Eight Student-Athletes Honored for Excellence in Competition
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference announced its September athletes of the month today, highlighting excellence among student-athletes during the month. The athletes of the month are nominated by each member institution and selected by the conference office.
FOOTBALL
OFFENSE
Aaron Mellette, Elon, Jr., WR
Mellette racked up 42 receptions and 591 receiving yards in September, finishing the month ranked second nationally in both receptions per game and receiving yards per game. The junior had a touchdown catch in each game for the Phoenix. Mellette recorded two 100-yard games, including a 16-catch, 237-yard performance in a win at N.C. Central. The wide out is averaging 14.1 yards per reception and 162.2 all-purpose yards per game
Other Nominees: Brian Quick (Appalachian State), Ben Dupree (The Citadel), Chris Forcier (Furman), Robert Brown (Georgia Southern), Kelsey Pope (Samford), Joel Bradford (Chattanooga), Shaun Warren (Western Carolina) and Eric Breitenstein (Wofford).
DEFENSE
Wes Dothard, Chattanooga, So., LB
Dothard was a two-time SoCon Player of the Week for the Mocs during the month of September, putting up impressive numbers against the fifth-toughest schedule in the FCS. He started the season with seven tackles at Nebraska and followed that with a five-tackle performance against No. 10 Jacksonville State. Dothard picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown to seal a 38-17 win over the top-10 Gamecocks, earning him his first Player of the Week honor. The sophomore came back the next week with 10 tackles and three TFLs in a 23-14 win at Eastern Kentucky to earn his second weekly honor. His best performance may have been his career-high 11 stops at No. 3 Appalachian State. Dothard led a stellar UTC defensive effort that did not allow an offensive touchdown to the Mountaineers.
Other Nominees: Jeremy Kimbrough (Appalachian State), Rod Harland (The Citadel), Blake Thompson (Elon), Derek Heyden (Georgia Southern), Andre Shishkin (Western Carolina) and Alvin Scioneaux (Wofford).
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Paul Chelimo, UNCG, So.
Chelimo, a native of Kenya, won the individual title at the 38th annual Paul Short Run on September 30 in Bethlehem, Pa. The sophomore led the race from the beginning and finished with a time of 23:55, which is 15 seconds off his school record. Earlier in the season Chelimo won the Elon Invitational on September 17 with a time of 23:40. His time not only set a new course record, but also eclipsed UNCG's school record by 40 seconds.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Erin Barker, Furman, Sr.
The senior finished third at the USC Upstate Eye Opener Meet, where she led the Paladins on the 5K course with a time of 17:58. Furman claimed the Eye Opener title while competing against teams such as Clemson and Charlotte along with SoCon rivals Davidson, College of Charleston and Wofford. The Easley, S.C., native also paced the Furman women at the teams' last two meets. Barker finished sixth (21:08.65) on the 6K course at the Clemson 6K Invitational and ninth (17:30.45) on the 5K course at the Charlotte Invitational.
Other Nominees: Dena O'Brien (College of Charleston), Morgan Denecke (Elon) and Ashley Schnell (UNCG).
MEN'S SOCCER
Alec Kann, Furman, Sr., GK
Kann posted a 0.65 goals against average and four shutouts while leading Furman to an 8-0-1 record and No. 23 national ranking during the month of September. The Decatur, Ga., native recorded clean sheets against then nationally-ranked Princeton, Winthrop, Jacksonville and 22nd-ranked East Tennessee State. A two-time SoCon Player of the Week during September, Kann earned all-tournament honors at the Stetson Classic and tournament MVP honors at the Nike/Aaron Olitsky Memorial Classic.
Other Nominees: Lee Williams (Appalachian State), Andy Craven (College of Charleston), Greg Macnamara (Davidson), Luigi Clendening (Georgia Southern), Alex Hutchins (Wofford).
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Rachel Shelnutt, Furman, Sr., F
Shelnutt scored six goals and added an assist while leading Furman to a 6-2-1 overall record and 2-0-1 Southern Conference mark during the month of September. The St. Simons Island, Ga., native scored match-winning goals versus UNC Wilmington and Georgia Southern while also helping the Paladins to a 3-2 double overtime victory at Clemson. Shelnutt scored goals in five of Furman's nine matches, including two versus Georgia Southern.
VOLLEYBALL
OFFENSE
Lauren Hutchinson, Samford, Jr., MB
Hutchinson, a junior from Kennesaw, Ga., helped lead Samford to a 10-2 overall record and a 1-1 conference start in September. The Bulldogs won eight consecutive matches before suffering their first loss of the season to Georgia at the Georgia Tech Tournament. The middle blocker sat atop the NCAA Division I leader board in hitting percentage (.450) in matches through Sept. 26. Hutchinson tallied 202 kills last month, ranking fourth in the conference. She also recorded 55 total blocks and 41 digs.
Other Nominees: Meghann Forshey (Appalachian State), Elyse Chubb (College of Charleston), Kaona Mercer (The Citadel), Caroline Brown (Davidson), Caroline Lemke (Elon), Kelly Kirby (Furman), Bethany Sanford (Georgia Southern), Ariel Newman (UNCG), Christina Teter (Chattanooga), Caitlin Piechota (Western Carolina) and Arden Anderson (Wofford).
DEFENSE
Emily Shelton, College of Charleston, Jr., LIB
Shelton, a redshirt junior for the Cougars, is currently ranked 80th nationally with 4.68 digs per set. Her average puts her third in the SoCon. The libero led all College of Charleston players in digs for all but one match in the month of September. The Cincinnati native's career average of digs per set ranks her third in the program's history. The Cougars finished the month 11-4, while winning the Georgia State Invitational and the Hampton Inn Invitational. Shelton was named Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 6.
Other Nominees: Alison Blasingame (Appalachian State), Rachael Farrell (The Citadel), Molly Crenshaw (Davidson), Ali Deastch (Elon), Carolyn Nicoletti (Furman), Lauren LaRocque (Georgia Southern), Kellie Orewiler (UNCG), Alexis Bauer (Samford), Paula Passmore (Chattanooga), Jordan Timmermann (Western Carolina) and Arden Anderson (Wofford).
Southern Conference September Athletes of the Month
Football - Offense Aaron Mellette, Elon
Football - Defense Wes Dothard, Chattanooga
Men's Cross Country Paul Chelimo, UNCG
Women's Cross Country Erin Barker, Furman
Men's Soccer Alec Kann, Furman
Women's Soccer Rachel Shelnutt, Furman
Volleyball - Offense Lauren Hutchinson, Samford
Volleyball - Defense Emily Shelton, College of Charleston