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Chattanooga Surges Into Lead With Sizzling Back Nine On Day One

Unknown — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Chattanooga carded 15 birdies and an eagle over its final nine holes as a team, surging into the lead after the opening day of the 2026 SoCon Men’s Golf Championship at Solina Golf Club.

The Mocs’ Cam Braidech and Mercer’s Nathan Trodd tied for the individual lead, carding twin scores of 66 to tie the Solina course record.

Chattanooga entered the week ranked in the top 75 nationally and shot 9-under par 275 to hold a five-stroke lead heading into Tuesday’s second round. Western Carolina shot a 4-under par 280, and ETSU rallied with a 2-under par 282 to finish the first round in the top three.

Trodd started on the 10th hole on Monday and made the turn with a strong 34 after four birdies and three pars. He was even better over the next nine holes, supplementing seven holes of par golf with a pair of birdies to finish with his 66.

Braidech finished in the final pairing of the day and played consistently well, with only one bogey over 18 holes. He started on the front nine and sank one birdie putt and made eight pars for a 33. A birdie and eagle on 10 and 11 lowered his score further, and he overcame a bogey on 14 with three pars and a birdie over the final four holes to move into a tie for the lead.

A total of 14 golfers finished the first round under par. UNC Greensboro standout Kelvin Hernandez is one stroke back of the lead pair after a first-round 67, while Evan Rogers (Chattanooga), Ben Jordan (Wofford), Campbell Sciortino (Samford), Gavin Isbell (Samford), and Jace Butcher (Western Carolina) each finished the day 3-under par and tied for fourth.

Teams will tee off at 9:00 Tuesday morning on the 6,766-yard (Par 71) course.

Team Leaderboard

POS	Team	Total	To Par	RD1	To Par
1	Chattanooga	275	-9	275	-9
2	Western Carolina	280	-4	280	-4
3	East Tennessee State	282	-2	282	-2
4	Samford	283	-1	283	-1
5	Furman	285	+1	285	+1
6	Mercer	288	+4	288	+4
7	UNCG	289	+5	289	+5
8	Wofford	294	+10	294	+10

Individual Leaderboard

POS	Player	Team	Total	To Par	RD1	To Par
T1	Nathan Trodd	Mercer	66	-5	66	-5
T1	Camden Braidech	Chattanooga	66	-5	66	-5
3	Kelvin Hernandez	UNCG	67	-4	67	-4
T4	Evan Rogers	Chattanooga	68	-3	68	-3
T4	Gavin Isbell	Samford	68	-3	68	-3
T4	Ben Jordan	Wofford	68	-3	68	-3
T4	Campbell Sciortino	Samford	68	-3	68	-3
T4	Jace Butcher	Western Carolina	68	-3	68	-3
T9	Andrew Korytoski	Western Carolina	69	-2	69	-2
T9	Richard Saunders	East Tennessee State	69	-2	69	-2
T11	Ethan Whitaker	Chattanooga	70	-1	70	-1
T11	Clark Akers	Furman	70	-1	70	-1
T11	Gavin Tiernan	East Tennessee State	70	-1	70	-1
T11	Ludvig Josefsson	Furman	70	-1	70	-1
T15	Ivan Ninkovic	Western Carolina	71	E	71	E
T15	Ward Harris	Chattanooga	71	E	71	E
T15	David Oliver IV	Furman	71	E	71	E
T15	Yannick Malik	East Tennessee State	71	E	71	E
T19	Oliver Blackadder	East Tennessee State	72	+1	72	+1
T19	Tyler Jones	Western Carolina	72	+1	72	+1
T19	Blake Gayles	Samford	72	+1	72	+1
T19	Cole Hanson	Mercer	72	+1	72	+1
T19	Jake Lewis	UNCG	72	+1	72	+1

SoCon Softball Player, Pitcher of the Week announced

Unknown — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG infielder Nya South and Samford right-hander Reese Hickey have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for their efforts from April 20-26. The awards are selected by the league office.

South led UNCG to a 3-1 record last week, posting a league-leading 1.873 OPS. In a 5-2 win at Campbell on April 22, the junior had two hits, one of which was a double, one RBI and a run scored. The native of Sanford, North Carolina, hit a 3-run homer in both games of the team’s doubleheader with Chattanooga, helping UNCG to 7-3, and 9-1, victories on April 25. After drawing a walk in the team’s 3-2 setback in the series finale on April 26, South has reached base in 15 straight contests. South is currently in the top 10 in the league in batting average (.386), home runs (15) and RBIs (47).

Hickey, who also won the honor on March 30, made two appearances inside the circle for Samford last week. In her first outing, the freshman logged a win out of the bullpen after tossing 4.2 innings, striking out seven batters and allowing one run in a 14-6 win at West Georgia on April 21. Three days later, the product of Atlanta, Georgia, threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits as the Bulldogs topped ETSU, 2-0.

UNCG (37-16, 15-3 SoCon) and Samford (25-27, 13-5) will play a weekend series in Birmingham, Alabama, on May 2-3. The series will be the final games of the regular season for both squads.

Other nominees for player of the week: Payton Moore (ETSU), Katie Peeler (Furman), Rachel Sysum (Mercer), Abi Bunt (Chattanooga), Tate Stewman (Western Carolina), and Brianna Stanley (Wofford)

Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Marissa Barnes (ETSU), Kristyn Embler (Furman), Taylor Long (Chattanooga), and AG Batson (Western Carolina)

2026 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 9 Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

Feb. 16 Olivia Shaw, Jr., SS, Samford

Feb. 23 Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

March 2 Riley Croley, Fr., 3B, ETSU

March 9 Maya McPherson, Jr., 3B, Western Carolina

March 16 Avery Barton, Sr., SS, Mercer

March 23 Maya McPherson, Jr., 3B, Western Carolina

March 30 Katie Campbell, Jr., C/1B, Samford

April 6 Baileigh Pitts, Sr., 1B, Chattanooga

April 13 Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

April 20 Katie Campbell, Jr., C/1B, Samford

April 27 Nya South, Jr., INF, UNCG

2026 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week

Feb. 9 Madison Starr, Jr., Mercer

Feb. 16 Abby Greenwood, Jr., Wofford

Feb. 23 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 2 Gabrielle Fowler, Jr., ETSU

March 9 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 16 Amanda Fulton, So., Western Carolina

March 23 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 30 Reese Hickey, Fr., Samford

April 6 Kristyn Embler, Fr., Furman

April 13 Makinley Turner, So., Samford

April 20 Makinley Turner, So., Samford

April 27 Reese Hickey, Fr., Samford

SoCon Announces Weekly Baseball Awards

Unknown — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, SC – The Citadel senior Michael Gibson was named SoCon Baseball Player of the Week and Mercer junior Miguel Hugas was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week following games played from April 20 through April 26.

Gibson (Rock Hill, SC. / Northwestern HS) was a two-way star for the Bulldogs last week, batting .500 with four runs scored, four stolen bases, five RBI, and a home run at the plate to power a SoCon series win over UNC Greensboro. The righthander also fanned five batters in 2.1 innings of work out of the bullpen on Friday to pick up a save in a 2-1 win over the Spartans. Gibson started the week with a 1-for-3 effort and a two-run home run in a 10-3 win at Georgia Southern, then followed with a 2-for-3 effort in the Friday night win. He went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI in Saturday’s win over the Spartans and collected one hit in Sunday’s finale.

Gibson has been valuable for The Citadel this season, batting .347 with a .467 on base percentage at the plate, while going 3-2 on the mound with five saves.

Hugas (Caracas, Venezuela / Shaler Area HS) tossed 7.0 innings and allowed just three hits and no earned runs to pick up a 5-1 win over Wofford on Friday, sparking the Bears to a series win – and Wofford’s first series loss of the season. Hugas fanned five Terriers, walked just one and threw 90 pitches in the victory. It was the second-longest outing of the season for Hugas, who hurled 8.0 innings vs. Tennessee Tech on March 14.

Hugas is 7-2 this season with a 5.79 ERA in 56.0 innings of work. He has fanned 39 batters so far in 2026.

Also nominated for Player of the Week: Cade Carr (Samford), Jacob Dilley (UNC Greensboro), Chris Katz (Mercer), Jamie Palmese (ETSU), Cole Raile (VMI), Trey Spees (Western Carolina).

Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Owen Austin (Western Carolina), Mason Blanche (Samford), Noah Chapman (UNC Greensboro), Jim Douthat (VMI), Michael Harpster (ETSU), Will Holmes (The Citadel).

2025-26 SoCon Player of the Week

Feb. 16 – Andrew Quarless, R-So., Western Carolina (C, Winston-Salem, NC)

Feb. 23 – Braydon Kersey, Jr., Mercer (DH/INF, Alpharetta, GA)

Mar. 2 – Titan Kamaka, Sr., Mercer (SS, Orlando, FL)

Mar. 9 – Grayson Fitzwater, Sr., VMI (1B, Suffolk, VA)

Mar. 16 – Grayson Fitzwater, Sr., VMI (1B, Suffolk, VA)

Mar. 23 – Tristan Curless, Sr., ETSU (1B/P, Amarillo, TX)

Mar. 30 – Parker McDonald, Sr., Samford (3B, Tallahassee, FL)

Apr. 6 – Ben Timblin, So., Wofford (Signal Mountain, TN)

Apr. 13 – Jaylen Jones, R-Fr., Western Carolina (Loganville, GA)

Apr. 20 – Tristan Curless, Sr., ETSU (1B/P, Amarillo, TX)

Apr. 27 – Michael Gibson, Sr., The Citadel (DH/P, Rock Hill, SC)

2025-26 SoCon Pitcher of the Week

Feb. 16 – Andrew Marble, Jr., Samford (RHP, Hurley, MS)

Feb. 23 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA)

Mar. 2 – Bryce Coulter, Jr., The Citadel (RHP, Sumter, SC)

Mar. 9 – Mason Snyder, Jr., Western Carolina (RHP, Ocilla, GA)

Mar. 16 – Carter Burnette, So., Western Carolina (RHP, Asheville, NC)

Mar. 23 – Joseph Lee, Sr., Samford (RHP, San Jose, CA)

Mar. 30 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA)

Apr. 6 – Mason Snyder, Jr., Western Carolina (RHP, Ocilla, GA)

Apr. 13 – Alec Bouchard, Jr., Wofford (RHP, Soddy Daisy, TN)

Apr. 20 – Garrett Lambert, R-Fr., Mercer (RHP, Lilburn, GA)

Apr. 27 – Miguel Hugas, Jr., Mercer (RHP, Caracas, Venezuela)

2026 SoCon Men’s Golf Championship Preview

Unknown — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

2026 Championship Site | Digital Program

WEST COLUMBIA, SC – The 92^nd Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championship will be played April 27-29 at Solina Golf Club for the first time. The club features a challenging 6,766-yard, par 72 course.

