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Southern Conference names November athletes of the month
Nine student-athletes across six sports honored
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its November athletes of the month Tuesday, highlighting excellence among nine student-athletes across six sports during the month.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Vonterius Woolbright, Western Carolina, Sr., G, Albany, Ga.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Rachael Rose, Wofford, Jr., G, Scranton, Pa.
FOOTBALL
Offense
Jay Stanton, Samford, Sr., RB, Crestview, Fla.
Defense
Evan Eller, VMI, Sr., S, Roanoke, Va.
RIFLE
Smallbore
Emma Pohlmann, Georgia Southern, So., Nentershausen, Germany
Air Rifle
Emma Pohlmann, Georgia Southern, So., Nentershausen, Germany
VOLLEYBALL
Morgan Romano, Chattanooga, Gr., OH, Oviedo, Fla.
Defense
Sarah Barham, Wofford, Sr., MB, Summerfield, N.C.
Setter
Elaine Redman, Chattanooga, Jr., Chattanooga, Tenn.
WRESTLING
Taye Ghadiali, Campbell, R-Sr., HWT, Warren, Mich.
Southern Conference November Athletes of the Month
Men’s basketball Vonterius Woolbright, Western Carolina
Women’s basketball Rachael Rose, Wofford
Football – offense Jay Stanton, Samford
Football – defense Evan Eller, VMI
Rifle – smallbore Emma Pohlmann, Georgia Southern
Rifle – air rifle Emma Pohlmann, Georgia Southern
Volleyball – offense Morgan Romano, Chattanooga
Volleyball – defense Sarah Barham, Wofford
Volleyball – setter Elaine Redman, Chattanooga
Wrestling Taye Ghadiali, Campbell
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Vonterius Woolbright, Western Carolina, Sr., G, Albany, Ga.
- Averaged 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in November, leading the league in rebounding during the opening month of the season
- Notched a league-best four double-doubles in the month, scoring at least 20 in three of them
- Had 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in the Catamounts’ 71-61 upset of Notre Dame on Nov. 11
- Only player in the SoCon to rank inside the top 10 in scoring, rebounding and assists
- Named SoCon Player of the Week on Nov. 13
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Rachael Rose, Wofford, Jr., G, Scranton, Pa.
- Averaged 20 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game as Wofford went 5-3 during the month
- Recorded 24 points, four assists and nine rebounds at Wake Forest on Nov. 6
- Scored her 1,000th career point in Wofford’s 82-52 win over N.C. Central on Nov. 14
- Scored 20 or more points in five games, including a season-high 28 points versus UNC Asheville on Nov. 29
- Leads the SoCon in points (21.0), free-throw percentage (.925), assist/turnover ratio (1.7) and assists (5.2)
FOOTBALL
Offense
Jay Stanton, Samford, Sr., RB, Crestview, Fla.
- Rushed for 291 yards on 31 carries, averaging 9.4 yards per carry, and caught eight passes for 58 yards during the month
- Ran for a career-high 193 yards on 15 carries against then 13th-ranked UT Martin on Nov. 18, scoring a 61-yard touchdown in the second quarter to become Samford’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns with the 35th score of his career
- Logged 98 yards on 16 carries and had five catches for 21 yards at Mercer on Nov. 11
- Finished the season with a conference-best 971 yards on 147 carries
- Earned a spot on the coaches and media all-conference first team following the regular season
Defense
Evan Eller, VMI, Sr., S, Roanoke, Va.
- Recorded 29 tackles in VMI’s three games, averaging 9.7 per contest, and had a forced fumble, quarterback hurry and an interception during the month
- Finished with four tackles and a quarterback hurry against ETSU on Nov. 4
- Logged 16 tackles, a forced fumble and his first career interception in the team’s upset of then 14th-ranked Western Carolina on Nov. 18, leading to him being named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week
- Completed the season second in the SoCon in tackles with 107, ranking 16th in the nation in that category
- Named to the Media All-SoCon First Team and Coaches All-SoCon Second Team following the regular season
RIFLE
Smallbore
Emma Pohlmann, Georgia Southern, So., Nentershausen, Germany
- Averaged 587.3 in smallbore in the month, finishing first in the discipline in the Eagles’ match against Wofford on Nov. 5 and second in the discipline against Ole Miss and Memphis on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, respectively.
