SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its February athletes of the month Friday, highlighting excellence among 30 student-athletes across 18 sports during the month.
 
BASEBALL
Player
Justice Bigbie, Western Carolina, Jr., 1B, Chesapeake, Va.

• Finished second on the Catamounts’ squad with a .393 batting average, collecting 11 hits in 28 plate appearances in February
• Four of his 11 hits went for extra bases, including three home runs and a double
• Had a team-leading 15 RBIs and scored 13 runs
• Boasted a .750 slugging percentage and a .550 on-base percentage, adding eight walks and three HBPs
• Earned the first SoCon Baseball Player of the Week honors on Feb. 22, the first weekly plaudits of his career after batting .538 in the four-game sweep of Towson with four of his seven hits going for extra bases
• Had three multi-hit games in the month

Others nominated: Ethan Cady (ETSU), Garett Delano (Mercer), Sonny DiChiara (Samford), Justin Starke (VMI) and Lawson Hill (Wofford).
 
Pitcher
Zebby Matthews, Western Carolina, So., RHP, Cullowhee, N.C.

• Went 2-0 in a pair of February starts, striking out 11 with just one walk over 14 innings of work
• Scattered eight base hits and limited his two opponents to one earned run, posting an 0.64 ERA
• Struck out seven in the series-opening victory over Colonial Athletic Association favorite UNCW that led to his first career SoCon Baseball Pitcher of the Week honor
• Holds the second-best ERA in the SoCon at 2.50 through his three appearances this season

Others nominated: Hunter Loyd (ETSU), Garett Delano (Mercer) and Dalton Rhadans (Wofford).
 
 
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Isaiah Miller, UNCG, Sr., G, Covington, Ga.

• Averaged 19.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 3.3 steals per game in February, helping UNCG to a 6-3 record and the SoCon regular-season title
• Had three games of at least 20 points, including a career-high 32 in his final regular-season game, an 85-74, overtime win over ETSU on Feb. 27
• Also scored 28 against Western Carolina on Feb. 24, earning the final SoCon Men’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by GEICO award of the regular season
• Had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Chattanooga on Feb. 20
• Had at least four assists in seven of nine games, including seven in both his first and last games of the month
• Became just the second player in league history to reach 300 career steals in the month

Others nominated: Hayden Brown (The Citadel), Ledarrius Brewer (ETSU), Noah Gurley (Furman), Neftali Alvarez (Mercer), Malachi Smith (Chattanooga), Jake Stephens (VMI), Cory Hightower (Western Carolina) and Storm Murphy (Wofford).
 
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Shannon Titus, Mercer, Sr., G/F, Johns Creek, Ga.

• Scored in double figures in all six contests as Mercer finished 5-1 and earned the No. 2 seed at the Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships presented by General Shale Brick
• Averaged 19.0 points and 8.5 rebounds
• Shot 43.9 percent from the floor, including .500 at Western Carolina in the first game of the month and .636 at ETSU in the regular-season finale.
• Added 2.7 steals, 2.3 assists and 1.0 blocks per game
• SoCon Player of the Week on Feb. 23

Others nominated: Jakhyia Davis (ETSU), CeCe Crudup (UNCG), Andrea Cournoyer (Samford) and Nadia Marshall (Western Carolina).
 
 
FOOTBALL
Offense
Liam Welch, Samford, Sr., QB, Augusta, Ga.

• Accounted for five touchdowns and first career 300-yard passing day in 55-27 win over Western Carolina (Feb. 27) in his only action of the month
• 26-for-36 through the air for 311 yards and two touchdowns; 18 carries for 83 yards and three TDs; 394 yards of total offense
• Completed seven passes of 20 yards or more and led the Bulldogs on eight touchdown drives for their first win of the season
• Named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week presented by GEICO for his efforts and earned honorable mention for the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week award

Others nominated: Quay Holmes (ETSU), Reginald Henderson (Chattanooga), Reece Udinski (VMI), Ryan Glover (Western Carolina) and Irvin Mulligan (Wofford).
 
