SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its November athletes of the month for men’s and women’s basketball, football, volleyball and wrestling on Thursday, highlighting excellence among student-athletes during the month.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
QJ Peterson, VMI, Jr., G
VMI guard QJ Peterson averaged 20.6 points per game in November and scored at least 20 points in each of his last four games during the month, including a 26-point performance at Virginia Tech. Peterson averaged 5.6 rebounds per game and added 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals per contest over five games. The junior from Hedgesville, W.Va., led the Keydets in scoring in four games during November and shot 81 percent from the free-throw line.
Others nominated: Derrick Henry (The Citadel), Matt Rafferty (Furman), Phillip Leonard (Mercer), Christen Cunningham (Samford), Mike Brown (Western Carolina) and Spencer Collins (Wofford).
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Lucy Mason, UNCG, Sr., G
UNCG senior Lucy Mason was a force for the Spartans in November. The guard from Stone Mountain, Ga., poured in 26.7 points per game in six games, including a career-high 42 points in an 82-72 win over High Point that broke UNCG’s 35-year-old single-game scoring record. Mason posted the game high in points and scored 20 points or more in all six November contests. Adept at attacking the rim, Mason averaged a little more than nine free-throw attempts per game and shot 78.6 percent from the line. She was also active defensively, racking up 16 steals to lead the league. The veteran guard currently ranks in the top five in the conference in five statistical categories and is the nation’s fourth-leading scorer at 25.7 points per game. Mason has garnered back-to-back SoCon player of the week honors for her efforts.
Others nominated: Shamauria Bridges (ETSU), Kahlia Lawrence (Mercer), Amara Mayers (Samford), Jasmine Joyner (Chattanooga), Ace Easter (Western Carolina) and Kentra Washington (Wofford).
FOOTBALL
OFFENSE
Devlin Hodges, Samford, R-Fr., QB
Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges completed over 71 percent of his passes and led the Bulldogs to a 3-0 record during November. The redshirt freshman from Kimberly, Ala., completed 81-of-114 passes for 1,047 yards with seven touchdowns and rushed 37 times for 171 yards over three games. In Samford’s 37-27 win over Wofford, he passed for 348 yards and three touchdowns and ran for an additional 97 yards on 19 carries. Hodges finished the season as the Southern Conference leader in pass efficiency (144.1) and ranked second in passing yards per game (247.8).
Others nominated: Tyler Renew (The Citadel), Jacob Huesman (Chattanooga), Detrez Newsome (Western Carolina) and Evan Jacks (Wofford).
DEFENSE
Tevin Floyd, The Citadel, Jr., LB
The Citadel’s Tevin Floyd recorded a team-high 31 tackles as the Bulldogs went 3-1 in November. The Citadel earned a share of the Southern Conference title and also knocked off FBS South Carolina during the month. Floyd, a junior linebacker from Tallahassee, Fla., returned an interception 75 yards for a score against VMI and forced a fumble at No. 9 Coastal Carolina to set up Eric Goins’ game-winning field goal in the first round of the FCS playoffs. During November, Floyd added two tackles for loss and a sack to go with his two turnovers.
Others nominated: Justin Cooper (Samford), Lucas Webb (Chattanooga), Daniel Riddle (Western Carolina) and Drake Michaelson (Wofford).
VOLLEYBALL
OFFENSE
Annie Bierman, Furman, Jr., OH
Furman’s Annie Bierman had an accolade-filled November. The junior outside hitter earned SoCon volleyball player of the year honors, All-SoCon first-team recognition and all-tournament team honors, all while leading the Paladins to their third SoCon title in program history. The Hamilton, Ohio, native averaged 4.50 kills per set over the course of seven matches, including a 31-kill performance on Nov. 14 in a 3-1 win over UNCG to help Furman clinch the No. 2 seed in the SoCon tournament. Bierman contributed 42 kills in the Paladins’ three-match run to the SoCon Championship title and was also active defensively – she averaged 4.10 digs per set and recorded five double-doubles in November. This is her second offensive player of the month distinction this year, as she also took the honor in October.
Others nominated: Bailey Kernodle (The Citadel), Kristen Favre (ETSU), Erin Bognar (Samford) and Allie Davenport (Chattanooga).
DEFENSE
Morgan St. Germain, Samford, So., L
Samford’s Morgan St. Germain, a sophomore libero, helped engineer the Bulldogs’ six-game win streak in November. The League City, Texas, product racked up 143 digs in seven matches, which was good for 5.30 digs per set. Her 37-dig effort in a five-set win over Western Carolina on Nov. 13 gave the Bulldogs their first road victory of the season and tied Chattanooga’s Catherine Chason for the most digs in a match this season among SoCon players. St. Germain also registered 20 digs in just three sets on Nov. 6 in a sweep of Furman, the eventual SoCon tournament champion. This is her first player of the month award and second SoCon honor, as she earned defensive player of the week honors on Aug. 31.
Others nominated: Samantha Espy (The Citadel), Hailey Aguilar (ETSU), Meg DeMaar (Furman), Catherine Chason (Chattanooga) and Katie O’Connor (Western Carolina).
WRESTLING
Denzel Dejournette, Appalachian State, R-Jr., 285 pounds
Appalachian State heavyweight Denzel Dejournette went 12-0 in November, winning a pair of tournaments and taking SoCon Wrestler of the Week honors twice. The redshirt junior, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., was 4-0 in dual action and picked up bonus points two-thirds of his November matches with three pins, four major decisions and a technical fall. Dejournette opened the season with a pair of pins and a major decision on Nov. 7, sticking Anderson’s Ty Williams in just 42 seconds before putting Davidson’s Will Cooley on his back in 4:27. Dejournette posted a 14-1 major over CSU Bakersfield’s Matt Williams to cap a busy opening day for the Apps. Dejournette then went 4-0 with a pair of major decisions to claim the heavyweight title at the Michigan State Open and added a second straight Keystone Classic title the following week with another 4-0 outing that included a 16-1 tech fall over Drexel’s Alexander Foley, his third pin of the month and an 8-2 decision over No. 19 Ryan Solomon of Pittsburgh. Dejournette, who was named wrestler of the week after both tournament wins, finished his month off with a 9-2 win over Cory Daniels of No. 18 North Carolina.
Other nominees: Paul Duggan (Campbell) Marshall Haas (The Citadel) and John Lampe (Chattanooga).
Southern Conference November Athletes of the Month
Men’s basketball QJ Peterson, VMI
Women’s basketball Lucy Mason, UNCG
Football – offense Devlin Hodges, Samford
Football – defense Tevin Floyd, The Citadel
Volleyball – offense Annie Bierman, Furman
Volleyball – defense Morgan St. Germain, Samford
Wrestling Denzel Dejournette, Appalachian State
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