Tee times for the first round begin on Monday morning at 9:00 and three 18-hole rounds will be played – one each day – until a team champion and individual medalist are crowned and tickets punched to the 2026 NCAA Men’s Golf regionals on Wednesday afternoon.

ETSU is the defending team champion and will look for its sixth title in a row when play begins. The Bucs shot 28-under par in Greensboro, GA, last season to win by 10 strokes over UNC Greensboro. The Spartans boasted individual medalist Colin Dutton, who earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals with a three-day score of 206 (10-under par).

Yannick Malik is the top returning finisher from ETSU’s championship, finishing one stroke back of Dutton last season with a 207. Gavin Tiernan (210) and Joshua Pritchett (212) are also back for the Bucs after finishing inside last year’s top 10 individually.

The conference awarded 18 Golfer of the Week awards this season through both semesters, and 13 different golfers captured at least one honor. Western Carolina’s Tyler Jones won four times, Furman’s Harris Barth won twice, and UNC Greensboro’s Kelvin Hernandez won twice.

Jones leads the SoCon this season with a 70.24 stroke average over 29 rounds, followed closely by Samford’s Gavin Isbell(70.62), Mercer’s Henry Robards (71.26) and Barth (71.37). Tiernan (71.44), Chattanooga’s Ward Harris (71.56), Mercer’s JoseMaria Gutierrez (71.56), Malik (71.73), Western Carolina’s Jace Butcher (72.17), and Mercer’s Nathan Trodd (72.21) round out the top 10.

ETSU’s team stroke average of 71.33 paced the conference during the regular season, followed by Western Carolina (71.75), Mercer (71.88), Chattanooga, and Furman (72.45).

Chattanooga earned the highest team ranking from Scoreboard by Clippd, coming in at No. 67 in the most recent release. ETSU (81), UNC Greensboro (112), Furman (119), Western Carolina (124), and Mercer (150) are all ranked in the top 150 nationally.

Monday’s first tee will signal the 92^nd edition of the SoCon Men’s Golf Championship, which dates back to 1930 and features legendary champions in Wake Forest’s Arnold Palmer (1948 and 1949) and Furman’s Brad Faxon (1983).

ETSU’s Remi Chartier holds the 54-hole championship record with an 18-under score of 198 in 2022 at The Oconee Course in Greensboro, GA. Arnold Palmer holds the 36-hole championship record, firing a 136 at the Old Town Club in Winston-Salem, NC, in 1949.

Furman and UNC Greensboro will tee off on the first hole Monday at 9:00 AM to begin competition. Mercer and Western Carolina will lead off the 10^th hole groups beginning at 9:05 AM.

Ryu and the Paladins defend titles

Unknown — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – Furman shot a 13‑over‑par 301 in Wednesday’s final round to close out the tournament two strokes ahead of Chattanooga and claim the team title at the 2026 Southern Conference Women’s Golf Championship, contested at Columbia Country Club. Furman’s Audrey Ryu carded a 1‑over 73 in the final round, securing the individual title with a three‑day total of 214 (–2).

With the championship win, the Paladins clinched the Southern Conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals. The NCAA field will be announced live on Golf Channel on Wednesday, April 29, at 4 p.m. ET.

Furman entered the final round with the team lead and went on to capture its ninth title in the last 11 tournaments and the 22nd championship in program history.

Furman’s Andrea Marin Raga earned the Pinnacle Award presented by the Knight Commission, given to the student‑athlete with the highest GPA on the championship‑winning team.

Chattanooga finished as the runner‑up with a three‑day total of 896, led by Makenzie Cooper, who tied for third at +6 after holding the opening‑round lead.

Statistical Highlights:

Kasey McIlvaine (UNCG) lead the field at –2, the top performance on par‑3 holes.
Audrey Ryu (Furman) and Makenzie Cooper (Chattanooga) tied for first with an average of 3.95 on par‑4s.
Sophia Gambini (ETSU), Audrey Ryu (Furman), and Bella Bugg (Chattanooga) share the lead at –3 on par‑5s.
Sophia Gambini (ETSU) lead the field with 7 birdies, the highest total through the completed rounds.
Audrey Ryu (Furman) lead all players with 20 pars, reflecting the most consistent round‑to‑round play.
Makenzie Cooper (Chattanooga) recorded one of the standout rounds of the tournament with a 3‑under 69 in Round 1.

FINAL STANDINGS:

Furman — +30
Chattanooga — +32

3. UNCG — +46

4. Samford — +49

ETSU — +57
Mercer — +61
Wofford — +62
Western Carolina — +85
The Citadel — +127

SoCon announces Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

Unknown — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford’s Bradley Franklin and Bryce Davis have been named this week’s Southern Conference Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week. ETSU’s Micailah Cook and Samford’s JT Shaw have been selected as the Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Cook ran a personal‑best 53.76 in the 400m at the Wake Forest Invitational. With that performance, the Buccaneers sophomore set a new ETSU school record and moved into the conference lead. She also placed second in the 200m with a time of 23.88, another SoCon‑leading mark.

Shaw threw a season‑best 13.71m in the shot put at the Georgia Tech Invitational to finish fifth. She also recorded marks of 42.86m in the discus and 49.99m in the hammer.

Franklin recorded the seventh‑fastest time in NCAA history and the world lead under any conditions, running a NCAA‑leading 13.07 in the 110m hurdles at the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Florida.

Davis earned a personal best in the hammer throw with a conference‑leading mark of 56.77m at the Georgia Tech Invitational. The Bulldogs sophomore also posted a 16.44m throw in the shot put.

Looking ahead to the weekend of April 24, Samford will host the Samford Invitational, while ETSU will compete at the Catamount Invitational hosted by Western Carolina.

2025-26 Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week

March 18	Men’s Track – Trevor Williams, WCU Men’s Field – Austin Cline, WCU Women’s Track – Shaneil Lysight, WCU Women’s Field – Ellison Chadwick, Samford
March 25	Men’s Track – Trevor Williams, WCU Men’s Field – Austin Cline, WCU Women’s Track – Naturale Faison, VMI Women’s Field – Sadler Miller, WCU
April 1	Men's Track - Albert Velikonja, Furman Men's Field - Bryce Davis, Samford Women's Track - Aaliyah Mbenda, Samford Women's Field - JT Shaw, Samford
April 8	Men's Track - Christian Roberts, WCU Men's Field - Austin Cline, WCU Women's Track - Taylor Jennings-Ward, Wofford Women's Field - Toria Roundtree, WCU
April 15	Men’s Track – Bradley Franklin, Samford Men’s Field – Bryce Davis, Samford Women’s Track – Annie Miller, Furman Women’s Field – Lindsey Havens, Samford
April 22	Men’s Track – Bradley Franklin, Samford Men’s Field – Bryce Davis, Samford Women’s Track – Micailah Cook, ETSU Women’s Field – JT Shaw, Samford

Also nominated: Albert Velikonja, Furman - Men's Track

Furman maintains team lead, Paladins’ Ryu moves into first place

Unknown — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Furman maintains team lead, Paladins’ Ryu moves into first place

Final round set to begin Wednesday at 9 a.m.

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – Furman extended its lead to ten strokes at the 2026 Southern Conference Women’s Golf Championship, while the Paladins’ Audrey Ryu surged into first place individually after firing a 1‑under 71 on Tuesday. Ryu now sits at 2‑under for the tournament and holds a one‑shot advantage over the field.

Tournament statistical highlights, include:

Kasey McIlvaine (UNCG) – Leads the field in par‑3 scoring at –2, one of only two players under par on the short holes.
Audrey Ryu (Furman) & Makenzie Cooper (Chattanooga) – Share the lead in par‑4 scoring at 3.95, demonstrating consistency on the course’s most demanding holes.
Sophia Gambini (ETSU), Audrey Ryu (Furman), Bella Bugg (Chattanooga) – Tied for the best par‑5 scoring at –3, capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
Sophia Gambini (ETSU) – Leads the championship with 7 birdies, showing strong scoring bursts across both rounds.
Audrey Ryu (Furman) – Leads the field with 20 pars, highlighting her steady play.

The final round of the championship will begin with threesomes at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Live stats can be found here .

Furman — +17
Chattanooga — +27

T3. UNCG — +35

T3. Samford — +35

ETSU — +38
Mercer — +41
Wofford — +46
Western Carolina — +64
The Citadel — +86

Southern Conference Statement Supporting March Madness Expansion

Unknown — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The Southern Conference (SoCon) ¹ advocates for the NCAA utilizing the following principles to guide potential March Madness expansion:

PRINCIPLE #1 – SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE ACCESS

The NCAA transformation committee established that approximately 25% of teams should participate in postseason championships. Just under 23% of 282 schools participated in March Madness when the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Today, 18.6% of Division I schools participate. Critically, expansion must preserve automatic qualification for all conferences.

PRINCIPLE #2 – COMPETITIVE INTEGRITY

The First Four in Dayton features two games between the four lowest-ranked automatic qualifiers, and two with the four lowest ranked at-large teams. The primary purpose of March Madness is to crown a champion. Opening round participation should be based on merit, not the method of qualification, with the lowest NET teams playing in these games. Teams with a statistically better chance of reaching the Final Four should play fewer games. March Madness formats should utilize complete bracket integrity. If this is not achievable, the bracket should have all teams on a seed line playing the same number of games to reach the Final Four.

PRINCIPLE #3 – TRANSPARENCY

Schools spending millions of dollars annually on their basketball programs shouldn’t have to speculate about the math informing selection metrics. The NET is the committee’s foundational resource to rank teams, establish quadrants, and determine the cut line in the Wins Above Bubble (WAB) metric. Unfortunately, NET calculations remain unknown. Describing its formulas as “too complicated”; concerns coaches will “game the system”; and describing the NET as “only one tool” in an attempt to minimize its importance are not defensible rationales for withholding selection formulas. Metric transparency is crucial for trust and better decision-making by coaches and administrators across Division I. Disclosing NET and other selection metric formulas, while also revising the quadrants and WAB cutlines to align with a bigger tournament field, should be part of expansion.