Defense
Connor Riddle, VMI, R-Sr., LB, Stafford, Va.

• Led the Keydets to a 14-13 upset of then-No. 10 Furman on Feb. 27 in his only contest of the month
• 13 total tackles; 4.5 tackles for loss for 13 yards; 2.0 sacks for 8 yards, all of which were career highs
• Both sacks came on Furman’s final drive as it was moving toward field-goal range
• Broke up a third-down pass in the third quarter that forced a punt, helping set up VMI’s game-winning touchdown on the ensuing drive
• Named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week presented by GEICO and the Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week

Others nominated: Donovan Manuel (ETSU), Devonnsha Maxwell (Chattanooga), Ty Harris (Western Carolina) and Tanner Barnes (Wofford).
 
 
MEN’S GOLF
Archie Davies, ETSU, R-Fr., Carlisle, England

• Tied for second in the 90-man field at the Kiawah Invitational (Feb. 15-16) with an 11-under-par 205
• Turned in two season-low rounds of 4-under 68 sandwiched around a 3-under 69 for his best collegiate finish
• Finished behind only Wake Forest’s Michael Brennan – ranked No. 3 nationally in the most recent Golfstat rankings – and three strokes clear of Clemson’s Jacob Bridgeman, who is second in the national rankings
• As a team, ETSU finished fourth behind Wake Forest, currently ranked No. 3 nationally, Clemson (No. 9) and Kentucky.

Others nominated: Keller Harper (Furman), Tyler Copp (Mercer), Justin Emmons (UNCG), Alex Cobb (Chattanooga), Louis Theys (Western Carolina) and Matthew Copeland (Wofford).
 
 
WOMEN’S GOLF
Payton Schanen, Mercer, Gr., Alpharetta, Ga.

• Finished in the top-10 at both of the Bears’ tournaments in February
• Opened the spring slate by earning her third career tournament title and sixth top-five finish of her career at the Reynolds Lake Oconee Invitational
• Shot 1-over-par 217 with a 72.33 average per round, leading her to her second outright individual victory and her first title since winning the FGCU Eagle Invitational in 2016
• Earned SoCon Golfer of the Week honors on Feb. 24
• Posted her 10th career top-10 finish at the Florida State Match-Up with 6-over-par 222

Others nominated: Anna Morgan (Furman), Tara Bettle (UNCG) and Becca Earl (Wofford).
 
 
MEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Cameron Ponder, Furman, Jr., Winston-Salem, N.C.

• Won his second straight title in the mile and finished second in the 800-meter run at the SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lexington, Virginia, on Feb. 27-28
• His mile time of 4:02.62 supplanted one of the longest-standing league meet records, the 1982 mark of 4:03.97 set by ETSU’s Mark Scruton
• Posted his second sub-4:00 mile of the season at the Music City Challenge on Feb. 12, finishing sixth in 3:59.76
• Took seventh in the 3,000-meter run at the Camel City Invitational on Feb. 20 in an adjusted time of 7:50.89, which leads the SoCon and ranks eighth nationally; named SoCon Indoor Track Athlete of the Week for that performance
• Won the 3,000m at the South Carolina Invitational on Feb. 6
• Will compete in the 3,000m at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, March 13

 
Field
Justin Stuckey, Samford, Jr., Helena, Ala.

• Posted two podium finishes at the SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lexington, Virginia, on Feb. 27-28, winning the high jump and finishing third in the long jump
• His winning high-jump mark of 2.17 meters matched the Samford program record, leads the SoCon and ranks 14^th nationally; his long-jump mark 0f 7.15 meters was a season best
• Will compete in the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday, March 12

• Won the high jump at the Samford Bulldog Invite on Feb. 12 and finished third in the event at the Jaguar Invitational on Feb. 7
• Took fifth in the long jump at the Samford Bulldog Open on Feb. 13 and eighth at the Jaguar Invitational
• Named the SoCon Field Athlete of the Week twice in the month

 
 
WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Madelynne Cadeau, Furman, Fr., Cumming, Ga.

