Huntingdon’s Williams and Byard earn USA South weekly honors

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Huntingdon sophomores Rhett Williams and Josie Byard were both recognized as USA South Athletes of the Week on Monday.

Williams was named the Men's Soccer Player of the Week and Byard was named the Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.

Williams scored two goals in a 3-0 win over LaGrange to help the men's soccer team close the season with a win. Byard recorded 11 saves and picked up her seventh shutout of the season as the Lady Hawks tied LaGrange 0-0 in double overtime.

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

Football Offensive Player of the Week
Ryan Throndset, Greensboro - The junior quarterback from Woodbine, Maryland broke three USA South records in a 51-50 loss to USA South foe Maryville. Throndset set single-game Conference records for passing touchdowns, attempts and completions as he was 47-of-70 through the air for 575 yards with six touchdowns. Also Nominated: Jaques Alston, N.C. Wesleyan; Marcus Morrast, Christopher Newport.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
Mic Edwards, Christopher Newport - The Salem, Virginia sophomore linebacker recorded 11 total tackles in a 13-10 win over USA South rival LaGrange. Edwards tallied eight solo tackles and three assisted take downs along with one tackle for loss and a pass break-up in the victory. Also Nominated: D.J. Payne, Methodist; Stefan Varner, Averett; Andre Carter, LaGrange.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Mason Studer, Christopher Newport - The Norfolk, Virginia junior place kicker/punter provided the winning margin with two field goals in a 13-10 victory over USA South foe LaGrange. Studer was perfect on his two field goal attempts while also punting five times for a 34.4 yard average. Also Nominated: Raymond Bridges, Greensboro; Xavier Morgan, Averett; Chris Richardson, N.C. Wesleyan.

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Rhett Williams, Huntingdon - The sophomore midfielder from Pensacola, Florida helped the Hawks to a 3-0 win over USA South foe LaGrange in their only regular season contest last week. Williams tallied two goals, including the eventual game-winner in the 34th minute. Also Nominated: Garrison Dale, Covenant.

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Sandra Johansson, Averett - The Gothenburg, Sweden senior midfielder/forward tallied two goals and two assists for six points in a 4-2 win over USA South rival William Peace in the team's only regular season action last week. Johansson had a hand in each of the Cougars' four goals as she assisted on the first and third Averett goals while scoring the second and four tallies. Also Nominated: Lauren Greeson, Greensboro; Jessie Davis, Meredith; Laura Goodwin, Piedmont; Bethany Logan, Covenant.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Josie Byard, Huntingdon - The Dothan, Alabama sophomore goalkeeper helped the Hawks to a scoreless, double-overtime, tie versus USA South foe LaGrange in the team's only regular season action last week. Byard stopped all 11 shots she faced to help force the 0-0 draw. Also Nominated: Amanda Urban, Averett; T'Keyah Henry, Greensboro; Kelsey Hopper, Meredith.

Volleyball Player of the Week
Allison Sparks, Averett - The senior outside hitter from Ruffin, North Carolina averaged 5.4 kills, a .261 hitting percentage, and 2.4 digs per set as the Cougars posted a 3-0 record last week. In a 3-0 win over USA South foe Greensboro, Sparks recorded 16 kills, four digs, one assist and one service ace. In a 3-1 victory over Bridgewater, Sparks notched a double-double of 20 kills and 11 digs with three service aces, two assists and one block. Finally in a 3-1 win over Virginia Wesleyan, Sparks tallied a double-double of 23 kills and 11 digs with one service ace. Also Nominated: Liz Widenhouse, Greensboro; Kristen Sharp, Maryville; Jennifer Opper, Piedmont; Allison Graves, Methodist.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Katie Faith, Piedmont - The sophomore defensive specialist from Simpsonville, South Carolina averaged 4.8 digs and and 0.5 service aces per set as the Lions posted a 3-0 record last week. In a 3-1 win over Oglethorpe, Faith recorded 16 digs and one service ace. In a 3-0 victory over USA South foe N.C. Wesleyan, Faith totaled 20 digs, two service aces and one assist. Finally, in a 3-0 win over USA South rival William Peace, Faith contributed 12 digs, three assists and two service aces. Also Nominated: Katelyn Holley, Averett; Lauren Condon, Huntingdon; Mallory Bonee, Maryville; Christina Huber, N.C. Wesleyan; Maddie Irvin, William Peace.

Rookies of the Week

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
Ervens Oge, LaGrange - The freshman wide receiver from Blackshear, Georgia caught eight passes for 81 yards in a 13-10 loss to USA South foe Christopher Newport. Oge averaged 10.1 yards per catch with a long of 18 yards.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Travonne Marshall, N.C. Wesleyan - The Tarboro, North Carolina freshman defensive back recorded a team-high seven total tackles and two interceptions  in a 33-16 win over USA South foe Ferrum. Marshall tallied six solo tackles and one assisted take down while returning his two interceptions for a total of 15 yards. Also Nominated: Joshua Walker, Averett; Jordan Chambers, LaGrange.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Lauren Greeson, Greensboro - The Greensboro, North Carolina freshman forward notched a hat trick in a 7-0 win over USA South foe Mary Baldwin in the team's only regular season action of last week. Greeson tallied the first three goals of the match in the 11th, 21st and 32nd minutes, respectively. Also Nominated: Jennie Nilsson, Averett; Logan Bill, N.C. Wesleyan.

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Tori Stewart, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman outside hitter from Purcellville, Virginia averaged 3.1 kills, 2.1 digs, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 service aces per set as the Bishops posted a 2-1 record versus USA South competition last week. In a 3-2 win over Methodist, Stewart recorded 16 kills, eight blocks, seven digs, five service aces and one assist. In a 3-0 loss to Piedmont, Stewart tallied nine kills, eight digs, two blocks, one assist and one service ace. Finally, in a 3-0 win over William Peace, Stewart totaled nine kills, eight digs, five blocks, four service aces and one assist. Also Nominated: Holly Anders, Greensboro; Karlie Long, Meredith; Chloe Clarridge, Averett; Jackie Campbell, Piedmont; Lauren Condon, Huntingdon; Latina Bailey, Methodist