in total tackles this season, leads the conference in fumble recoveries, is fifth in tackles for loss and tied for sixth in sacks.

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

Football Offensive Player of the Week
Max Reber, Methodist - The senior quarterback from St. Augustine, Florida accounted for 317 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns in a 73-28 win over USA South foe LaGrange last week. The 73 points scored by the Monarchs set a new USA South single-game record. Reber was 15-of-25 passing with 239 yards and six touchdowns which ties his own school single-game record, as well as the USA South single-game high for touchdown passes thrown. Additionally, he also rushed for 78 yards on 12 carries with one touchdown in the victory. Also Nominated: Eddie Brock, Maryville; Luke Bailey, Huntingdon; Tim Reynolds, Ferrum; Terrance Owens II, Averett; Daquan Davis, Christopher Newport.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
Zach Brownell, Huntingdon - The Prattville, Alabama senior linebacker tallied 16 total tackles in a 35-16 victory over Ferrum last week. Of the 16 take downs, Brownell had 15 tackles by himself to go along with one assisted tackle. Also Nominated: Zach Capehart, Maryville; Kendall Green, Averett; Cameron Barlow, Christopher Newport.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Jordan Rieling, Methodist - The Kingsland, Georgia junior place kicker made a USA South single-game record ten extra points in a 73-28 win over USA South foe LaGrange last week. The 73 points scored by the Monarchs set a new USA South single-game record. Also Nominated: Mason Studer, Christopher Newport; Andrew Coleman, Averett.

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Craig Gage, Greensboro - The junior midfielder from Knightdale, North Carolina tallied two goals and one assist for five points in a 2-0 week versus USA South competition for The Pride. In a 3-2 win over William Peace, Gage scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 31st minute. In a 3-0 victory over Ferrum, Gage assisted on the second goal of the match before notching a score of his own in the 49th minute. Also Nominated: Samba Cande, N.C. Wesleyan; Chase Kane, Piedmont; Snoopy Davidson, Covenant; Chris Ryan, Methodist; Nathan Brown, Averett; Payne Fisher, Maryville.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Thomas Palmer, Maryville - The sophomore defensive midfielder from Kingsport, Tennessee helped the Scots to a 2-0 record last week versus USA South competition as the defense allowed two goals while he tallied one goal and one assist. In a 3-2 win over Piedmont, Palmer scored a goal in the 20th minute. In a 5-0 victory over LaGrange, Palmer assisted on the second score of the game in the 28th minute. Also Nominated: Kenneth Hearn, Piedmont; Logan Rohde, Greensboro; Alex Rabone, Methodist; Martin Erenstedt, Averett.

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Allison Gibson, Greensboro - The Gibsonville, North Carolina senior forward tallied three goals and one assist for seven points in a 2-0 week for The Pride versus USA South competition. In a 2-0 victory over William Peace, Gibson scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 29th minute. In a 3-2 win over Ferrum, Gibson was in on all three of her team's scores as she netting goals in the 11th and 44th minutes then assisted on the eventual game-winning goal in the 54th minute. Also Nominated: Rebecca Staylor, N.C. Wesleyan; Megan Hatfield, Piedmont; Bethany Logan, Covenant; Taylor Cavazos, Methodist; Annalies Jobsis, Averett; Sierra Siegel, Maryville.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Michaela Gardner, Piedmont - The Stockbridge, Georgia junior goalkeeper helped the Lions to a 2-0 record last week versus USA South competition by making nine total saves in 170 minutes in net with one shutout. In a 1-0 win over Maryville, Gardner stopped all seven shots she faced en route to the shutout. In a 3-0 victory over Huntingdon, Gardner made two saves in 80 minutes of action. Also Nominated: Jaisa Loch, Meredith; Alannah Haggerty, Greensboro; Taylor Ross, Methodist; Kim Josephson, Averett; Eleni Mavres, Maryville.