• Won titles in the 3,000-meter run and 5,000-meter run at the SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lexington, Virginia, on Feb. 27-28
• Her time in the 3,000m at the SoCon meet, 9:31.01, is a SoCon-best this season
• Finished seventh in the 5,000m at the Music City Challenge on Feb. 12 in a Furman freshman-record time of 16:29.07, the top time in the SoCon this season; was the top freshman in the field and earned SoCon Indoor Track Athlete of the Week honors for that performance
• Also competed at the South Carolina Invitational on Feb. 6, finishing fourth in the 3,000m and the distance medley relay

 
Field
Hannah Daffin, Samford, So., Mobile, Ala.

• Won the shot put and finished third in the weight throw at the SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lexington, Virginia, on Feb. 27-28

• Voted the Female Most Outstanding Field Performer of the meet
• Her winning throw of 14.10 meters in the shot put at the SoCon meet was the best mark in the league this season
• Turned in the second-best weight throw mark in the league this season at the Samford Bulldog Invite on Feb. 12 (16.57 meters); also threw the shot 12.94 meters at that meet, finishing sixth in both events
• Named the SoCon Field Athlete of the Week after the Samford Bulldog Invite
• Opened her month at the Jaguar Invitational on Feb 7, competing in both throws

 
 
MEN’S LACROSSE
Offense
Asher Nolting, High Point, Sr., A, Greenwood Village, Colo.

• Led the SoCon with 19 points (6.33 per game) and 12 assists (4.00 per game) in February and was fourth in the league in goals per game with 2.33 (seven total)
• Opened his season with three goals and four assists for seven points in a 21-15 win over Robert Morris
• Matched his career high with nine points against No. 2 North Carolina on Feb. 16 in a 17-15 loss, scoring four goals and adding five assists en route to SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors
• The nine-point day tied for third in a game in SoCon history and pushed Nolting’s career total past 200, making him just the second league player to reach the milestone
• Notched three assists in a rematch with the Tar Heels, then ranked No. 1, on Feb. 27

Others nominated: Quincy Peene (Air Force), Kyle Playsted (Bellarmine), Will McCarthy (Mercer), Dalton Young (Richmond) and Hartley Jordan (VMI).
 
Defense
Jack Rusbuldt, Richmond, Gr., GK, Richmond, Va.

• Turned in a 10.61 goals-against average, a .579 save percentage and 14.67 saves per game (44 total) as Richmond opened the season against No. 10 Loyola, No. 2 North Carolina and Towson
• His save percentage and saves numbers led the league in February, while his GAA was second
• Opened the season with 12 saves and just eight goals allowed in an 8-7 loss to Loyola
• Had a season-best 19 saves against UNC on Feb. 21, the second-most in a game in the NCAA to that point in the season, facing 46 shots on the day
• Picked up his first win of the season with 13 saves and 10 goals allowed against Towson, allowing just one goal in the fourth quarter, earning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors

Others nominated: Braden Host (Air Force), Jon Robbins (Bellarmine), Conor Shears (Jacksonville) and Ashton Wood (Mercer).
 
 
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Offense
Samantha Courtemanche, Coastal Carolina, Gr., A, Elliot City, Md.

• Two-time SoCon Player of the Week and led the team to a 3-0 mark for the month of February
• Set a career high of five assists in the win against Kennesaw State
• Tied a career high with four goals in wins over Radford and Winthrop (first in program history)
• Leads the SoCon with 31 points and 6.20 points per game
• Had a .668 shot percentage on the month with a .812 shots-on-goal percentage

Others nominated: Kyra LaMotte (Furman) and Olivia Abe (Wofford).
 
Defense
Claire Martell, Coastal Carolina, So., GK, Verbank, N.Y.

