SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference announced its October 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
Eric Breitenstein, Wofford, Jr., RB
Breitenstein rushed for 732 yards and nine touchdowns during October, crossing the 100-yard mark in all five games. The junior capped the month with a 217-yard, four-touchdown performance against Elon. Through eight games this season, Breitenstein has reached 1,000 rushing yards, becoming the first Wofford played with back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons in nearly 20 years. He leads the nation with 14 rushing touchdowns and is fifth nationally in rushing yards.
Other Nominees: Jamal Jackson (Appalachian State), Darien Robinson (The Citadel), Aaron Mellette (Elon), Jaybo Shaw (Georgia Southern), Fabien Truss (Samford), Terrell Robinson (Chattanooga) and Josh Cockrell (Western Carolina).
DEFENSE
Demetrius McCray, Appalachian State, Jr., DB
McCray grabbed four interceptions in four games, which was made even more impressive by the fact that all four came against run-oriented triple-option offenses. The junior picked off four of the 27 passes attempted by Wofford, The Citadel and Georgia Southern. McCray became just the second Mountaineer in to intercept two passes in a game since 2008 when he recorded two INTs in ASU's win over No. 1 Georgia Southern. Both of McCray's interceptions against GSU led directly to ASU touchdowns. McCray also broke up two passes in a win over Samford.
Other Nominees: Rod Harland (The Citadel), Joshua Jones (Elon), Brent Russell (Georgia Southern), Alvin Hines (Samford), Ryan Consiglio (Chattanoga), Rock Williams (Western Carolina) and Alvin Scioneaux (Wofford).
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Ryan Hopkins, Davidson, Sr.
Hopkins broke the all-time Davidson 8K record for the fourth time this season as he finished second at the Southern Conference Championship Saturday morning at the Trophy Lakes course, with a time of 23:30.19. The senior was 19 seconds behind the leader, UNCG's Paul Chelimo.
The Greenwich, Conn., native was honored as the Runner of the Week for October 19, after winning the Royal Cross Country Challenge in Charlotte.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Ashley Schnell, UNCG, Sr.
The senior won the Southern Conference Championship on October 29 for the second straight year with a time of 16:33.10 on the 5K course, setting a new school record by 46 seconds. Schnell's time also set a new league record by 20 seconds.
The Lincoln, Neb., native is one of seven runners in Southern Conference history who has won the individual title more than once.
MEN'S SOCCER
Peyton Ford, UNCG, Jr., GK
Ford helped UNCG to a 5-3-1 overall record and a 5-1-1 SoCon mark during the month of October by posting a 0.36 goals-against average. The junior posted six shutouts in eight matches, allowing just three goals in just under 760 minutes of action. Ford collected 34 saves for a .919 save percentage and became UNCG's career Division I leader in shutouts with 16. Ford and the Spartans clinched their second straight SoCon regular-season title with back-to-back shutouts of Georgia Southern and Elon in the final week of the month.
Other Nominees: Danny Free (Appalachian State), Troy Peterson (College of Charleston), Chip Sanders (Davidson), Alec Kann (Furman), Luigi Clendening (Georgia Southern), Alex Hutchins (Wofford).
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Alyssa Whitehead, Samford, Sr., GK
Whitehead registered an 8-0-1 record in goal during the month of October as Samford extended its school-record undefeated streak to 12 consecutive matches. After making nine key saves in a 0-0 draw with The Citadel on Oct. 2, the Bulldogs rallied for eight straight SoCon victories. During a five-match stretch in mid-October, Whitehead accumulated a 429:08 scoreless streak that lasted from the Appalachian State contest on Oct. 14 to the Chattanooga match on Oct. 26. Whitehead notched four shutouts and tallied a 0.42 goals-against average for the month.
Other Nominees: Katy Dodd (Appalachian State), Hope Atkinson (College of Charleston), Mariana Garcia (The Citadel), Becca Fisher (Davidson), Rachel Shelnutt (Furman), Kristin Player (UNCG) and Anne Phillips (Wofford).
VOLLEYBALL
OFFENSE
Elizabeth Neisler, Samford, Jr., OH
Neisler helped lead Samford to a 9-1 record in October. The Bulldogs are currently on a nine game win streak and remain undefeated on their home court. The outside hitter led the team in kills last month and was just one of two players to reach the triple digits.
The junior from Jacksonville, Ala., tallied a season-high 20 kills in Samford's match against Georgia Southern. She is just 59 kills shy of cracking the single-season top ten at Samford.
Neisler is ranked 38th in the nation and first in the league in kills per set (4.07) and is 39th in the nation and second in the league in points per set (4.60).
Other Nominees: Maggie Seeds (Appalachian State), Sloane White (College of Charleston), Tindall Sewell (Davidson), Caroline Lemke (Elon), Natalie Braun (Furman) and Caitlin Piechota (Western Carolina).
DEFENSE
Courtney Rhein, Appalachian State, Jr., LIB
Rhein, a native of York, Pa., helped lead the Mountaineers to an 8-2 record in October. The Mountaineers have won nine straight home matches, which is the best home winning streak since the 2005 season. She recorded 20 or more digs in five matches last month.
The junior libero ranks ninth in Appalachian State history with 1,146 digs. She needs just 16 more to move into eighth-place.
Other Nominees: Rachael Farrell (The Citadel), Sarah Havel (College of Charleston), Molly Crenshaw (Davidson), Ali Deatsch (Elon), Carolyn Nicoletti (Furman), Alexis Bauer (Samford), Morgan Cochran (Western Carolina), Reagan Styles (Wofford).
Southern Conference October Athletes of the Month
Football - Offense Eric Breitenstein, Wofford
Football - Defense Demetrius McCray, Appalachian State
Men's Cross Country Ryan Hopkins, Davidson
Women's Cross Country Ashley Schnell, UNCG
Men's Soccer Peyton Ford, UNCG
Women's Soccer Alyssa Whitehead, Samford
Volleyball - Offense Elizabeth Neisler, Samford
Volleyball - Defense Courtney Rhein, Appalachian State