¹ The SoCon is fortunate to have representation on both the men’s and women’s basketball committees – incoming chair Martin Newton (Samford University Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics) and Ashleigh Simmons (Western Carolina University Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator). The SoCon’s statement does not necessarily reflect their, or their respective NCAA committees’ views. This statement is based on conference membership and SoCon staff consensus.

Furman holds team lead, while the Mocs card day 1 individual leader

Unknown — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – Furman leads the 2026 Southern Conference Women’s Golf Championship by three strokes, and Chattanooga’s Makenzie Cooper holds the individual lead after the opening round of play.

Cooper fired a 3‑under 69 to take a one‑stroke lead over Furman’s Audrey Ryu. The Mocs’ senior currently ranks first in par‑4 scoring, tied for second in par‑3 scoring, and second in total pars.

Furman, ranked No. 65 nationally—the highest among SoCon teams—shot a 1‑over 289 in Monday’s opening round. Chattanooga sits second after posting a 4‑over 292. The Mocs entered the championship as the third‑highest‑ranked SoCon team (No. 102 nationally) according to Scoreboard.

Round two of the championship will begin with threesomes at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Live stats can be found here .

Furman — +1
Chattanooga — +4
UNCG — +11
ETSU — +17
Samford — +18
Western Carolina — +21
Mercer — +22
Wofford — +23
The Citadel -- +37

SoCon Softball Player, Pitcher of the Week announced

Unknown — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford infielder Katie Campbell and Bulldogs right-hander Makinley Turner have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for their efforts from April 13-19. The awards are selected by the league office.

Campbell, who also won the honor on March 30, helped Samford to a win over then second-ranked Alabama and a series sweep at Furman last week. On April 14, the native of Cape Coral, Florida, hit a game-clinching double to left field in the fifth inning, driving two runs across home plate and putting Samford up, 3-2, which ended up being the final score against Alabama. The Bulldogs’ win over the Crimson Tide marked the program’s first win over their in-state foe in 29 years, and was the highest ranked win for the squad. In a doubleheader at Furman on April 18, the junior had three hits, four RBIs, a walk and a run scored as Samford won the two games by scores of 8-1 and 14-1. In the series finale the next day, Campbell was 3-for-5 with two home runs, five RBIs and three runs scored.

Turner, who won the honor for the second straight week, had two victories inside the circle. In the game with Alabama, the junior came in out of the bullpen in the fifth inning with the team down, 2-0. Turner proceeded to throw 2.1 innings, striking out three batters and allowing just two hits. In the 8-1 win over Furman, the product of Thorsby, Alabama, tossed a complete game, logging five strikeouts and allowing zero earned runs.

Samford (22-26, 11-4 SoCon) travels to West Georgia on April 21, before heading to ETSU for a weekend series on April 25-26.

Other nominees for player of the week: Leinani Lutu (ETSU), Kaylyn Belfield (UNCG), Becka Wonsick (Western Carolina), and Brianna Stanley (Wofford)

Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Eden Muncy (ETSU), Salem Ward (UNCG), Amanda Fulton (Western Carolina), and Abby Greenwood (Wofford)

2026 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 9 Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

Feb. 16 Olivia Shaw, Jr., SS, Samford

Feb. 23 Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

March 2 Riley Croley, Fr., 3B, ETSU

March 9 Maya McPherson, Jr., 3B, Western Carolina

March 16 Avery Barton, Sr., SS, Mercer

March 23 Maya McPherson, Jr., 3B, Western Carolina

March 30 Katie Campbell, Jr., C/1B, Samford

April 6 Baileigh Pitts, Sr., 1B, Chattanooga

April 13 Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

April 20 Katie Campbell, Jr., C/1B, Samford

2026 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week

Feb. 9 Madison Starr, Jr., Mercer

Feb. 16 Abby Greenwood, Jr., Wofford

Feb. 23 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 2 Gabrielle Fowler, Jr., ETSU

March 9 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 16 Amanda Fulton, So., Western Carolina

March 23 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 30 Reese Hickey, Fr., Samford

April 6 Kristyn Embler, Fr., Furman

April 13 Makinley Turner, So., Samford

April 20 Makinley Turner, So., Samford

SoCon Announces Baseball Weekly Honors for April 20

Unknown — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, SC – ETSU senior first baseman Tristan Curless was named SoCon Baseball Player of the Week and Mercer redshirt freshman Garrett Lambert was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week following games played from April 6 through April 12.

Curless (Amarillo, TX / Amarillo HS) was named SoCon Player of the Week for the second time this season after batting a sizzling .688 with two home runs, eight RBI, three doubles and seven runs scored. He forged a .737 on base percentage, a 1.250 slugging percentage and a 1.987 OPS over four games. Both home runs came in a 12-10 loss at No. 5 Georgia on Tuesday night, with Curless going 3-for-5 with six RBI in that game. He collected at least two hits in each of his starts for the week, which included a series win over The Citadel. Curless scored five runs in that three-game set, had three doubles, and also picked up a win on the mound in the Bucs’ 5-4 win on Saturday.

Curless leads ETSU and ranks among the SoCon leaders with a .403 batting average this season. He has 13 home runs, 52 RBI, 11 doubles and 106 total bases. He is also 1-1 on the mound with two saves.

Lambert (Lilburn, GA / Parkview HS) threw 6.0 shutout innings and fanned nine in a win over Towson Friday night. He allowed only two hits, did not issue a walk, and held the Tigers to an 0.95 team batting average in the win.

The redshirt freshman righty is 3-0 this season with a 4.20 ERA in 10 starts. He has fanned 53 batters in 45.0 innings of work, with teams batting only .214 this season.

Also Nominated for Player of the Week: Luke Boykin (Samford), Grayson Fitzwater (VMI), Cole Jones (Western Carolina), Chris Katz (Mercer), Marc Quarrie (Wofford), Christian Stratis (The Citadel), Brantley Truitt (UNC Greensboro).

Also Nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Noah Berry (Samford), Cullen Condon (Wofford), James Fordham (Western Carolina), Cooper Jones (ETSU), Justin Speigel (VMI).

2025-26 SoCon Player of the Week

Feb. 16 – Andrew Quarless, R-So., Western Carolina (C, Winston-Salem, NC)

Feb. 23 – Braydon Kersey, Jr., Mercer (DH/INF, Alpharetta, GA)

Mar. 2 – Titan Kamaka, Sr., Mercer (SS, Orlando, FL)

Mar. 9 – Grayson Fitzwater, Sr., VMI (1B, Suffolk, VA)

Mar. 16 – Grayson Fitzwater, Sr., VMI (1B, Suffolk, VA)

Mar. 23 – Tristan Curless, Sr., ETSU (1B/P, Amarillo, TX)

Mar. 30 – Parker McDonald, Sr., Samford (3B, Tallahassee, FL)

Apr. 6 – Ben Timblin, So., Wofford (Signal Mountain, TN)

Apr. 13 – Jaylen Jones, R-Fr., Western Carolina (Loganville, GA)

Apr. 20 – Tristan Curless, Sr., ETSU (1B/P, Amarillo, TX)

2025-26 SoCon Pitcher of the Week

Feb. 16 – Andrew Marble, Jr., Samford (RHP, Hurley, MS)

Feb. 23 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA)

Mar. 2 – Bryce Coulter, Jr., The Citadel (RHP, Sumter, SC)

Mar. 9 – Mason Snyder, Jr., Western Carolina (RHP, Ocilla, GA)

Mar. 16 – Carter Burnette, So., Western Carolina (RHP, Asheville, NC)

Mar. 23 – Joseph Lee, Sr., Samford (RHP, San Jose, CA)

Mar. 30 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA)

Apr. 6 – Mason Snyder, Jr., Western Carolina (RHP, Ocilla, GA)

Apr. 13 – Alec Bouchard, Jr., Wofford (RHP, Soddy Daisy, TN)

Apr. 20 – Garrett Lambert, R-Fr., Mercer (RHP, Lilburn, GA)

2026 SoCon Women’s Golf Championship Begins Monday

Unknown — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – The 2026 Southern Conference Women’s Golf Championship will be held Monday, April 20, through Wednesday, April 22, at Columbia Country Club, a par‑72, 6,219‑yard course in Blythewood, South Carolina. This year’s tournament will follow the traditional format of one round per day over three days.

Team‑by‑Team Notes

Furman: Defending champion; seeking a fourth team title since 2022; holds the lowest team stroke average entering the championship (293.89); led by reigning individual medalist Audrey Ryu.

Mercer: Led by graduate student Katie Scheck, who owns four top‑10 finishes including a win at the Mercer Invitational; four‑time Golfer of the Week; the Bears have recorded three top‑three team finishes, including a win at their home event.

Samford: Gabi Nicastro owns six top‑10 finishes; fired a school‑record 10‑under 62 at the ULM Invitational; four‑time Golfer of the Week.

Chattanooga: Tied for the best team round in the SoCon this season (2‑under 282); sophomore Bella Bugg posted a season‑best T‑3 finish at the Chris Banister Invite.

UNCG: Eight top‑10 team finishes; led by freshman Chanelle Mwangi, who carries a 72.80 stroke average.

Wofford: Five top‑10 team finishes; Bella Kent leads the team in stroke average for the third straight year (75.38).

ETSU: Two team wins (Terrier Intercollegiate, Hoston Lake Invitational); paced by newcomers Arisa Piyamanit and Sophia Gambini.

Western Carolina: Six top‑10 finishes; sophomore Elsa Maren Steinarsdottir recorded the team’s low round of the season (71) at the Puerto Rico Iguano Invitational.

The Citadel: One top‑10 finish; junior Naomi Huang posted the team’s low round (77) at the UNCG Collegiate.

Furman enters this year’s championship as the No. 66 team in the Clippd rankings. The Paladins, along with Mercer (No. 101), Chattanooga (No. 102), and UNCG (No. 113), make up the top four SoCon teams in the national standings.

The Southern Conference Women’s Golf Championship was first held in 1994. Furman owns a league‑best 21 team titles, including the first nine. Chattanooga has won five championships, all consecutively from 2010–14. Western Carolina (2003, 2007) and ETSU (2021, 2024) each hold two titles, while former SoCon member College of Charleston claimed one in 2006.

