SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its March athletes of the month Monday, highlighting excellence among 25 student-athletes across 14 sports during the month.
 
BASEBALL
Player
Ethan Cady, ETSU, Sr., OF, Soddy Daisy, Tenn.

• Recorded a base hit in all 16 games played this month, hitting .377 (23-for-61) with a .472 on-base percentage and .902 slugging percentage
• Led the team with nine home runs, 26 RBIs and 23 hits in March; 14 hits went for extra bases
• In the beginning of the month, Cady hit a home run in three straight games, becoming the first Buc to hit a home run in three straight games since Hagen Owenby from April 29 to May 1, 2016, against VMI
• Recorded a multi-home run game with six RBIs on March 12 against North Carolina Central
• Named one of Collegiate Baseball's National Players of the Week on March 15

 
Others nominated: Tyler Corbitt (The Citadel), Brandon Michie (Mercer), Corey Rosier (UNCG), Ryan Crockett (Samford), Trey Morgan (VMI), Luke Robinson (Western Carolina) and Colin Davis (Wofford).
 
Pitcher
Carson Cupo, Samford, Sr., RHP, Leads, Ala.

• Posted a record of 4-0 with one save and a 0.63 ERA in 10 appearances in March
• Earned wins against Jacksonville State, Toledo, Troy and UAB and picked up a save in the second game at Jacksonville State
• Allowed only one run in 14 1/3 innings of work
• Tallied 12 strikeouts with his March single-game high of four against Toledo on March 5

 
Others nominated: Hunter Loyd (ETSU), Jackson Kelley (Mercer), Austin Parsley (UNCG), Gavin Mortenson (Western Carolina) and Elliot Carney (Wofford).
 
 
FOOTBALL
Offense
Liam Welch, Samford, Sr., QB, Augusta, Ga.

• Went 96-for-151 for 1,488 yards and nine touchdowns as Samford faced three ranked squads and went 2-2 in the month with both losses coming in overtime
• Opened the month with 253 passing yards and a TD in a loss to No. 17 Furman
• Threw for a SoCon- and school-record 570 yards and four TDs in a loss to No. 19 VMI on March 20, earning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week presented by GEICO honors
• Was 24-for-36 for 359 yards and a TD in a 37-31 win over No. 20 Wofford on March 13
• Capped the month by throwing for 306 yards and three TDs and running for 139 yards and another score in a 55-7 win over The Citadel

 
Others nominated: Quay Holmes (ETSU), Tyrell Price (Chattanooga), Jakob Herres (VMI), Donnavan Spencer (Western Carolina) and Jamari Broussard (Wofford).
 
Defense
Chris Edmonds, Samford, So., SS, Columbus, Ga.

• Two-time SoCon Defensive Player of the Week presented by GEICO in March
• Recorded 27 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble in the month
• Among his 27 tackles were 15 solo stops and 2.5 tackles for loss
• Had seven tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned 45 yards for a touchdown, in a 44-37 OT loss to No. 17 Furman on March 6
• Had nine tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in a 31-31 win over No. 20 Wofford

 
Others nominated: Tyree Robinson (ETSU), Devonnsha Maxwell (Chattanooga), Ty Harris (Western Carolina) and Brandon Brown (Wofford).
 
MEN’S GOLF
Keller Harper, Furman, Sr., Atlanta, Ga.

• Averaged 70.17 strokes per round in March with seven of his 12 rounds under par and six in the 60s
• Turned in three top-20 finishes in four starts, including a win and a runner-up finish
• Two-time SoCon Golfer of the Week in March
• Won the Furman Intercollegiate at 6-under-par 207, opening with a 5-under 66 and turning in a 2-under 69 in round two
• Took second at the Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate, shooting a 9-under 201 with three rounds in the 60s, including a 5-under 65 in round two

 
Others nominated: Archie Davies (ETSU), Tyler Copp (Mercer), Pierre Viallaneix (Western Carolina) and Matthew Copeland (Wofford).
 
 
WOMEN’S GOLF
Tereza Melecka, ETSU, Sr., Belcovice, Czech Republic

• Named SoCon Golfer of the Week on March 10 and March 31
• Posted three top-five finishes, including medalist honors at the Chattanooga Classic on March 30 for her fourth career collegiate win
• Guided the Bucs to gold at the Chattanooga Classic for the second time this year, which marks the first time since the 2013-14 season that ETSU has won multiple events
• Shot 8-under-par 208 and tied for fourth at the River Landing Classic on March 9, opening the month with her fifth career-top five finish
• Tied for third at the Pinetree Women's Collegiate on March 23 with a score of 1-over-par 217, tying for the most pars in the tournament with 43
• Had a scoring average of 71.8, while totaling eight rounds of par or lower in 11 total rounds

 
Others nominated: Madison Moosa (Furman), Payton Schanen (Mercer), Esme Hamilton (Chattanooga), Victoria Ladd (Western Carolina) and Becca Earl (Wofford).
 