• Started every match of the month, holding Radford, Winthrop and Kennesaw State to single-digit scoring each
• Tallied seven ground balls and 26 saves on 57 shots faced with a .578 save percentage
• Held Radford to just three goals while facing 11 shots in the season opener
• SoCon leader in save percentage (.595) and goals against average (6.21)
• Made a career-high 11 saves in a 15-7 win over Kennesaw State, facing 21 shots and posting a .578 save percentage
• Named SoCon Player of the Week for her efforts against KSU

Others nominated: Avery Whitehead (Furman) and Iseabal Cryne (Mercer).
 
 
RIFLE
Smallbore
Amy Kohan, UAB, So., Arlington, Va.

• Shot a season-best 576 at the NCAA qualifier on Feb. 20, helping break the team tie with Georgia Southern on center shots
• Took home first at the NCAA qualifier in the discipline
• Kohan led the Blazers in smallbore all year, averaging 570.714
• Holds the second-highest smallbore and aggregate averages (1154) in the SoCon this season

Others nominated: Morgan Frank (North Georgia) and Jessica Hankin (VMI).
 
Air rifle
Kimberlee Nettles, North Georgia, Sr., Waycross, Ga.

• Tied personal best in air rifle at VMI in NCAA Qualifier with a 593, leading her to capturing the top aggregate performance (1168) in the conference this season
• Qualified for the 2021 NCAA Air Rifle Championship
• Leads the SoCon averages in both disciplines (SB 573.333, AR 585.778) with an aggregate average score of 1160.5
• Claimed first place in air rifle at Wofford (584) on Feb. 7, third at The Citadel (584) on Feb. 13
• Three-time smallbore shooter of the month

Others nominated: Amy Kohan (UAB) and Ashley Judson (Georgia Southern).
 
 
MEN’S SOCCER
Offense
Shaun-Chris Joash, Furman, So., F, Hampton Hill, England

• Tallied two goals and an assist during the month of February, totaling five points on the month
• Led Furman to a 2-0-0 record with wins over South Carolina and USC Upstate
• Netted his first goal of the season in a 3-0 victory over the Gamecocks
• Scored the eventual game-winning goal and assisted on another in a 2-0 victory against the Spartans, earning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors
• Recorded a .400 shot percentage and .600 shots-on-goal percentage, averaging 2.50 points per game in February

Others nominated: A.J. Chastonay (Belmont), Mani Austmann (UNCG) and Nathan Lam (VMI).
 
Defense
Ben Hale, Furman, R-Sr., GK, Frisco, Texas

• Recorded a pair of shutouts in February with wins over South Carolina and USC Upstate
• Stopped two shots in the 3-0 blanking of the Gamecocks
• Turned away four shots in a 2-0 win at USC Upstate
• Played in all 90 minutes of both games and posted a 0.00 GAA, 1.000 save percentage and six total saves for the month

Others nominated: Cameron Petty (Belmont) and Broaden Schull (VMI).
 
 
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Offense
Kendall Cook, Mercer, Fr., F, Alpharetta, Ga.

• Averaged 1.0 goals per game and 2.25 points per game
• Had goals in back-to-back games against Wesleyan and Kennesaw State
• Recorded a hat trick against Wesleyan and the game-winner in two of the four Bears’ contests
• Named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Feb. 23

Others nominated: Logan Dix (The Citadel) and MaryAnn Kilgore (Western Carolina).
 
Defense
Melody Mezzina, Western Carolina, So., GK, Brampton, Ontario, Canada

• Started and played the entirety of all three contests for Western Carolina, amassing 273:35 in goal
• Faced 35 shots and allowed just two goals, compiling a 0.66 goals against average
• Finished with 19 saves, totaling a .905 save percentage
• Earned the win and shutout in the Catamounts’ season opener, a 1-0 win over Charlotte
• Named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week on Feb. 23

Others nominated: Jess Newton (The Citadel), Jordyn Ebert (Mercer) and Morgan McAslan (Samford).
 