The Paladins have also produced a conference‑best 20 individual medalists. Chattanooga has seven, while UNCG, Western Carolina, and former members App State and College of Charleston each have one.

The tournament will begin with threesomes teeing off at 8:30 a.m. on Monday. Live scoring will be available here .

Samford wins its second consecutive SoCon tournament title

Unknown — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – In a tightly contested championship match on Saturday afternoon at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee, No. 2 seed Samford secured a 4-2 win over No. 1 seed ETSU.

Samford won its second straight SoCon tournament crown. The win also marked the fourth conference title for the Bulldogs.

In doubles, Samford’s Lukas Dvorak and Cooper Errey topped Juan Listo and James Sim, 6-4, on court three. ETSU’s tandem of Oscar Martinez and Martin Vergara responded with a 6-4 win on court one over Sandeep Mohandoss and Darcy Nicholls. The Bulldogs would capture the doubles point following a 6-3 win at the No. 2 spot from Sebastian Harrison and Vitorio Sardinha over Peter Kalocsai and Arenui Luethi.

Nicholls got the first singles win of the day, topping Vergara, 6-1, 6-3, on court two. ETSU won the next two results as Carlos Gonzales was victorious, 6-2, 6-0, on court six, and Kai Cowcher won 6-1, 6-2, on court four, tying the match at 2-2.

Mohandoss then handed SoCon Player of the Year Martinez just his second loss of the season, winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, to get Samford one point from victory. After that, Dvorak finished his rally back after dropping the first set at the No. 5 spot, ending with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win to clinch the title for the Bulldogs.

Nicholls, who was named tournament’s most outstanding player, also won the Pinnacle Award as the student-athlete with the highest GPA on the championship-winning team. The senior from Warragul, Australia maintains a 4.0 GPA while majoring in Law, Politics, and Society.

The Bulldogs, who earned the SoCon’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championships, will learn their postseason opponent on Monday, April 27, with an announcement on NCAA.com at 5 p.m.

Singles competition
1. Sandeep Mohandoss (SAM) def. Oscar Martinez (ETSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Darcy Nicholls (SAM) def. Martin Vergara (ETSU) 6-1, 6-3

3. Peter Kalocsai (ETSU) vs. Sebastian Harrison (SAM) 7-5, 4-6, 4-0, unfinished
4. Kai Cowcher (ETSU) def. Santiago Arrendondo (SAM) 6-1, 6-2

5. Lukas Dvorak (SAM) def. Arenui Luethi (ETSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2

6. Carlos Gonzales (ETSU) def. Cooper Errey (SAM) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Oscar Martinez/Martin Vergara (ETSU) def. Sandeep Mohandoss/Darcy Nicholls (SAM) 6-4

2. Sebastian Harrison/Vitorio Sardinha (SAM) def. Peter Kalocsai/Arenui Luethi (ETSU) 6-3

3. Lukas Dvorak/Cooper Errey (SAM) def. Juan Listo/James Sim (ETSU) 6-4

Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1,2) Singles (2,6,4,1,5)

*****

2026 SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Champions Club
Thursday, April 16
Match 1: No. 1 ETSU 4, No. 8 The Citadel 0
Match 2: No. 4 Mercer 4, No. 5 Furman 1
Match 3: No. 3 Chattanooga 4, No. 6 UNCG 3
Match 4: No. 2 Samford 4, No. 7 Wofford 0

Friday, April 17
Match 5: No. 1 ETSU 4, No. 4 Mercer 0
Match 6: No. 2 Samford 4, No. 3 Chattanooga 0

Saturday, April 18
Match 7: No. 2 Samford 4, No. 1 ETSU 2

ETSU upsets No. 68 Furman in the SoCon Women’s Tennis Championship

Unknown — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The ETSU Buccaneers defeated the 68^th-ranked Furman Paladins, 4-1, at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee, securing the SoCon Tournament title on Saturday. One week ago on April 11, ETSU fell to Furman, 6-1, in the teams’ first matchup this season, which gave the Paladins the regular season title

Saturday’s win for the Bucs was their fourth SoCon Tournament championship. Each of those victories have come in the last 10 seasons, including winning three of the last four titles.

The Paladins captured the first doubles match at the No. 2 position as Bianca Ceroni and Macy Hitchcock topped Ksenija Rage and Julia Millan, 6-1. In a battle of first-team all-conference tandems on court one, ETSU’s Mariangel Estrella and Alessandra Caceres upset 46^th-ranked Elle Warren and Lillie Murphy, 6-4. ETSU would eventually get the doubles point after Niyati Kukreti and Audelie Lesauvage were victorious over Sasha Dimitrov and Molly Robinson, 7-5, giving the Buccaneers the doubles point.

In singles play, court one and two both featured matchups for first-team all-conference selections. Warren got a 6-2, 6-1, win over Caceres at the No. 2 spot, evening the score at 1-1. Rage gave ETSU the lead back with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Murphy.

At the No. 5 position, Estrella, who was named the tournament’s most outstanding player, grabbed a 6-4, 6-4, win against Lily Doherty, bringing the squad one point away from the championship. Kukreti then outlasted Robinson, 7-5, 7-5, on court six, ending the match and giving ETSU the victory.

Kukreti earned the Pinnacle Award, given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA on the championship-winning team. The Kinesiology major from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India, boasts a 4.0 GPA.

The Bucs, who earned the SoCon’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Championships, will learn their postseason fate on Monday, April 27, with an announcement on NCAA.com at 5:30 p.m.

Singles competition
1. Ksenija Rage (ETSU) def. Lillie Murphy (FUR) 6-4, 7-5

2. Elle Warren (FUR) def. Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Macy Hitchcock (FUR) vs. Julia Millan (ETSU) 3-6, 6-4, 1-2, unfinished
4. Bianca Ceroni (FUR) vs. Audelie Lesauvage (ETSU) 6-3, 3-6, 5-4, unfinished
5. Mariangel Estrella (ETSU) def. Lily Doherty (FUR) 6-4, 6-4

6. Niyati Kukreti (ETSU) def. Molly Robinson (FUR) 7-5, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Mariangel Estrella/Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) def. Elle Warren/Lillie Murphy (FUR) 6-4

2. Bianca Ceroni/Macy Hitchcock (FUR) def. Ksenija Rage/Julia Millan (ETSU) 6-1
3. Niyati Kukreti/Audelie Lesauvage (ETSU) def. Sasha Dimitrov/Molly Robinson (FUR) 7-5

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,1,5,6)

*****

2026 SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Champions Club
Thursday, April 16

Match 1: No. 1 Furman 4, No. 8 Western Carolina 0

Match 2: No. 4 Wofford 4, No. 5 Samford 0

Match 3: No. 3 Chattanooga 4, No. 6 UNCG 0

Match 4: No. 2 ETSU 4, No. 7 Mercer 0

Friday, April 17

Match 5: No. 1 Furman 4, No. 4 Wofford 2

Match 6: No. 2 ETSU 4, No. 3 Chattanooga 2

Saturday, April 18

Match 7: No. 2 ETSU 4, No. 1 Furman 1

No. 1 ETSU, No. 2 Samford advance to Saturday's SoCon Final

Unknown — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 1 seed ETSU and No. 2 seed Samford advanced out of the semifinals of the 2026 Southern Conference Men’s Tennis Championship on Friday. Saturday’s championship title dual, which is being contested at the Champions Club, is set for 1 p.m.

After being upset in the semifinals a year ago ended a run of five straight titles, ETSU returns to the championship round. Samford, the defending champion, is going for its fourth SoCon tournament crown.

No. 1 ETSU 4, No. 4 Mercer 0

In doubles, the duos for Peter Kalocsai/Arenui Luethi and Juan Listo/James Sim earned victories on court two and three, respectively, giving the Bucs the doubles point.

Listo won his singles match at the No. 6 spot, 6-1, 6-2, giving ETSU a 2-0 lead. The Bucs’ No. 3 player Kai Cowcher picked up a 6-3, 6-3 victory, before Carlos Gonzales clinched the victory for ETSU with a 6-1, 6-3, triumph at the No. 5 position.

Singles competition
1. Oscar Martinez (ETSU) vs. Hod’Abalo Isak Padio (MER) 7-6 (7-4), 3-3, unfinished
2. Martin Vergara (ETSU) vs. Nemanja Stefanovic (MER) 6-3, 3-6, unfinished
3. Kai Cowcher (ETSU) def. Shingo Masuda (MER) 6-3, 6-3
4. Arenui Luethi (ETSU) vs. Amen Prince Gandonou (MER) 4-6, 2-6, unfinished
5. Carlos Gonzales (ETSU) def. Alex Aldaz (MER) 6-1, 6-3
6. Juan Listo (ETSU) def. Howell Burns (MER) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Oscar Martinez/Martin Vergara (ETSU) vs. Nemanja Stefanovic/Hod’Abalo Isak Padio (MER) 4-3, unfinished

2. Peter Kalocsai/Arenui Luethi (ETSU) def. Amen Prince Gandonou/Shingo Masuda (MER) 6-2
3. Juan Listo/James Sim (ETSU) def. Howell Burns/Cameron Douthit (MER) 6-3

Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3) Singles (6,3,5)

*****

No. 2 Samford 4, No. 3 Chattanooga 0

Samford’s Lukas Dvorak and Cooper Errey got a 6-1 victory in the No. 3 spot, before the first-team all-conference tandem of Darcy Nicholls and Sandeep Mohandoss, won by a score of 6-4 on court one, clinching the doubles point for the No. 2 seed.

Nicholls was the first Bulldog to win during singles play, taking his matchup at the No. 2 spot by a score of 6-0, 6-3. Errey was victorious at No. 6, winning 6-4, 6-2. Samford secured its spot in the finals after Sebastian Harrison won his matchup on court three, 6-3, 6-4.

