General

USA South Athletes of the Week - September 22, 2025

  • Football Offensive Player of the Week
    Ethan Beamish, Brevard - The Simpsonville, South Carolina senior quarterback passed for 345 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-34 win over Division II Erskine last week. Beamish was 20-for-32 through the air with zero interceptions with a long completion of 77 yards. Also Nominated: Henry Brodnax, LaGrange; Devin Watson, Southern Virginia; Timothy McReynolds, Huntingdon.

    Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
    Dami'on Thompson, LaGrange - The Atlanta, Georgia freshman wide receiver totaled four catches for 132 yards and one score in a 20-6 win over Centre last week. Thompson's touchdown came on the first play from scrimmage of the second half when he cut loose for an 88-yard score. Also Nominated: Crew Sage, Southern Virginia.

    Football Defensive Player of the Week
    Kalen Stapp, Huntingdon - The Social Circle, Georgia freshman safety grabbed two interceptions, the second of which he took back 80 yards on the final play of the game to defeat McMurry, 52-46, last week. With McMurray attempting to win the game in regulation on a Hail Mary, Stapp picked the ball off and returned it for the winning score. His first interception came in the middle of the second quarter. Also Nominated: Robert Dorsey, Brevard; Will Pailthorpe, Greensboro; Aidan Johnson, LaGrange; Ty Smith, Southern Virginia.

    Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
    Kalen Stapp, Huntingdon - The Social Circle, Georgia freshman safety grabbed two interceptions, the second of which he took back 80 yards on the final play of the game to defeat McMurry, 52-46, last week. With McMurray attempting to win the game in regulation on a Hail Mary, Stapp picked the ball off and returned it for the winning score. His first interception came in the middle of the second quarter. Also Nominated: DJ Stevenson, Brevard; Cade Hanson, Southern Virginia.

    Football Special Teams Player of the Week
    Hayden Vandegriff, Brevard - The Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia freshman place kicker connected on one of two field goals and all five point-after-touchdown attempts in a 38-34 win over Division II Erskine last week. The field goal make was from 30 yards as Vandegriff accumulated eight points for the Tornados. Also Nominated: Alex Passey, Southern Virginia.

  • Men's Soccer Player of the Week
    Roi Abutbul, Brevard - The Jersualem, Israel junior forward scored his team's only goal in a 1-1 draw versus Berea, the lone contest last week for the Tornados. Abutbul scored in the 84th minute to tie the game and help Brevard hang on to get the draw. Also Nominated: Kalle Hermansson, Greensboro; Rafa Quevedo-Antunez, William Peace.

    Men's Soccer Defender of the Week
    Alex Michael, Pfeiffer - The New Orleans, Louisiana junior defender anchored a Falcon defense which posted two shutouts over Randolph and Carolina Christian in a 2-0 week. In addition to his defensive effort, Michael also added three goals and one assist during the week, including a hat trick of three goals against Carolina Christian. Also Nominated: Manuel Tovar Hagstrom, Brevard; David Stipuric, Greensboro; Troy Chamberlain, Southern Virginia; Griffin Thomas, William Peace.

    Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
    Griffin Thomas, William Peace - The Chesapeake, Virginia freshman goalkeeper posted a shutout in the only contest he appeared in last week for the Pride, a 2-0 win over Johnson & Wales. Thomas played all 90 minutes and stopped all three shots on goal. Also Nominated: Kalle Hermansson, Greensboro; Barrett Owens, Pfeiffer; Tate Hickman, Southern Virginia.

  • Women's Soccer Player of the Week
    Kinlee Mozley, Brevard - The Lexington, South Carolina sophomore forward scored three times last week as the Tornados posted a 2-0 record. In a 9-0 victory over Carolina University, Mozley scored the first, and eventual game-winning goal, in the third minute before adding another at the 49-minute mark. In a 2-0 win over USA South foe Meredith, Mozley scored an insurance goal in the 65th minute. Also Nominated: Ashlee Kelsey, Southern Virginia; Ashlie Linker, Greensboro; Darilyn Nieto, Salem.

    Women's Soccer Defender of the Week
    Abby Nunez, Brevard - The Homestead, Florida junior goalkeeper posted one shutout and assisted on a goal in a 2-0 week for the Tornados. In a 9-0 win over Carolina University, Nunez stopped both shots she faced in goal and assisted on a goal at the 49-minute mark. In a 2-0 win over USA South foe Meredith, Nunez went the distance and collected four saves. Also Nominated: Shyann Hansen; Greensboro; Yailine Riera, Pfeiffer; Michaela Iapaluccio, Salem; Hailey Gadd, N.C. Wesleyan.

    Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
    Ashlee Kelsey, Southern Virginia - The Mesa, Arizona freshman forward scored three goals in a 1-1 week for the Knights. In a 3-1 loss at Bridgewater, Kelsey was held scoreless on one shot. In a 6-3 win at USA South foe N.C. Wesleyan, Kelsey tallied a hat trick of three goals including the eventual game-winner in the 67th minute. Also Nominated: Ally Quiroz, Methodist; Kate Floyd, Brevard; Michaela Iapaluccio Salem; Shyann Hansen; Greensboro; Quinn Branca, Pfeiffer.

  • Volleyball Player of the Week
    Payton Shiflet, Greensboro - The senior outside hitter from Asheboro, North Carolina averaged 5.75 kills, while hitting at a .420 clip, and 2.88 digs per set as the Pride posted a 2-0 record against USA South foes Meredith and Methodist. Shiflet posted one double-double with week match-highs of 28 kills, 14 digs, four service aces, and one block (twice). Also Nominated: Brooklynn Prince, Mary Baldwin; Aubrey Packer, Southern Virginia; Aspen Bradley, Salem; Savannah Hovander, Methodist; Gabi Gama, Pfeiffer; Reagan Kresho, Meredith.

    Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
    Gracie Fulton, Southern Virginia - The senior libero from Staunton, Virginia averaged 7.29 digs per set as the Knights posted a 2-0 record against USA South foes Pfeiffer and William Peace last week. Fulton posted week match-highs of 27 digs, two assists, and one service ace. Also Nominated: Morgan Mayfield, Greensboro; Gracie Payne, William Peace; Caitlyn Russell, Meredith; Madison Bozarth, Salem; Alexa Ammerman, Mary Baldwin.

    Volleyball Rookie of the Week
    Addison Johnson, Methodist - The freshman outside hitter from Laurinburg, North Carolina averaged 3.60 kills and 1.20 digs per set as the Monarchs posted a 2-1 record last week against USA South foes with wins over Mary Baldwin and Brevard coupled with a loss to Greensboro. Johnson posted one double-double with week match-highs of 15 kills, ten digs, two service aces, and one block (three times). Also Nominated: Aaliyah Anderson, William Peace; Abigail Kelly, Brevard; Emma Broadbent, Southern Virginia; Katherine Nguyen, Mary Baldwin; Polly Lennie, Salem.

PLEASE NOTE: At least half of the teams in a sport must have competed within the previous week for honors to be awarded.