 
SOFTBALL
Player
Courtney Ball, Chattanooga, Fr., INF, Macon, Ga.

• Recorded at least one hit in all seven games played to open her collegiate career in the month of February
• Hit .500 (11-for-22) with three doubles, a home run and six RBIs
• Slugged at a .773 clip and finished with a .500 on-base percentage
• Recorded a pair of three-hit games against Indiana State (Feb. 20) and Kennesaw State (Feb. 21) while driving in a combined five runs, posting two doubles and a home run during that stretch
• Named the Southern Conference Player of the Week on Feb. 22

Others nominated: Nikki Grupp (ETSU), Elisa Rosado (Mercer), Kayleigh Willis (UNCG), Whitney Hinton (Samford) and Bailey Huneycutt (Western Carolina).
 
Pitcher
Emily Barnett, Samford, Jr., RHP, Suwanee, Ga.

• Posted a 4-1 record and added a save in eight appearances in February
• Earned wins over Jacksonville State (5-2), Northern Iowa (1-0), Louisiana Monroe (2-1) and Northern Iowa (9-2)
• Recorded 20 strikeouts and allowed just four walks
• Compiled a 1.59 ERA
• SoCon Pitcher of the Week on March 1 for her performance in the final week of February

Others nominated: Kelly Schmidt (ETSU), Madi Joice (Mercer), Alina Varga (UNCG), Hannah Wood (Chattanooga) and Jayme Eilers (Western Carolina).
 
 
MEN’S TENNIS
Omar Williams, Wofford, Sr., Spartanburg, S.C.

• Went 4-2 in singles play and 5-1 in doubles, all in the top position
• Helped Wofford to a 4-2 record in the month with wins over Gardner-Webb (6-1), North Greenville (7-0), The Citadel (7-0) and UNC Asheville (4-3)
• SoCon Player of the Week on March 1 for play in the final week of February

Others nominated: Dimitri Badra (ETSU), Ivan Mitric (Furman), Rossouw Norval (Samford) and Turner Voges (Chattanooga).
 
 
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Julia Adams, Furman, Jr., Knoxville, Tenn.

• Finished 9-0 in singles play, playing at No. 2 in all but two matches that she played in the top spot, and 7-2 at No. 1 doubles
• Six of her singles victories came in straight sets, including a 6-0, 6-3 win over South Carolina’s Megan Davies, ranked 30th
• 6-1 at No. 1 doubles with teammate Katarina Kozarov, with whom she comprises the 27th-ranked duo in the nation
• Helped Furman, ranked 23rd or 24th throughout the month, to an 8-1 record with wins over Power 5 opponents Alabama (4-3), No. 16 Wake Forest (5-2), No. 18 South Carolina (5-2) and Virginia Tech (4-1). 
• SoCon Player of the Week on Feb. 8 and Feb. 15

Others nominated: Maria Carvajal (ETSU), Brianna Gomez (UNCG), Rouxanne Janse Van Rensburg (Samford), Jacy Smith (Western Carolina) and Jenna Vroman (Wofford).
 
 
VOLLEYBALL
Offense
Lauren Deaton, Samford, Jr., OH, Memphis, Tenn.

• Averaged 5.31 kills per set, leading the country in that category for the majority of the month
• Helped Samford to a 6-1 record after the Bulldogs dropped the first match of the month (second of season) before winning six in a row
• Averaged 3.08 digs per set, finishing with four double-doubles, and added 16 service aces, seven blocks and five assists
• Hit .282 on the month and hit .300 or better in four of the seven matches
• SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Feb. 2 and Feb. 9

Others nominated: Olivia Cunningham (ETSU), Neci Harris (Furman), Jaida Howell (Mercer), Merry Gebel (Western Carolina) and Riley Coonan (Wofford).
 