Singles competition
1. Sandeep Mohandoss (SAM) vs. Jakub Jupa (UTC) 3-6, 5-3, unfinished
2. Darcy Nicholls (SAM) def. Julian Franzmann (UTC) 6-0, 6-3
3. Sebastian Harrison (SAM) def. Martin Delnido (UTC) 6-3, 6-4
4. Santiago Arrendondo (SAM) vs. Cortland Grove (UTC) 6-2, 3-6, unfinished
5. Lukas Dvorak (SAM) vs. Kristof Kincses (UTC) 7-6 (7-4), 4-3, unfinished

6. Cooper Errey (SAM) def. TJ Ryerson (UTC) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles Competition
1. Sandeep Mohandoss/Darcy Nicholls (SAM) def. Jakub Jupa/Cortland Grove (UTC) 6-4
2. Sebastian Harrison/Vitorio Sardinha (SAM) vs. Julian Franzmann/Kristof Kincses (UTC) 4-2, unfinished
3. Lukas Dvorak/Cooper Errey (SAM) def. Jaxon Lamb/Carter Ramthun (UTC) 6-1

Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1) Singles (2,6,3)

*****

No. 1 Furman and No. 2 ETSU advance to the SoCon Championship match

Unknown — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The top two seeds, No. 1 Furman and No. 2 ETSU, advanced to the finals of the 2026 Southern Conference Women’s Tennis Championship on Friday. The tournament is being contested at the Champions Club, with the finals set for Saturday at 11 a.m.

The Paladins, who are the defending champion, and the Buccaneers have won the last nine SoCon Championships that have been contested.

No. 1 Furman 4, No. 4 Wofford 2

The top-seeded Paladins won the doubles point as 46^th-ranked tandem Lillie Murphy and Elle Warren earned a 6-1 win on court one. Sasha Dimitrov and Molly Robinson combined to get a 6-4 victory in the No. 3 spot.

In singles, Wofford’s Katie Godfree and Ella Suk were victorious in straight sets at the No. 3 and No. 4 positions, respectively, giving the Terriers a 2-1 advantage. The Paladins’ Lily Doherty then evened the score with a 6-2, 6-3, win on court six.

Furman regained the lead when Dimitrov won in the No. 5 spot, moving the squad one win away from victory. After that, Warren won a tough 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 decision, advancing the Paladins to the championship.

Singles competition
1. Lillie Murphy (FUR) vs. Grace Agster (WOF) 3-6, 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
2. Elle Warren (FUR) def. Quinn Bernthal (WOF) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
3. Katie Godfree (WOF) def. Macy Hitchcock (FUR) 7-5, 6-1
4. Ella Suk (WOF) def. Bianca Ceroni (FUR) 6-0, 6-2
5. Sasha Dimitrov (FUR) def. Chloe Elliot (WOF) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1

6. Lily Doherty (FUR) def. Marie Henriksen (WOF) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Elle Warren/Lillie Murphy (FUR) def. Grace Agster/Quinn Bernthal (WOF) 6-1

2. Bianca Ceroni/Macy Hitchcock (FUR) vs. Chloe Elliot/Ella Suk (WOF) 5-3, unfinished
3. Sasha Dimitrov/Molly Robinson (FUR) def. Katie Godfree/Marie Henriksen (WOF) 6-4

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,3,6,5,2)

*****

No. 2 ETSU 4, No. 3 Chattanooga 2

ETSU got wins from the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in doubles. Mariangel Estrella and Alessandra Caceres won, 6-1, on court one, while Ksenija Rage and Julia Millan got a 6-2 victory at No. 2.

The Bucs moved to within one point of victory after Caceres won, 6-1, 6-1, on court two, and Estrella got a 6-3, 6-0, decision in her favor at the No. 5 spot in singles. First-team all-conference selection Addison Iacono got Chattanooga on the board after that with a 6-4, 6-1 win in the No. 1 position.

The Mocs’ No. 6 player Jordan Fenton got a 6-4, 7-5, win to close ETSU’s advantage to 3-2. After that, Millan was victorious 7-5, 6-4, on court three, ending the match and advancing the Bucs to the championship.

Singles competition
1. Addison Iacono (UTC) def. Ksenija Rage (ETSU) 6-4, 6-1
2. Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) def. Rufaro Magarira (UTC) 6-1, 6-1

3. Julia Millan (ETSU) def. Savannah Presson (UTC) 7-5, 6-4
4. Audelie Lesauvage (ETSU) vs. Emma Pedretti (UTC) 6-4, 4-6, 4-3, unfinished

5. Mariangel Estrella (ETSU) def. Zara Burns (UTC) 6-3, 6-0
6. Jordan Fenton (UTC) def. Niyati Kukreti (ETSU) 6-4, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Mariangel Estrella/Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) def. Addison Iacono/Rufaro Magarira (UTC) 6-1
2. Ksenija Rage/Julia Millan (ETSU) def. Emma Pedretti/Savannah Presson (UTC) 6-2
3. Niyati Kukreti/Audelie Lesauvage (ETSU) vs. Jordan Fenton/Ella Mancuso (UTC) 4-5, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,5,1,6,3)

*****

2026 SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Champions Club
Thursday, April 16

Match 1: No. 1 Furman 4, No. 8 Western Carolina 0

Match 2: No. 4 Wofford 4, No. 5 Samford 0

Match 3: No. 3 Chattanooga 4, No. 6 UNCG 0

Match 4: No. 2 ETSU 4, No. 7 Mercer 0

Friday, April 17

Match 5: No. 1 Furman 4, No. 4 Wofford 2

Match 6: No. 2 ETSU 4, No. 3 Chattanooga 2

Saturday, April 18

Match 7: No. 1 Furman vs. No. 2 ETSU, 11 a.m.

The top four seeds advance at the SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship

Unknown — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The top four seeds advanced out of the quarterfinals of the 2026 Southern Conference Men’s Tennis Championship on Thursday. The tournament is being contested at the Champions Club, with the semifinals set for Friday at 2 p.m.

No. 1 seed ETSU will meet the fourth-seeded Mercer and No. 2 seed Samford will face No. 3 seed Chattanooga for the right to advance to Saturday’s title match.

No. 1 ETSU 4, No. 8 The Citadel 0

Regular-season champion ETSU began its quest for a title sweep by blanking eighth-seeded The Citadel, 4-0.

The Bucs’ tandem of Oscar Martinez and Martin Vergara, the 85^th-ranked doubles duo, won 6-2 in the No. 1 position. On court two, Peter Kalocsai and Arenui Luethi teamed up for a 6-4 triumph, giving ETSU the doubles point.

In singles play, ETSU got its wins on court four, five and six against The Citadel. Kai Cowcher won, 6-0, 6-1, against Nick Strompis in the No. 4 spot. At the No. 5 position, Luethi got a 6-1, 6-3, victory over Reece Beckendorf, and Carlos Gonzales captured a 6-0, 6-1, win against Graham Hardin and No. 6.

Singles competition
1. Oscar Martinez (ETSU) vs. Noah Van Dyke (CIT) 6-2, 4-6, unfinished
2. Martin Vergara (ETSU) vs. Brady Gober (CIT) 6-2, 3-3, unfinished
3. Peter Kalocsai (ETSU) def. Ted Bagwell (CIT) 6-3, 2-6, unfinished
4. Kai Cowcher (ETSU) def. Nick Stroumpis (CIT) 6-0, 6-1
5. Arenui Luethi (ETSU) def. Reece Beckendorf (CIT) 6-1, 6-3
6. Carlos Gonzales (ETSU) def. Graham Hardin (CIT) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Oscar Martinez/Martin Vergara (ETSU) def. Ted Bagwell/Brady Gober (CIT) 6-2

2. Peter Kalocsai/Arenui Luethi (ETSU) def. Tucker Hendrix/Noah Van Dyke (CIT) 6-4
3. Juan Listo/James Sim (ETSU) vs. Anthony Osipov/Reece Beckendorf (CIT) 4-3, unfinished

Order of Finish: Doubles (1,2) Singles (4,6,5)

*****

No. 4 Mercer 4, No. 5 Furman 1

No. 4 seed Mercer outlasted fifth-seeded Furman, 4-1, in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Nemanja Stefanovic and Hod’Abalo Isak Padio won at the No. 1 spot in doubles, while teammates Amen Prince Gandonou and Shingo Masuda were victorious on court two, giving the Bears the doubles point and an early 1-0 advantage.

In singles, Furman’s Walker Allen defeated Gandonou at the No. 4 position, 6-2, 6-2, making the score tied at 1-1. The Bears won the next three matches to finish, beginning with a win at the No. 3 spot as Masuda topped Theophile Joly, 6-4, 6-4. Next to finish was Padio topping Nico Snyder on court one, 6-2, 6-4, before Alex Aldaz got a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, win over Landon Ecarma in the No. 5 position, clinching the Bears’ victory.

Singles competition
1. Hod’Abalo Isak Padio (MER) def. Nico Snyder (FUR) 6-2, 6-4
2. Nemanja Stefanovic (MER) vs. Nicolas Dispas (FUR) 6-7 (7-5), 6-3, 1-3, unfinished
3. Shingo Masuda (MER) def. Theophile Joly (FUR) 6-4, 6-4
4. Walker Allen (FUR) def. Amen Prince Gandonou (MER) 6-2, 6-2

5. Alex Aldaz (MER) def. Landon Ecarma (FUR) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. Howell Burns (MER) vs. Alex Han (FUR) 5-7, 6-4, 2-2, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Nemanja Stefanovic/Hod’Abalo Isak Padio (MER) def. Nicolas Dispas/Nico Snyder (FUR) 6-4
2. Amen Prince Gandonou/Shingo Masuda (MER) def. Evan Duggal/Landon Ecarma (FUR) 6-4

3. Howell Burns/Cameron Douthit vs. Alex Han/Finn Pollard (FUR) 5-5, unfinished

Order of Finish: Doubles (2,1) Singles (4,3,1,5)

*****

No. 3 Chattanooga 4, No. 6 UNCG 3

No. 3 seed rallied back to defeat sixth-seeded UNCG, 4-3, in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

The Spartans won the doubles point after duos Devon Moskowitz/John Gabelic and Eric Lindemann/Tymofiy Khrystyuk won in the No. 1 and 3 spots, respectively.

Following a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles from first-team all-conference selection Jakub Jupa tied the score, UNCG regained the lead after a win by Devon Moskowitz in the No. 3 position. The seesaw battle continued with a win from No. 6 player TJ Ryerson.

Chattanooga took the lead on a Grove’s win at the No. 4 spot. A 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 triumph by Gabelic at No. 2, set the stage for a winner-take-all in the No. 5 position. The Mocs’ Kristof Kincses outlasted UNCG’s William Elmers, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, giving Chattanooga the win.

