The senior third baseman from Kirkland, Wash., is majoring in sports medicine and has a 3.75 GPA.

Akiyama hit .333 with a pair of walks and two sacrifice bunts at the conference tournament last week.

In UNCG's 4-1 win at top-seeded Chattanooga on Thursday, Akiyama hit a sacrifice bunt and was walked. She also fielded a grounder in the fifth inning to help preserve pitcher Amber Harrell's no-hitter, which she carried into the seventh. Later that day Akiyama went 1-for-3 against Elon as the Spartans scored three runs in the sixth inning but fell short of the comeback, falling 6-4 to the Phoenix.

She was 2-for-2 with a walk in the elimination game versus Georgia Southern Friday, reaching base on all three plate appearances. UNCG won 2-1. Akiyama added her second sacrifice bunt of the tournament in Friday's game against Elon, advancing a runner in the Spartans' two-run-fourth inning. UNCG took a 2-1 lead but could not hold on as the Phoenix won 6-3.

Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week
Week 1: Katy Dodd, Women's Soccer, Appalachian State
Week 2: Dustin Taliaferro, Football, Samford
Week 3: Clint Irwin, Men's Soccer, Elon
Week 4: Caitlin Williams, Women's Soccer, Western Carolina
Week 5: Joey Thompson, Men's Cross Country, UNC Greensboro
Week 6: Tatum Jestila, Volleyball, The Citadel
Week 7: Sarah Schermerhorn, Volleyball, Elon
Week 8: Sarabeth Peele, Volleyball, Davidson
Week 9: Sean Dreybus, Men's Soccer, Appalachian State
Week 10: Amanda Flink, Women's Soccer, Davidson
Week 11: Wilson Hood, Men's Soccer, Wofford
Week 12: Jake Robinson, Men's Basketball, Western Carolina
Week 13: Lee Stephens, Women's Basketball, Furman
Week 14: Kori Penland, Women's Basketball, Chattanooga
Week 15: Amy Clapper, Women's Basketball, UNC Greensboro
Week 16: Jake Robinson, Men's Basketball, Western Carolina
Week 17: Ben Altman, Wrestling, Davidson
Week 18: Monique Floyd, Women's Basketball, UNC Greensboro
Week 19: Sarah Strickland, Women's Track & Field, The Citadel
Week 20: Matt Evans, Men's Track & Field, Western Carolina
Week 21: Demetrius Johnson, Wrestling, Chattanooga
Week 22: Christopher Castagno, Men's Track & Field, The Citadel
Week 23: Lee Gilmer, Men's Track & Field, Furman
Week 24: David Towarnicky, Baseball, Appalachian State                                    
Week 25: Alex Radsky, Wrestling, Davidson
Week 26: Nick Orvin, Baseball, The Citadel
Week 27: Laura Olenderski, Softball, UNC Greensboro
Week 28: Erin O'Shea, Softball, Elon
Week 29: Wayne Miller, Baseball, Samford
Week 30: Megan Rembielak, Softball, Appalachian State
Week 31: Sofia Aidemark, Women's Golf, UNC Greensboro
Week 32: Joey Thompson, Men's Track & Field, UNC Greensboro
Week 33: Tyler Kirkpatrick, Baseball, Western Carolina
Week 34: Megan Rembielak, Softball, Appalachian State
Week 35: Emily Akiyama, Softball, UNC Greensboro