Defense
Jaida Howell, Mercer, So., MH, Whitby, Ontario, Canada

• Averaged 1.38 blocks per set
• Finished with at least four blocks in all six contests
• Helped Mercer finish a perfect 6-0 on the month with a four-set win at Chattanooga, a pair of wins at UNCG and The Citadel and a four-set win over Samford, the Bulldogs’ lone conference loss this season
• Tallied 3.88 kills per set and hit .424, a team best, adding double-digit kills in all but one match to contribute on the offensive end

Others nominated: Sydney Cherney (ETSU), Andrea Aceveda (Furman), Emily Naubert (Samford), Destinee Dorsey (Western Carolina) and Abbey Richman (Wofford).
 
Setter
Corinne Meglic, Samford, R-Jr., Green Bay, Wis.

• Averaged 11.96 assists per set as Samford went 6-1
• Had at least 37 assists in each of Samford’s seven matches
• Totaled a month-high 60 assists in a five-set win over Western Carolina on Feb. 7
• Averaged 1.96 digs per set and added two double-doubles in the span
• Named the SoCon Setter of the Week on Feb. 9 and Feb. 16

Others nominated: Emily Arnold (ETSU), Katie Murphy (Furman), Hannah Price (Western Carolina) and Emily Hodsdon (Wofford).
 
 
WRESTLING
Jonathan Millner, App State, R-Jr., 149, Greensboro, N.C.

• Went 4-0 with three wins against two ranked opponents in February
• Opened the month with a 10-0 major decision against VMI’s Job Chishko and a 13-1 major decision over No. 27 Selwyn Porter of The Citadel on Feb. 5
• Advanced to the final match at the conference championship after defeating No. 27 Porter in a rematch at 149 pounds with a 10-2 major decision
• Took home the 2021 SoCon crown at 149 pounds with a 2-0 decision over then-No. 11 Josh Heil of Campbell

Others nominated: Austin Murphy (Campbell), Michael McAleavey (The Citadel), Drew Nicholson (Chattanooga) and Tyler Mousaw (VMI).
 
 
Southern Conference February Athletes of the Month
Baseball – player                                    Justice Bigbie, Western Carolina
Baseball – pitcher                                   Zebby Matthews, Western Carolina
Men’s basketball                                    Isaiah Miller, UNCG
Women’s basketball                               Shannon Titus, Mercer
Football – offense                                   Liam Welch, Samford
Football – defense                                  Connor Riddle, VMI
Men’s golf                                              Archie Davies, ETSU
Women’s golf                                         Payton Schanen, Mercer
Men’s indoor track and field – track          Cameron Ponder, Furman
Men’s indoor track and field – field           Justin Stuckey, Samford
Women’s indoor track and field – track     Madelynne Cadeau, Furman
Women’s indoor track and field – field      Hannah Daffin, Samford
Men’s lacrosse – offense                        Asher Nolting, High Point
Men’s lacrosse – defense                        Jack Rusbuldt, Richmond
Women’s lacrosse – offense                   Samantha Courtemanche, Coastal Carolina
Women’s lacrosse – defense                   Claire Martell, Coastal Carolina
Rifle – smallbore                                    Amy Kohan, UAB
Rifle – air rifle                                         Kimberlee Nettles, North Georgia
Men’s soccer – offense                           Shaun-Chris Joash, Furman
Men’s soccer – defense                          Ben Hale, Furman
Women’s soccer – offense                      Kendall Cook, Mercer
Women’s soccer – defense                     Melody Mezzina, Western Carolina
Softball – player                                     Courtney Ball, Chattanooga
Softball – pitcher                                    Emily Barnett, Samford
Men’s tennis                                           Omar Williams, Wofford
Women’s tennis                                      Julia Adams, Furman
Volleyball – offense                                Lauren Deaton, Samford
Volleyball – defense                                Jaida Howell, Mercer
Volleyball – setter                                   Corinne Meglic, Samford
Wrestling                                               Jonathan Millner, App State