SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference announced its Athletes of the Month today for the month of November. Athletes from the following fall sports were chosen: football (offensive and defensive), men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball and the following winter sports: men’s basketball, women’s basketball and wrestling. The athletes are chosen by the conference sports information directors for all sports.
Football
Offense
Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards has been named the Offensive Athlete of the Month for football. Edwards started three games and led the Mountaineers to a 3-0 record on the month, including a first-round playoff win over South Carolina State. Edwards did not play in the Western Carolina game due to injury, a 35-10 Mountaineer victory.
Edwards averaged over 353 yards of total offense during the month, accounting for 10 touchdowns, nine passing and one rushing. The junior had a 193.34 passing efficiency rating. In the win over the Bulldogs in the first round of the playoffs, Edwards threw for a school-record 433 yards and four touchdowns. He threw multiple touchdown passes in all three outings, despite playing in only a half of one of the games.
Also nominated for this month’s award were The Citadel’s Andre Roberts, Elon’s Scott Riddle, Georgia Southern’s Raja Andrews, Samford’s Chris Evans and Wofford’s Dane Romero.
Defense
Western Carolina linebacker Adrian McLeod has been named the Defensive Athlete of the Month for football.
The junior recorded nine tackles, including two for loss in a win over the Chattanooga Mocs on Nov. 1. For the month, McLeod tallied 34 tackles, including 5.5 for loss. Following a 17-tackle performance in a loss to Appalachian State to end the season, McLeod was tabbed as the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week.
Also nominated for this month’s award were Appalachian State’s Jabari Fletcher, Elon’s Joshua Jones, Georgia Southern’s Dakota Walker and Wofford’s Seth Goldwire.
Men’s Soccer
UNC Greensboro goalkeeper Nate Berry has been named this month’s Athlete of the Month for men’s soccer. Berry helped lead the seventh-seeded Spartans to the Southern Conference Tournament Championship and an appearance in the Sweet 16 on the NCAA Tournament.
The junior went 4-1-2 during the month of November, posting a 0.88 goals’ against average, with 30 saves, as the Spartans became the lowest seed ever to win the SoCon Tournament title and the first team ever to make it to the Sweet 16 with a losing record.
Also nominated for this month’s award were College of Charleston’s Matt Morris, Elon’s Justin Wyatt and Georgia Southern’s Joe Madigan.
Women’s Soccer
Western Carolina goalkeeper Caitlin Williams has been named Athlete of the Month for women’s soccer. Williams helped lead the Catamounts to the 2008 Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament Championship and their second ever NCAA Tournament bid.
During the SoCon Tournament, Williams allowed one goal and recorded two shutouts in three matches. Her most impressive effort however, came in the tournament championship match in penalty kicks. The sophomore stopped four of the top-seeded UNC Greensboro’s kicks to seal the championship.
Also nominated for this month’s award was UNC Greensboro’s Kelsey Kearney.
Volleyball
Furman middle blocker Nicole Palazzo has been named Athlete of the Month for volleyball. Palazzo helped lead the Lady Paladins to their first Southern Conference Tournament title since 1990 and their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Palazzo led Furman to an 8-2 record during the month of November, as she recorded 117 kills, had a .351 hitting percentage and averaged 0.82 blocks per set. She tallied 10 or more kills and four or more blocks in all three tournament matches, and she was named to the All-Tournament team.
Also nominated for this month’s award were College of Charleston’s Elyse Chubb, The Citadel’s Rachel Sanders, UNC Greensboro’s Kaitlyn Nortz, Samford’s Hillary Fountain and Chattanooga’s Lara Newberry.
Men’s Basketball
Davidson point guard Stephen Curry has been named Athlete of the Month for men’s basketball. Curry led the Wildcats to a 5-1 record while averaging 29.2 points, seven assists and three steals per contest.
Curry scored a career-high 44 points and shot a perfect 14-for-14 from the free-throw line in the Wildcats’ 82-78 road loss to No. 12 Oklahoma. He has helped Davidson get off to its best start since the 2002-03 season, when the Wildcats began 6-1.
Also nominated for this month’s award were Appalachian State’s Isaac Butts, Chattanooga’s Nicchaeus Doaks, The Citadel’s Cameron Wells, College of Charleston’s Andrew Goudelock, Elon’s Brett James, Western Carolina’s Harouna Mutombo and Wofford’s Junior Salters.
Women’s Basketball
Chattanooga forward Shanara Hollinquest has been named Athlete of the Month for women’s basketball. Hollinquest helped lead the Lady Mocs to a 2-3 record, including close losses to nationally-ranked Tennessee and Women’s NIT participant Middle Tennesse State already this season.
Hollinquest averaged 16.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for the month, good for second in the Southern Conference in both categories. She also ranks first in field goal percentage at better than 59 percent. The junior recorded a double-double in games against the Lady Vols and East Tennessee State.
Also nominated for this month’s award were Appalachian State’s Frances Hernandez, Davidson’s Mercedes Robinson, Furman’s Melissa Liebschwager, Samford’s Savannah Hill and Western Carolina’s Emily Clarke.
Wrestling
UNC Greensboro 141-lb. wrestler Chris Bencivenga has been named Athlete of the Month for wrestling. The senior went 11-1 on the month with one pin.
Earlier this month, Bencivenga went 4-0 at the Navy Classic, including two major decisions and a pin, to claim the title. The next week, he went 4-0 at the Journeyman/BRUTE Northeast Duals.
Also nominated for this month’s award were Appalachian State’s Austin Trotman, The Citadel’s J.C. Oddo, Davidson’s Sam O’Hair, Chattanooga’s Joey Knox and VMI’s Curtis Moore.