- Opened the month with a 588 for the win against Wofford, one point off from the school record.
- Led Georgia Southern to be ranked in the top 5 nationally after a win against No. 3 Ole Miss and No. 9 Memphis on Nov. 11 and 12.
- Turned in the top aggregate scores against Wofford that tied the school record of 1,186; finished second overall against Ole Miss and Memphis
- Averaging a 585.71 Small Bore, 1183.6 aggregate score this season
Air Rifle
Emma Pohlmann, Georgia Southern, So., Nentershausen, Germany
- Averaged 596.33 in air rifle for the month in bouts against Wofford on Nov. 6, No. 3 Ole Miss on Nov. 11, and No. 9 Memphis on Nov. 12
- Opened the month by setting a new personal-best score of 598 against Wofford, falling one point short of the school record.
- Placed first overall in the event against Wofford and third in the discipline against Ole Miss and Memphis
- Swept the monthly awards for the first time in her career
VOLLEYBALL
Morgan Romano, Chattanooga, Gr., OH, Oviedo, Fla.
- Averaged 3.85 kills and 2.75 digs per set during November
- Tallied double-digit kills in four of six matches, while posting double-doubles in two of those contests
- Recorded 16 kills, 11 digs and two solo blocks in the Mocs’ upset of second-seeded Mercer in the SoCon Tournament quarterfinals
- Ended the season second on the NCAA’s active career kills leaderboard after crossing the 2,000-kill mark
- Voted second-team all-conference following the regular season
Defense
Sarah Barham, Wofford, Sr., MB, Summerfield, N.C.
- Averaged 1.44 blocks per set in the month, while averaging 2.59 kills per set on a .368 hitting percentage offensively
- Logged her first career double-double in a five-set win against ETSU on Nov. 11, finishing with 20 kills, 11 blocks and two digs
- Had 11 blocks against Samford in the SoCon Tournament Championship, leading the Terriers to the first tournament title for any women’s sport in school history and was named SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- Named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 13 and voted first-team all-conference after the regular season
- Broke her own school record for blocks in a season versus Samford in the conference tournament, completing her senior campaign with 146
Setter
Elaine Redman, Chattanooga, Jr., Chattanooga, Tenn.
- Averaged 11.05 assists per set, totaling 221 assists during the month
- Had 10 kills, seven total blocks and 65 digs during November
- Logged 44 assists, six digs and two blocks during a sweep of Furman on Nov. 4
- Finished with 41 assists and 19 digs in Chattanooga’s upset of Mercer in the SoCon Tournament quarterfinals on Nov. 17
- Named SoCon Setter of the Week on Nov. 6
WRESTLING
Taye Ghadiali, Campbell, R-Sr., HWT, Warren, Mich.
- Perfect in the month of November, going 7-0 with all seven wins being bonus-point victories
- Finished November tied for the most pins (4) in the conference and only wrestler in the conference to be undefeated in more than two bouts
- Won the Southeast Open on Nov. 4
- Named the Wrestler of the Match by UFC Fight Pass in the season-opening bout against Army and has maintained a No. 15 ranking on InterMat throughout the season
- Named SoCon Wrestler of the Week on Nov. 22
Southern Conference November Athletes of the Month
Men’s basketball Vonterius Woolbright, Western Carolina
Women’s basketball Rachael Rose, Wofford
Football – offense Jay Stanton, Samford
Football – defense Evan Eller, VMI
Rifle – smallbore Emma Pohlmann, Georgia Southern
Rifle – air rifle Emma Pohlmann, Georgia Southern
Volleyball – offense Morgan Romano, Chattanooga
Volleyball – defense Sarah Barham, Wofford
Volleyball – setter Elaine Redman, Chattanooga
Wrestling Taye Ghadiali, Campbell