Volleyball Player of the Week
Nicole Barringer, Averett - The senior setter from Landis, North Carolina averaged 12.1 assists, 2.6 digs and 1.0 kills per set as the Cougars posted a 3-0 record versus USA South Competition last week. In a 3-1 win over Meredith, Barringer notched a double-double with 55 assists and 14 digs to go along with three kills and two blocks. In a 3-0 victory over Huntingdon, Barringer totaled 34 assists, eight digs, three kills and three service aces. Finally, in a 3-1 win over LaGrange, Barringer contributed 45 assists, seven digs, five kills and one service ace. Also Nominated: Karlie Long, Meredith; Kelsey Handel, Maryville; Jennifer Opper, Piedmont.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Mallory Bonee, Maryville - The senior defensive specialist from Powell, Tennessee averaged 4.4 digs and 1.4 assists per set as the Scots posted a 3-0 record versus USA South competition last week. In a 3-1 win over Covenant, Bonee totaled 14 digs, six assists and one service ace. In a 3-0 victory over N.C. Wesleyan, Bonee posted 15 digs and two assists. Finally, in a 3-0 win over William Peace, Bonee contributed 15 digs, six assists and one service ace. Also Nominated: Sarah Hendrix, Ferrum; Christiana Summa, Averett.

Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Eliot Kaufmann, Covenant - The freshman from New York, New York placed 22nd out of 185 runners at the Berry College Invitational last week. Kaufmann completed the 8K course in a new personal-best time of 27:11, helping the Scots to an 11th place team finish. Also Nominated: Sean Hagstrom, Maryville; Aaron Westhusing, Averett.

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Emily Guillaume, Maryville - The junior from Maryville, Tennessee placed 23rd out of 191 runners at the Berry College Invitational last week. Guillaume completed the 6K course in a time of 23:51, helping the Scots to an 11th place team finish. Also Nominated: Beth Burgess, Covenant; Allie Gallagher, Meredith; Mary-Kate Cobb, Averett.

Rookies of the Week

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
Jordan Porter, Methodist - The freshman running back from Mount Dora, Florida scored one touchdown and averaged 23.8 yards per carry in a 73-28 win over USA South foe LaGrange last week. The 73 points scored by the Monarchs set a new USA South single-game record. Porter ran the ball four times for 95 yards including a 60-yard touchdown. Also Nominated: Gregory Clifton, Greensboro; Myles Bennett, Averett.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Willie Marshall, Greensboro - The freshman defensive back from Apollo Beach, Florida made four total tackles and grabbed an interception in a 39-14 loss to USA South foe Maryville. Marshall tallied two solo tackles with two assisted take downs, including one pass breakup. Also Nominated: Jordan Bobo, Averett.

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Chase Kane, Piedmont - The freshman forward from Watkinsville, Georgia helped the Lions to a 1-1 record last week versus USA South competition by scoring two goals. In a 3-2 loss to Maryville, Kane was held scoreless. In a 2-0 victory over Huntingdon, Kane scored both of the team's goals, including the eventual game-winner in the sixth minute. Also Nominated: AJ Lee, Methodist; Tobias Andreasson, Averett; Cody Vankerschaever, Maryville.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Shayna Healy, Piedmont - The Sharpsburg, Georgia freshman forward helped the Lions to a 2-0 record last week versus USA South competition by scoring one game-winning goal. In a 1-0 win over Maryville, Healy scored with less than five minutes to play giving Piedmont its first victory over Maryville since the 2001 season. In a 3-0 victory over Huntingdon, Healy was held scoreless but did manage two shots. Also Nominated: Jaisa Loch, Meredith; Elizabeth Rougcher, Methodist; Amanda Gustavsson, Averett; Kara Tubb, Maryville.

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Hannah Shields, Averett - The freshman outside hitter from Keeling, Virginia averaged 5.7 kills, a .362 hitting percentage, 2.2 digs and 0.9 service aces per set as the Cougars posted a 3-0 record last week versus USA South competition. In a 3-1 win over Meredith, Shields notched 24 kills, nine digs, two service aces, one assist and one block. In a 3-0 victory over Huntingdon, Shields totaled 15 kills, seven digs and four service aces. Finally, in a 3-1 win over LaGrange, Shields contributed 24 kills, eight digs, four service aces, two assists and two blocks. Also Nominated: Hannah Blaylock, Meredith; Rachel Kozemko, Maryville; Cassidy Hayes, Methodist; Ginny Moore, Covenant; Kait Steele, Piedmont; Jessie O'Conner, Ferrum.

Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Eliot Kaufmann, Covenant - The freshman from New York, New York placed 22nd out of 185 runners at the Berry College Invitational last week. Kaufmann completed the 8K course in a new personal-best time of 27:11, helping the Scots to an 11th place team finish. Also Nominated: Riku Posti, Averett.

Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Abby Irwin, Covenant - The freshman from Issaquah, Washington placed 58th out of 191 runners at the Berry College Invitational last week. Irwin completed the 6K course in a time of 25:24, helping the Scots to a tenth place team finish. Also Nominated: Mary Kate Morgan, Meredith; Ashley Brunner, Piedmont.