 
MEN’S LACROSSE
Offense
Ryan Lanchbury, Richmond, Sr., A, Burlington, Ontario

• Scored 30 points in just four games, scoring 13 goals and recording 17 assists
• Scored at least three goals in all four games, averaging 3.3 per game in SoCon play
• Set SoCon and program records with nine assists and 12 points in a 17-5 win over Bellarmine on March 20
• Had three goals and an assist against No. 1 Duke on March 7
• Had seven points each in wins over VMI (four goals, three assists) and High Point (three goals, four assists)
• Two-time SoCon Offensive Player of the Week in March

 
Others nominated: Ethan Grandolfo (Air Force), Jack Dolan (Jacksonville), Sean Goldsmith (Mercer) and Hartley Jordan (VMI).
 
Defense
Jack Rusbuldt, Richmond, Gr., GK, Richmond, Va.

• Turned in a 9.16 goals-against average, a .500 save percentage and 8.25 saves per game (33 total) in a 3-1 month
• Went 3-0 against SoCon teams, posting a 7.68 GAA and a .556 save percentage
• Opened his month with eight saves and faced 34 shots in a complete-game effort against No. 1 Duke
• Allowed just give goals in 45 minutes of action in a 23-6 win over VMI, making six saves
• Again allowed just five goals in 51:15 at Bellarmine, making six stops against 24 shots
• Closed his month with a win over rival High Point with 13 saves and 10 goals allowed against 34 shots

 
Others nominated: Braden Host (Air Force), Jason Yoquinto (Jacksonville) and Colin Kelley (Mercer).
 
 
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Offense
Hannah Demis, Furman, Sr., A, Roswell, Ga.

• Led Furman with 28 points on 19 assists and nine goals, including two free-position goals, as the Paladins went 4-1
• Scored at least four points in all five games, averaging 5.60 points per game
• Added six draws, three ground balls and three caused turnovers on the defensive side of the ball
• Began the month with a career-high eight points on six assists and two goals in Furman's 18-6 win over Gardner-Webb on March 4. Her six assists tied for second-most in a game in program history and her eight points are tied for third
• Led the Paladins with five assists in a 14-12 road win at VCU
• Had four points on three assists and one goal at No. 25 Elon
• Finished the month with six points against Winthrop (March 24) and five at Campbell (March 27)

 
Others nominated: Samantha Courtemanche (Coastal Carolina), Lily Morin (Mercer) and Elisabeth Ralph (Wofford).
 
Defense
Meghan Deehan, Furman, GK, Milton, Ga.

• Named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week on March 16 and March 23
• Went 4-1 in goal for Furman during March with 39 saves and a .438 save percentage
• Led the team with 13 ground balls
• Caused her first career turnover at VCU on March 11 in the Paladins’ 14-12 win
• Made seven or more saves in four of the five matches and a season-high 11 at No. 25 Elon on March 20, when she also had a career-high six ground balls
• Held opponents to fewer than 10 goals twice, including the fewest goals of her career on March 24 in a 19-5 win over Winthrop

 
Others nominated: Anya McSorley (Coastal Carolina) and Iseabal Cryne (Mercer).
 
 
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Daniel Bernal, Furman, Jr., El Paso, Texas

• Competed at the Raleigh Relays on March 26 in his only action of the month
• Finished 16^th in the 10,000-meter run in 29:17.95, a personal-best mark
• That time leads the SoCon and was good for 16^th on the NCAA Division I Outdoor Qualifying List at the time (now 55^th)

 
Field
Solomon Ghosh, VMI, R-Fr., Blacksburg, Va.

• Competed at the Bill Webb Combined Events / Bob Davidson Memorial at High Point University on March 20
• Finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 47.30 meters
• Finished 11^th in the shot put with a throw of 13.8 meters
• Both marks led the SoCon at the time and now rank second and sixth, respectively

 
 
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Bethany Graham, Furman, Fr., Aldie, Va.

• Competed at the Raleigh Relays on March 26 in her only action of the month
• Finished 15^th in the 5,000-meter run in 16:10.53, taking more than 20 seconds off her personal-best time
• Her time was a freshman program record in the event and leads the SoCon this season
• Her time ranked 12^th on the NCAA Division I Outdoor Qualifying List at the time and is now 29^th

 
Field
Maggie Johnston, Samford, Sr., Macon, Ga.

