Student-Athletes Honored in Eight Fall Sports
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference announced its September players of the month today, highlighting excellence among student-athletes in the first full month of competition for the 2009-10 academic year. The players of the month are nominated by each member institution and selected by the conference office.
FOOTBALL
Offense
Terrell Hudgins, Elon, Sr., WR
Hudgins topped the 100-yard mark receiving in all four games during the month of September while reaching the end zone on five occasions. During that span, he caught 43 passes and averaged 135 yards receiving per game to lead the nation in both categories. Elon was 3-1 in the month of September.
Other Nominees: Jordan Sorrells (Furman), Bart Blanchard (The Citadel), Devon Moore (Appalachian State), Chris Evans (Samford), Blue Cooper (Chattanooga) and Marquel Pittman (Western Carolina).
Defense
D.J. Smith, Appalachian State, Jr., LB
Smith tied for sixth nationally with 13 tackles per contest in the month of September, including a career-high 17 tackles in ASU’s 20-7 win over Samford. The junior recorded three tackles for loss and one sack while also notching three quarterback hurries and a pair of pass break ups. Following his performance against Samford, Smith earned national player of the week honors from The Sports Network.
Other Nominees: Kadarron Anderson (Furman), Andre Campbell (Elon), Chris Collins (Western Carolina), Jordon Gilmore (The Citadel), Bryce Smith (Samford), Darrell Pasco (Georgia Southern), Joseph Thornton (Chattanooga) and SeQuan Stanley (Wofford).
MEN’S SOCCER
Alex Caskey, Davidson, Jr., MF
Caskey led the Wildcats with six goals in eight contests during the month while ranking third in the Southern Conference with 14 points. The junior team captain has played in every minute of every match so far this season for the resurgent Wildcats whose seven wins in the month of September nearly equaled the squad’s win total (eight) for the 2007 and 2008 seasons combined.
Other Nominees: Arie Muniz (Appalachian State), Matt Morris (College of Charleston), Chris Thomas (Elon), Debola Ogunseye (Furman) and Nick Schuermann (Wofford).
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Alyssa Whitehead, Samford, So., GK
Whitehead allowed just one goal in 450 minutes of action during the month as Samford started the season with a 4-1 record. She stared all five of Samford’s matches and tallied four shutouts. The sophomore’s 0.20 goals against average and .958 save percentage in September were among the best in the country.
Other Nominees: Caroline Clarke (Appalachian State), Alyssa Bearden (College of Charleston), Molly Calpin (Elon), Martha Hall (Furman), Chelsea Kephart (Georgia Southern), Kristin Player (UNC Greensboro), Donna-Kay Henry (Chattanooga), Caitlin Williams (Western Carolina) and Nikki Siebert (Wofford).
VOLLEYBALL
Allie Bettinger, Samford, Fr., OH
Bettinger led the team in kills and digs throughout the month of September while also posting five double-doubles in the month. She notched a career-high 20 kills twice while also posting a career-high 17 digs twice. Bettinger hit .395 to start out the month against Southeast Missouri State, recording 18 kills on 38 attempts with only three errors. She averaged 3.37 kills per set while notching just over two digs per set.
Other Nominees: Sarah Havel (College of Charleston), Tatum Jestila (The Citadel), Sarabeth Peele (Davidson), Traci Stewart (Elon), Caroline Adams (Furman), Bethany Sanford (Georgia Southern), Catherine Hanners (UNC Greensboro), Courtney Barnes (Chattanooga) and Stacy Byrd (Wofford).
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Lance Harden, Davidson, Sr.
Harden placed second overall at the Eye Opener Invitational while leading his team to the overall team title. His time of 25:29 for the 8K course currently leads the conference. The senior also finished second at the Asics-Winthrop Invitational with a time of 25:00 for the 8K course, which ranked as the third-fastest time in Davidson's history and a 20-second personal best. Harden led Davidson to the team title in the race.
Other Nominees: Phil Mitchell (Appalachian State), Trevor Sprague (College of Charleston), Charles McGoogan (Furman), Joey Thompson (UNC Greensboro), Josey Weaver (Western Carolina) and Trey Parker (Wofford).
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Brittany Caudle, Appalachian State, Fr.
In her first collegiate race, Caudle placed third at the Covered Bridge Run in 18:13. At the Mountaineer Open, Caudle was the winner in a field of 108 runners, setting an ASU freshman record and a personal best with a time of 17:53. Caudle’s mark was the eighth-fastest 5K time in Appalachian State history.
Other Nominees: Chloe Kowalski (Furman).
MEN’S GOLF
Mark Joye, Wofford, Fr.
In his first collegiate tournament, Joye (70-66-72=208) fired an eight-under par 208 to win the Sea Trail Intercollegiate tournament, hosted by Elon. Following a 70 (-2) in round one, Joye posted a tournament-low 66 (-6) in the second round before earning the victory with a final round 72 (E). As a team, the Terriers placed second in the 16-team field at 18-under par (846).
Other Nominees: Casey Johnson (Appalachian State), Jayson Judy (Elon), Stephan Jaeger (Chattanooga), Ryan Zabroske (Georgia Southern) and John Skeadas III (Davidson).
WOMEN’S GOLF
Josefine Sundh, Western Carolina, Jr.
Sundh recorded her first two career victories while guiding Western Carolina to team championships in each of the first three events of the 2009-10 season. She carded consecutive one-under par rounds of 71 to best countryman and teammate, Desiree Karlsson, by a stroke at the season-opening Draper Valley Intercollegiate. Sundh then posted a 13th-place finish at the rain-shortened Great Smokies Intercollegiate, shooting a one-over 73. She finished the month by winning the Sea Trail Intercollegiate, again nipping Catamount teammate, Karlsson, but this time by four strokes after shooting an even-par 216 (71-72-73).
Other Nominees: Stefanie Kenoyer (Furman), Tara McFadden (Elon), Emma de Groot (Chattanooga) and Alanna-Jean Keith (The Citadel).