Singles competition
1. Jakub Jupa (UTC) def. Tymofiy Khrystyuk (UNCG) 6-0, 6-0

2. John Gabelic (UNCG) def. Julian Franzmann (UTC) 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4

3. Devon Moskowitz (UNCG) def. Martin Delnido (UTC) 6-4, 6-3
4. Cortland Grove (UTC) def. Hector Nissen (UNCG) 0-6, 7-5, 6-2
5. Kristof Kincses (UTC) def. William Elmers (UNCG) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
6. TJ Ryerson (UTC) def. Eric Lindemann (UNCG) 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)

Doubles competition
1. Devon Moskowitz/John Gabelic (UNCG) def. Jakub Jupa/Cortland Grove 6-3
2. Julian Franzmann/Kristof Kincses (UTC) def. Hector Nissen/William Elmers (UNCG) 6-3
3. Eric Lindemann/Tymofiy Khrystyuk (UNCG) def. Jaxon Lamb/Carter Ramthun (UTC) 7-6 (7-2)

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,3,6,4,2,5)

*****

No. 2 Samford 4, No. 7 Wofford 0

Second-seeded Samford topped No. 7 seed Wofford by a 4-0 count.

The Bulldogs claimed all victories in doubles, led by first-team all-conference doubles tandem of Sandeep Mohandoss and Darcy Nicholls as the duo won, 7-5, on court one. The tandems of Sebastian Harrison/Vitorio Sardinha and Lukas Dvorak/Cooper Errey both won by a score of 6-4.

In singles, Errey scored the first point on court six, winning 6-3, 6-2, against Ian Rasheed. Mohandoss won, 7-5, 6-1, over Parker Mariencheck in the No. 1 spot, and Dvorak clinched the victory with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) triumph in the No. 5 position.

Singles competition
1. Sandeep Mohandoss (SAM) def. Parker Mariencheck (WOF) 7-5, 6-1
2. Darcy Nicholls (SAM) vs. Hugo Rask (WOF) 1-6, 6-2, 4-3, unfinished
3. Sebastian Harrison (SAM) vs. Jack Deveney (WOF) 2-6, 6-2, 4-1, unfinished
4. Santiago Arrendondo (SAM) def. Daniel Clivio (WOF) 6-7, 3-0, unfinished
5. Lukas Dvorak (SAM) def. Jack Burdell (WOF) 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
6. Cooper Errey (SAM) def. Ian Rasheed (WOF) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles Competition
1. Sandeep Mohandoss/Darcy Nicholls (SAM) def. Val Dubin/Jack Deveney (WOF) 7-5
2. Sebastian Harrison/Vitorio Sardinha (SAM) def. Hugo Rask/Parker Mariencheck (WOF) 6-4
3. Lukas Dvorak/Cooper Errey (SAM) def. Ian Rasheed/Owen Dooley (WOF) 6-4

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1) Singles (6,1,5)

*****

2026 SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Champions Club
Thursday, April 16
Match 1: No. 1 ETSU 4, No. 8 The Citadel 0
Match 2: No. 4 Mercer 4, No. 5 Furman 1
Match 3: No. 3 Chattanooga 4, No. 6 UNCG 3
Match 4: No. 2 Samford 4, No. 7 Wofford 0

Friday, April 17
Match 5: No. 1 ETSU vs. No. 4 Mercer, 2 p.m.
Match 6: No. 3 Chattanooga vs. No. 2 Samford, 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 18
Match 7: Match 5 winner vs. Match 6 winner, 1 p.m.

SoCon Women’s Tennis Championship day one complete

Unknown — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The top four seeds advanced out of the quarterfinals of the 2026 Southern Conference Women’s Tennis Championship on Thursday. The tournament is being contested at the Champions Club, with the semifinals set for Friday at 10 a.m.

No. 1 seed and defending champion Furman will meet the No. 4 seed Wofford, and No. 2 seed ETSU will face third-seeded Chattanooga for the right to advance to Saturday’s title match.

No. 1 Furman 4, No. 8 Western Carolina 0

Regular-season champion Furman got its tournament title chase going with a shutout win over eighth-seeded Western Carolina.

The Paladins’ Lillie Murphy and Elle Warren, whom are the 46^th-ranked doubles tandem in the country, earned a 6-1 victory at No. 1 doubles. Bianca Ceroni and Macy Hitchcock defeated Zoe Lui and Kelly Coetzee, 6-1, at the No. 2 position, giving Furman the doubles point.

Murphy won 4-0 at No. 1 singles following an injury retirement. Ceroni and Dimitrov each won in straight sets at the No. 4 and No. 5 positions, respectively, clinching the match for the Paladins.

Furman has now reached the semifinals in each SoCon Championship since the tournament format changed in 1998.

Singles competition
1. Lillie Murphy (FUR) def. Mariya Dobreva (WCU) 4-0, retired
2. Elle Warren (FUR) vs. Mia Miranda (WCU) 4-6, 6-2, unfinished
3. Macy Hitchcock (FUR) vs. Jenelle Roberts (WCU) 3-6, 4-3, unfinished
4. Bianca Ceroni (FUR) def. Axelle Van Beurden (WCU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Sasha Dimitrov (FUR) def. Kelly Coetzee (WCU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Lily Doherty (FUR) vs. Zoe Lui (WCU) 6-2, 5-2, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Elle Warren/Lillie Murphy (FUR) def. Mariya Dobreva/Mia Miranda (WCU) 6-1

2. Bianca Ceroni/Macy Hitchcock (FUR) def. Zoe Lui/Kelly Coetzee (WCU) 6-1
3. Sasha Dimitrov/Molly Robinson (FUR) vs. Jenelle Roberts/Axelle Van Beurden (WCU) 4-3, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,4,5)

*****

No. 4 Wofford 4, No. 5 Samford 0

Fourth-seeded Wofford topped No. 5 seed Samford, 4-0, on Thursday.

The Terriers won at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions to secure the doubles point as Grace Agster and Quinn Bernthal, a first-team all-conference duo, defeated Lea Erenda and Sara Erenda, 6-2, and Chloe Elliot and Ella Suk took a 6-4 victory against Eleni Liakonis and Hailey Troup, respectively.

Wofford swept through singles play, topping Samford at the No. 1, 2 and 6 positions. At No. 1, Agster, a second-team all-conference selection in singles, defeated Lea Eranda, 6-2, 6-0. Bernthal was victorious, 6-1, before retirement in the second flight. Marie Henriksen picked up a win in straight sets at the No. 6 spot, winning 6-3, 6-1, over Grace Keller.

Singles competition
1. Grace Agster (WOF) def. Lea Erenda (SAM) 6-2, 6-0
2. Quinn Bernthal (WOF) def. Sara Erenda (SAM) 6-1, retired
3. Katie Godfree (WOF) vs. Laila Fishman (SAM) 7-5, 2-3, unfinished
4. Ella Suk (WOF) vs. Eleni Liakonis (SAM) 7-5, 1-2, unfinished
5. Chloe Elliot (WOF) vs. Cathy Cardona (SAM) 6-4, 3-4, unfinished
6. Marie Henriksen (WOF) def. Grace Keller (SAM) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Grace Agster/Quinn Bernthal (WOF) def. Lea Erenda/Sara Erenda (SAM) 6-2
2. Chloe Elliot/Ella Suk (WOF) def. Eleni Liakonis/Hailey Troup (SAM) 6-3

3. Katie Godfree/Marie Henriksen (WOF) vs. Laila Fishman/Cathy Cardona (SAM) 5-4, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,1,6)

*****

No. 3 Chattanooga 4, No. 6 UNCG 0

No. 3 seed Chattanooga defeated UNCG, who was the sixth seed, in a 4-0 decision.

The top two tandems for Chattanooga were victorious in doubles. First-team all-conference selections Addison Iacono and Rufaro Magarira combined for a 6-4 victory in the No. 1 slot, and Emma Pedretti and Savannah Presson teamed up for a 6-2 win at No. 2.

In singles, Zara Burns won a point at the No. 5 position after logging a 6-0, 6-0, win. Jordan Fenton got a victory at No. 6 after a 6-3, 6-1, victory. Magarira clinched the match for the Mocs with a 6-4, 6-1, triumph in the No. 2 position.

Singles competition
1. Addison Iacono (UTC) vs. Sophia Cedeno (UNCG) 4-6, 3-3, unfinished
2. Rufaro Magarira (UTC) def. Sara Kostic (UNCG) 6-4, 6-1
3. Savannah Presson (UTC) vs. Sydney Bly (UNCG) 4-6, 1-3, unfinished
4. Emma Pedretti (UTC) vs. Kayley Bushnell (UNCG) 4-6, 3-2, unfinished

5. Zara Burns (UTC) vs. lvet Sala Sanchez (UNCG) 6-0, 6-0
6. Jordan Fenton (UTC) def. Sofia Somoano (UNCG) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Addison Iacono/Rufaro Magarira (UTC) def. Sophia Cedeno/lvet Sala Sanchez (UNCG) 6-4
2. Emma Pedretti/Savannah Presson (UTC) def. Sofia Somoano/Kayley Bushnell (UNCG) 6-2
3. Jordan Fenton/Ella Mancuso (UTC) vs. Sydney Bly/Sara Kostic (UNCG) 4-3, unfinished

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,6,2)

*****

No. 2 ETSU 4, No. 7 Mercer 0

Second-seeded ETSU topped No. 7 seed Mercer, 4-0, on Thursday.

The Bucs, who have reached the semifinals every year since joining the league in 2014, claimed the doubles point winning two of the three matches. Niyati Kukreti and Audelie Lesauvage got a 6-2 win in the No. 3 spot.

Following an the ETSU victory, Marina de Diego Quinones and Ines Homberg evened the score for Mercer after a 7-5 win over Mariangel Estrella and Alessandra Caceres. The Bucs would clinch the doubles point at the No. 2 spot as Ksenija Rage and Julia Millan won, 7-5.

In singles, Millan won, 6-1, 6-0, in flight three over Tea Zivic. Estrella avenged her doubles setback with a 6-2, 6-2, victory in the No. 5 position. Lesauvage ended the dual with a 6-3, 6-2, victory over Homberg on court four, advancing ETSU to the next round.