• Competed at Georgia Tech’s Yellow Jacket Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 19-20
• Turned in three podium finishes, winning the discus (51.39 meters) and shot put (13.76 meters) and finishing third in the hammer throw (50.93 meters)
• Her discus mark leads the SoCon by 11.54 meters and is now 46^th on the NCAA Division I Outdoor Qualifying List (was 23^rd at the time)
• Her shot put and hammer marks, which she has since surpassed, were both good for second in the SoCon at the time

 
 
MEN’S SOCCER
Offense
Theo Collomb, UNCG, Fr., F, Clermont, France

• The only SoCon player to record five goals in March, leading the league with six goals this season
• Tallied a conference-leading 10 points on five goals, scoring a 1.67 points per game
• Scored a goal in five of UNCG's six games during the month two game-winning goals against Belmont on March 27 and Wofford on March 30
• Helped the Spartans close the month with three straight victories
• Earned SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors on March 30 for his last-minute goal against Belmont in overtime

 
Others nominated: Liam O’Brien (Belmont), Jared Leheta (ETSU), Cole McLagan (Furman) and Dylan Gaither (Mercer).
 
Defense
Josh Perryman, ETSU, GK, Sheffield, England

• Recorded a conference-leading .840 save percentage and made 21 saves while only allowing four goals in ETSU's five games in March
• Earned his 11th career shutout on March 30 in ETSU's 7-0 win over VMI, becoming the third Buccaneer in program history to record double-digit career shutouts
• Tallied a career-high-tying eight saves in a 1-0 shutout over Mercer, tying his previous record set against Marshall
• Led the SoCon with a 0.74 goals-against average throughout the month
• Held a 3-1-1 record and led ETSU to three wins in four opportunities as the Bucs closed the month on a four-game unbeaten streak

 
Others nominated: Drew Romig (Belmont), Ben Hale (Furman) and JR DeRose (Mercer).
 
 
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Offense
Isabella Gutierrez, Furman, Jr., MF/F, Statesboro, Ga.

• Netted four goals and added two assists, helping Furman to a 6-0-1 conference record in March
• Scored game-winners in 1-0 victories over The Citadel and at UNCG
• Assisted on the game-winning goals in Furman's 2-1 double-overtime win over Mercer and a 2-0 victory over Chattanooga
• Averaged 1.43 points per game
• Named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on March 9

 
Others nominated: Ally Fordham (Mercer), Maddy Gilhool (UNCG), Alex Bice (Samford), Chloe Arnold (Chattanooga) and Regan Ward (Western Carolina).
 
Defense
Morgan McAslan, Samford, Jr., GK, Waterdown, Ontario, Canada

• Recorded four solo shutouts and a combined shutout as Samford went 5-0-2 in the month of March
• Started all seven game in goal and earned five wins
• Allowed just two goals in 650:44 minutes in goal
• Owned a 0.28 goals against average and a .895 save percentage
• Named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week on March 16

 
Others nominated: Addison Corn (Furman), Jordyn Ebert (Mercer), Ashley Avelino (UNCG), Abbey Saddler (Chattanooga) and Melody Mezzina (Western Carolina).
 
 
SOFTBALL
Player
Maycin Brown, UNCG, So., IF, Summerville, S.C.

• Helped UNCG to a 12-4 record and 2-1 mark in conference play in the month
• Hit .500 with 16 hits, 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored
• Tallied a hit in 10 of 12 games played and two or more hits in four contests, while tallying two or more RBIs in four contests
• Totaled nine extra-base hits with five doubles and four home runs
• Named the SoCon Player of the Week on March 22 after hitting .615 with eight hits, six RBIs and six runs scored as UNCG went 3-1 against Elon on the weekend

 
Others nominated: Lilly Holston (ETSU), Makense Greico (Furman), Danielle Castleberry (Mercer), Timberlyn Shurbutt (Samford) and Bailey Huneycutt (Western Carolina).
 
Pitcher
Kelly Schmidt, ETSU, R-Sr., Norcross, Ga.

• Posted a 5-1 record and was responsible for more than half of the Bucs wins in March (9-6, 1-2 SoCon)
• Finished with a 1.27 ERA, allowing just nine earned runs in eight games played and 49 2/3 innings pitched
• Struck out 38 players while allowing just 33 hits and 21 walks
• Threw five complete games
• Faced 204 batters during the month and held opponents to a .162 batting average
• Named SoCon Pitcher of the Week on March 15 and March 22

 
Others nominated: Amber Byrd (Mercer), Morgan Scott (UNCG), Emily Barnett (Samford) and Jayme Eilers (Western Carolina).
 
 
MEN’S TENNIS
Dimitri Badra, ETSU, R-So., Maracay, Venezuela

• Finished 5-2 in singles play, all at the No. 1 spot, and 6-1 in doubles action at No 3
• Helped ETSU to a 6-1 record as a team
• Ranked 72nd in the March 24 ITA rankings and moved up to 57th in the March 30 rankings
• Named Player of the Week on March 22

 
Others nominated: Ivan Mitric (Furman), Nico Grewe (UNCG), Rossouw Norval (Samford) and Kerim Hyatt (Chattanooga).
 
 
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Katarina Kozarov, Furman, Sr., Novi Sad, Serbia

• Ranked 15th nationally in singles at the beginning of the month before moving up to 7th in the rankings on March 26, while she and teammate Julia Adams began the month ranked 27th in doubles and moved up to 16th
• Went 5-1 at No. 1 singles with a win over North Florida's Lucia Montano, ranked 84th
• All five singles wins came in straight sets
• Finished 6-0 at No. 1 doubles

 
Others nominated: Andrea Pascual-Larrinaga (ETSU), Hanna Giddings (UNCG), Rouxanne Janse Van Rensburg (Samford), Emma Van Hee (Chattanooga), Kata Foldeak (Western Carolina) and Lillie Steryous (Wofford).
 
 
VOLLEYBALL
Offense
Sharlissa De Jesus, The Citadel, Sr., OH, Guayama, Puerto Rico

• Averaged 4.25 kills and 3.58 digs per set
• Named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week twice in March
• Posted eight double-doubles in the span
• Recorded 24 kills and tallied 25 digs in the season-finale against Samford
• Led the Bulldogs to their most successful month in program history

 
Others nominated: Jenna Forster (ETSU), Courtney Hoffman (Furman), Annie Karle (Mercer), Lauren Deaton (Samford), Merry Gebel (Western Carolina) and Sarah Barham (Wofford).
 
Defense
Destinee Dorsey, Western Carolina, Fr., LIB, Mobile, Ala.

• Averaged 6.38 digs per set as Western Carolina went 7-1 in the month and earned the No. 3 seed in the SoCon Volleyball Championship
• Tallied a career-high 29 digs in a 3-0 win at UNCG on March 28
• Recorded at least 14 digs in all eight matches, surpassing 25 digs five times
• Named Defensive Player of the Week on March 16 and March 30

 
Others nominated: Sydney Cherney (ETSU), Andrea Aceveda (Furman), Megan Smith (Mercer), Emily Naubert (Samford) and Abbey Richman (Wofford).
 
Setter
Hannah Price, Western Carolina, Sr., Piney Flats, Tenn.

• Averaged 10.58 assists and 2.62 digs per set as Western Carolina went 7-1 with six sweeps
• Dished out a season-high 54 assists in a 3-1 win over ETSU to open the month
• Setter of the Week on March 2 and March 30
• Tallied at least 27 assists in all eight matches and added two double-doubles

 
Others nominated: Emily Arnold (ETSU), Katie Murphy (Furman), Malia Randolph (Mercer), Kayla Keshock (Samford) and Emily Hodsdon (Wofford).
 
 
Southern Conference March Athletes of the Month
Baseball – player                                    Ethan Cady, ETSU
Baseball – pitcher                                   Carson Cupo, Samford
Football – offense                                   Liam Welch, Samford
Football – defense                                  Chris Edmonds, Samford
Men’s golf                                              Keller Harper, Furman
Women’s golf                                         Tereza Melecka, ETSU
Men’s lacrosse – offense                        Ryan Lanchbury, Richmond
Men’s lacrosse – defense                        Jack Rusbuldt, Richmond
Women’s lacrosse – offense                   Hannah Demis, Furman
Women’s lacrosse – defense                   Meghan Deehan, Furman
Men’s outdoor track and field – track        Daniel Bernal, Furman
Men’s oudoor track and field – field          Solomon Ghosh, VMI
Women’s oudoor track and field – track   Bethany Graham, Furman
Women’s oudoor track and field – field     Maggie Johnston, Samford
Men’s soccer – offense                           Theo Collomb, UNCG
Men’s soccer – defense                          Josh Perryman, ETSU
Women’s soccer – offense                      Isabella Gutierrez, Furman
Women’s soccer – defense                     Morgan McAslan, Samford
Softball – player                                     Maycin Brown, UNCG
Softball – pitcher                                    Kelly Schmidt, ETSU
Men’s tennis                                           Dimitri Badra, ETSU
Women’s tennis                                      Katarina Kozarov, Furman
Volleyball – offense                                Sharlissa De Jesus, The Citadel
Volleyball – defense                                Destinee Dorsey, Western Carolina
Volleyball – setter                                   Hannah Price, Western Carolina