Singles competition
1. Ksenija Rage (ETSU) vs. Marina de Diego Quinones (MER) 2-6, 6-4, 1-0, unfinished
2. Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) vs. Sofiya Tsilavets (MER) 2-6, 7-5, 0-3, unfinished

3. Julia Millan (ETSU) def. Tea Zivic (MER) 6-1, 6-0
4. Audelie Lesauvage (ETSU) def. Ines Homberg (MER) 6-3, 6-2

5. Mariangel Estrella (ETSU) def. Marie Bannmeyer (MER) 6-0, 6-3
6. Niyati Kukreti (ETSU) vs. Valent Abide Talaki 6-4, 5-2, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Marina de Diego Quinones/Ines Homberg (MER) def. Mariangel Estrella/Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) 7-5
2. Ksenija Rage/Julia Millan (ETSU) def. Sofiya Tsilavets/Tea Zivic (MER) 7-5
3. Niyati Kukreti/Audelie Lesauvage (ETSU) def. Marie Bannmeyer/Jelena Gojkovic (MER) 6-2

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,5,4)

*****

2026 SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Champions Club
Thursday, April 16

Match 1: No. 1 Furman 4, No. 8 Western Carolina 0

Match 2: No. 4 Wofford 4, No. 5 Samford 0

Match 3: No. 3 Chattanooga 4, No. 6 UNCG 0

Match 4: No. 2 ETSU 4, No. 7 Mercer 0

Friday, April 17

Match 5: No. 1 Furman vs. No. 4 Wofford, 10:00 a.m.

Match 6: No. 3 Chattanooga vs. No. 2 ETSU, 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, April 18

Match 7: Match 5 winner vs. Match 6 winner, 1 p.m.

SoCon women's tennis postseason awards announced

Unknown — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Lillie Murphy has been named the 2026 Southern Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Year, as announced by the league on Wednesday. Murphy was also voted the SoCon Freshman of the Year, while the Paladins’ Michelle Dasso was named the league’s Coach of the Year. Western Carolina’s Axelle Van Beurden earned the Sportsmanship Award.

Postseason balloting was conducted by the league’s eight head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. The second team features seven singles players due to a tie in voting.

Murphy is Furman’s first SoCon Player of the Year since 2022. She is the program’s 15^th SoCon Freshman of the Year selection. The first-year player from Knoxville, Tennessee, finished the regular season 15-3 in singles, including a perfect 3-0 record at the No. 1 spot. Murphy played the rest of her singles matches in flight two. In doubles, she went 13-2 overall, which includes an 11-0 mark with classmate Elle Warren. A four-time SoCon Player of the Week this season, Murphy earned first-team all-conference recognition at both singles and doubles with Warren. Murphy enters this week’s SoCon Women’s Tennis Championship having won her last 12 singles matches.

Dasso earned her first SoCon Coach of the Year recognition. She led the Paladins to a 15-4 overall mark and a perfect 7-0 record in SoCon play. Furman earned the No. 1 seed for the SoCon tournament with a 6-1 victory over ETSU on April 11. Under her direction this season, the Paladins earned three first-team all-conference selections, a second team pick and two all-freshman recognitions.

Van Beurden becomes Western Carolina’s fifth Sportsmanship Award selection, with the most recent coming in 2022. A freshman from Antwerp, Belgium, Van Beurden competed in flight three in the majority of her 19 singles matches this season.

Joining Murphy of the singles all-conference first team were Warren, ETSU’s Alessandra Caceres and Ksenija Rage, and Chattanooga’s Addison Iacono and Rufaro Magarira. On the doubles first team, Murphy and Warren were joined by the ETSU’s Caceres and Mariangel Estrella, and Wofford’s Grace Agster and Quinn Bernthal.

The singles second team is Agster, ETSU’s Julia Millan, Furman’s Macy Hitchcock, Mercer’s Marina de Diego Quinones and Sofiya Tsitavets, UNCG’s Sophia Cedeno, and Western Carolina’s Mariya Dobreva. For doubles, the second-team all-conference picks were the combinations of Millan and Rage, de Diego Quinones and Ines Homberg, and Samford’s Eleni Liakonis and Hailey Troup.

The all-freshman team selections were Estrella, Murphy, Warren, Iacono, Magarira, and UNCG’s Sophia Cedeno.

The SoCon Women’s Tennis Championship begins Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with all eight league teams vying for the title.

2026 Southern Conference Player of the Year

Lillie Murphy, Furman

2026 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year

Lillie Murphy, Furman

2026 Southern Conference Coach of the Year

Michelle Dasso, Furman

2026 Southern Conference Sportsmanship Award

Axelle Van Beurden, Western Carolina

2026 All-Southern Conference Women’s Tennis

First team

Singles

Alessandra Caceres, ETSU

Ksenija Rage, ETSU

Lillie Murphy, Furman

Elle Warren, Furman

Addison Iacono, Chattanooga

Rufaro Magarira, Chattanooga

Doubles
Alessandra Caceres/Mariangel Estrella, ETSU

Elle Warren/Lillie Murphy, Furman
Grace Agster/Quinn Bernthal, Wofford

Second team
Singles

Julia Millan, ETSU

Macy Hitchcock, Furman

Marina de Diego Quinones, Mercer

Sofiya Tsitavets, Mercer

Sophia Cedeno, UNCG

Mariya Dobreva, Western Carolina

Grace Agster, Wofford

Doubles

Julia Millan/Ksenija Rage, ETSU

Marina de Diego Quinones/Ines Homberg, Mercer

Eleni Liakonis/Hailey Troup, Samford

All-Freshman

Mariangel Estrella, ETSU

Lillie Murphy, Furman
Elle Warren, Furman

Sophia Cedeno, UNCG

Addison Iacono, Chattanooga

Rufaro Magarira, Chattanooga

SoCon men's tennis postseason awards announced

Unknown — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Oscar Martinez has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Year, as the league announced its 2026 awards on Wednesday. The Citadel’s Brady Gober has been named the SoCon Freshman of the Year, while Buccaneers coach Ricky Rojas earned SoCon Coach of the Year honor. The Citadel’s Ted Bagwell was named the winner of the Don Bunch/Buddy Hartsell Sportsmanship Award.

Postseason balloting was conducted by the league’s eight head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes.

Martinez becomes the seventh different player to be named SoCon Player from ETSU. The junior from La Guaira, Venezuela, enters postseason action with an 18-1 singles mark, including a 6-1 ledger in SoCon play. Martinez, who played all 19 of his matches at the No. 1 spot for the Bucs, was named SoCon Player of the Week on six occasions during the season. In doubles play, Martinez had a 15-2 record in the regular season, playing all but two of those matches alongside Martin Vergara. Martinez and Vergara both earned first-team all-conference recognition as singles players and were named to the first team as a doubles tandem as well.

Gober is The Citadel’s third SoCon Freshman of the Year selection. The product of Buford, Georgia, picked up nine singles wins this season, including a 4-3 mark in SoCon play. Gober, who was a second-team all-conference selection at singles, combined with Bagwell for nine wins in doubles as well.

Rojas earned his third SoCon Men’s Coach of the Year accolade after leading the Bucs to a 19-3 overall record and a perfect 7-0 mark in league action. Under Rojas’ tutelage, the Buccaneers have not suffered a defeat since January.

Bagwell is the fifth Bulldog to win the Don Bunch/Buddy Hartsell Sportsmanship award. The Douglas, Georgia, native posted a 10-20 mark in singles play, logging the most singles wins for The Citadel this season.

Mercer’s Nemanja Stefanovic and Hod’Abalo Isak Padio, UNCG’s Tymofiy Khrystyuk and Chattanooga’s Jakub Jupa rounded out the singles All-SoCon first team. Stefanovic and Padio earned a spot as a tandem on the doubles first team, and Samford’s Darcy Nicholls and Sandeep Mohandoss claimed the final spot as a first-team doubles selection.

Joining Gober, Nicholls and Mohandoss as singles second-team All-SoCon picks were Furman’s Nico Snyder, Samford’s Sebastian Harrison and Chattanooga’s Julian Franzmann. The second team for doubles consisted of Snyder alongside Nicolas Dispas, Jupa with Cortland Grove and the Samford duo of Lukas Dvorak and Cooper Errey.

Gober and Dvorak were joined on the all-freshman team by Furman’s Landon Ecarma and Finn Pollard, UNCG’s Hector Nissen and Wofford’s Val Dubin.

The SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship begins Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with all eight league teams vying for the title.

2026 Southern Conference Player of the Year
Oscar Martinez, ETSU

2026 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year
Brady Gober, The Citadel

2026 Southern Conference Coach of the Year
Ricky Rojas, ETSU

2026 Southern Conference Don Bunch/Buddy Hartsell Sportsmanship Award
Ted Bagwell, The Citadel

2026 All-Southern Conference Men’s Tennis
First team
Singles
Oscar Martinez, ETSU

Martin Vergara, ETSU
Nemanja Stefanovic, Mercer

Hod’Abalo Isak Padio, Mercer

Tymofiy Khrystyuk, UNCG
Jakub Jupa, Chattanooga

Doubles
Oscar Martinez/Martin Vergara, ETSU

Hod'Abalo Isak Padio/Nemanja Stefanovic, Mercer
Darcy Nicholls/Sandeep Mohandoss, Samford

Second team
Singles
Brady Gober, The Citadel

Nico Snyder, Furman

Sebastian Harrison, Samford

Sandeep Mohandoss, Samford

Darcy Nicholls, Samford

Julian Franzmann, Chattanooga

Doubles
Nico Snyder/Nicolas Dispas, Furman

Lukas Dvorak/Cooper Errey, Samford
Jakub Jupa/Cortland Grove, Chattanooga

All-Freshman Team
Brady Gober, The Citadel

Landon Ecarma, Furman

Finn Pollard, Furman

Hector Nissen, UNCG

Lukas Dvorak, Samford

Val Dubin, Wofford

Samford’s Engel named SoCon Golfer of the Week

Unknown — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford's Grace Engel has been named the Southern Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week for all competitions held April 8–April 14, the league office announced Wednesday.

The Bulldogs competed at the Golfweek/Stifel Spring Challenge, where Engel claimed individual medalist honors in the 100-player field, with a 5-under-par 208.

The Huntsville, Alabama, native’s performance included a total of 32 pars and 15 birdies, over the three rounds.

Engel ranks tenth in the SoCon with an average score of 74.1, according to Scoreboard.

Southern Conference teams now look ahead to the 2026 championship to take place April 20-22 in Blythewood, S.C. at the Columbia Country Club.

2025-26 SoCon Women’s Golfer of the Week

Sept. 10	Audrey Ryu, Furman
Sept. 17	Bella Kent, Wofford
Sept. 24	Audrey Ryu, Furman
Oct. 1	Katie Scheck, Mercer
Oct. 8	Katie Scheck, Mercer
Oct. 15	Sophia Gambini, ETSU
Oct. 22	Julia Baeumken, UNCG
Oct. 29	Riley Kim, Mercer
Nov. 5	Katie Scheck, Mercer
Jan. 28	Gabi Nicastro, Samford
Feb. 4	Audrey Ryu, Furman
Feb. 11	Anika Richards, Samford
Feb. 18	Gabi Nicastro, Samford
Feb. 25	Erin Wells, Chattanooga
March 4	Jenna Madden, Furman
March 11	Gabi Nicastro, Samford
March 18	Olivia Hasselbach, Furman
March 25	Katie Scheck, Mercer
April 1	Gabi Nicastro, Samford
April 15	Grace Engel, Samford

SoCon Announces Men’s Golfer of the Week

Unknown — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, SC – Western Carolina redshirt sophomore Tyler Jones was named Southern Conference Men’s Golfer of the Week for tournaments played between April 8 and April 14.

Jones (Jacksonville, NC / Jacksonville HS) earned his fourth SoCon Golfer of the Week award after winning his third tournament as a Catamount – all this season. He shot all three rounds in the 60s to win the 2026 Wofford Invitational at the Spartanburg Country Club (6,720 yards, Par 71). Jones finished at 9-under par for the tournament, shooting 67-68-69 (204) to win by three strokes. He scored 6.34 strokes lower than the field average on the first two days and finished an average of 5.89 strokes better than the field for the tournament. Jones led the field with 41 pars and led the Catamounts’ quintet with 11 birdies. He also led the field in Par 4 scoring (3.82) and was second in Par 3 scoring (2.92).

Jones leads the SoCon this season with a 70.24 scoring average over 29 rounds, with 15 rounds with a score in the 60s to date. In addition to his three medalist performances, Jones has finished second or third three times.

Also nominated: Dax Isbell (UNC Greensboro), Henry Robards (Mercer), Gavin Tiernan (ETSU).

2025-26 SoCon Men’s Golfer of the Week

Sep. 10 – Tyler Jones, R-So., Western Carolina (Jacksonville, NC)

Sep. 17 – Harris Barth, Sr., Furman (Atlanta, GA)

Oct. 1 – Andrew Korytoski, Jr., Western Carolina (Cataula, GA)

Oct. 8 – Harris Barth, Sr., Furman (Atlanta, GA)

Oct. 15 – Gavin Isbell, So., Samford (Trussville, AL)

Oct. 22 – Ward Harris, So., Chattanooga (Birmingham, AL)

Nov. 5 – Yannick Malik, Sr., ETSU (Munich, Germany)

Feb. 4 – Tyler Jones, R-So., Western Carolina (Jacksonville, NC)

Feb. 11 – Kelvin Hernandez, Jr., UNC Greensboro (Caguas, Puerto Rico)

Feb. 18 – Tyler Jones, R-So., Western Carolina (Jacksonville, NC)

Feb. 25 – Kelvin Hernandez, Jr., UNC Greensboro (Caguas, Puerto Rico)

Mar. 4 – Camden Braidech, Jr., Chattanooga (Scottsdale, AZ)

Mar. 11 – Oli Blackadder, Fr., ETSU (Aberdeen, Scotland)

Mar. 18 – Jace Butcher, Jr., Western Carolina (Kennesaw, GA)

Mar. 25 – Henry Robards, So., Mercer (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL)

Apr. 1 – Dax Isbell, Sr., UNC Greensboro (Cumming, GA)

Apr. 8 – Evan Rogers, Fr., Chattanooga (Duluth, GA)

Apr. 15 – Tyler Jones, R-So., Western Carolina (Jacksonville, NC)

SoCon announces Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

Unknown — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford’s Bradley Franklin and Bryce Davis have been named this week’s men’s outdoor track and field athletes of the week, respectively. Furman’s Annie Miller and Samford’s Lindsey Havens have been selected as the women’s outdoor track and field athletes of the week, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Havens cleared an outdoor personal best of 3.93m at the Crimson Tide Invitational, leading the conference by 10 inches in the pole vault.

Miller placed first overall in the 3,000‑meter steeplechase at the Duke Invitational. Her time of 10:13.12 leads the SoCon, ranks seventh in the NCAA East, and 20th nationally.

Davis recorded a personal best throw of 55.67m to take the conference lead and finish seventh at the Crimson Tide Invitational.

Franklin ran 13.58 into a 1.3 headwind at the Alabama Invite to win the men’s 110‑meter hurdles. He also posted a conference leading 21.06 in the 200 meters.

The Bulldogs will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, for the Georgia Tech Invitational on April 17–18, while the Paladins compete at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 17 in Azusa, California.

2025-26 Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week

March 18	Men’s Track – Trevor Williams, WCU Men’s Field – Austin Cline, WCU Women’s Track – Shaneil Lysight, WCU Women’s Field – Ellison Chadwick, Samford
March 25	Men’s Track – Trevor Williams, WCU Men’s Field – Austin Cline, WCU Women’s Track – Naturale Faison, VMI Women’s Field – Sadler Miller, WCU
April 1	Men's Track - Albert Velikonja, Furman Men's Field - Bryce Davis, Samford Women's Track - Aaliyah Mbenda, Samford Women's Field - JT Shaw, Samford
April 8	Men's Track - Christian Roberts, WCU Men's Field - Austin Cline, WCU Women's Track - Taylor Jennings-Ward, Wofford Women's Field - Toria Roundtree, WCU
April 15	Men’s Track – Bradley Franklin, Samford Men’s Field – Bryce Davis, Samford Women’s Track – Annie Miller, Furman Women’s Field – Lindsey Havens, Samford

Also Nominated

Women’s Field – Jasmine Greene, WCU

Women’s Track –

Jess Edwards, Samford

Naturale Faison, VMI

Cymoria Thomas, WCU

Men’s Track – Brayden Seymour, Furman

Men’s Field – J.J. Hudson, The Citadel

Anthony Hawkins, wCU

Furman’s Elle Warren named SoCon player of the week

Unknown — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Elle Warren has been named the Southern Conference women’s tennis player of the week for all matches played from April 7-13, the conference announced on Tuesday. The award is selected by the league office.

Warren, who also won the honor on Jan. 27 and March 31, led Furman to a 6-1 win at ETSU on April 11, which clinched the SoCon regular season title for the Paladins. Furman and ETSU each came into the dual unbeaten in SoCon play. The freshman from Canton, Ohio, combined with teammate Lillie Murphy for a 7-5 doubles win, before getting a 6-4, 7-5 victory in singles. Warren completed in flight one in both matchups.

Furman enters the SoCon Tennis Championship as the No. 1 seed and will face No. 8 seed Western Carolina in the quarterfinals at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at 8:30 a.m. on April 16.

Also nominated: Mariangel Estrella (ETSU), Sara Kostic (UNCG), and Rufaro Magarira (Chattanooga)

2026 SoCon Women’s Tennis Players of the Week
Jan. 20 Lillie Murphy, Fr., Furman

Jan. 27 Elle Warren, Fr., Furman

Feb. 3 Eleni Liakonis, So., Samford

Feb. 10 Addison Iacono, Fr., Chattanooga

Feb. 17 Mariya Dobreva, So., Western Carolina

Feb. 24 Savannah Presson, So., Chattanooga

March 3 Ksenija Rage, So., ETSU

March 10 Lillie Murphy, Fr., Furman

March 17 Rufaro Magarira, So., Chattanooga

March 24 Lillie Murphy, Fr., Furman

March 31 Elle Warren, Fr., Furman

April 7 Lillie Murphy, Fr., Furman

April 14 Elle Warren, Fr., Furman

Mercer’s Nemanja Stefanovic named SoCon player of the week

Unknown — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer’s Nemanja Stefanovic has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Week for all competition from April 7-13. The selection is made by the league office.

Stefanovic got four wins playing in the No. 1 flight over a pair of duals against Samford and The Citadel last week. On April 7, the senior won 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), in singles, and combined with teammate Hod'Abalo Isak Padio for a 7-6 (7-3) win as the Bears had a 4-3 setback against Samford. The native of Oakville, Ontario, won in straight sets, and joined Padio again for a 6-1 win in doubles as Mercer topped The Citadel, 7-0, on April 11.

Mercer, who is the No. 4 seed, opens the SoCon Tennis Championship against No. 5 seed Furman at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at 1 p.m. on April 16.

Also nominated: Oscar Martinez (ETSU), Nico Snyder (Furman), and Julian Franzmann (Chattanooga)

2026 SoCon Men’s Tennis Players of the Week
Jan. 20 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

Jan. 27 Martin Vergara, R-So., ETSU

Feb. 3 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

Feb. 10 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

Feb. 17 Nico Snyder, So., Furman

Feb. 24 Jakub Jupa, Jr., Chattanooga

March 3 Kai Cowcher, Jr., ETSU

March 10 Santiago Arredondo, Sr., Samford

March 17 Tymofiy Khrystyuk, Sr., UNCG

March 24 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

March 31 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

April 7 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

April 14 Nemanja Stefanovic, Sr., Mercer

SoCon Softball Player, Pitcher of the Week announced

Unknown — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford infielder Brianna Stanley and Samford right-hander Makinley Turner have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for their efforts from April 6-12. The awards are selected by the league office.

Stanley, who won the honor for the third time this season, hit .714 over the weekend against UNCG, along with a two-RBI outing in a 5-2 midweek win at Winthrop last week. In the opening game of the series with the Spartans on April 11, the sophomore was 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and a walk in a 7-3 victory. Later that day, Stanley had a hit and a walk in a 3-1 setback. In the series finale on April 12, the native of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, finished with two hits, two walks and a RBI.

Turner had two appearances inside the circle, including one start, last week for Samford. The junior tossed four innings of relief on April 11, striking out a pair of batters in a 2-1 setback. The next day, the product of Thorsby, Alabama, tossed a complete-game shutout, logging eight strikeouts and allowing one hit in a 3-0 win.

Wofford (27-12, 5-7 SoCon) plays at USC Upstate on April 15, before traveling to ETSU for a weekend series on April 18-19. Samford (18-26, 8-4) hosts second-ranked Alabama on April 14 and welcomes Furman on April 18-19.

Other nominees for player of the week: Sylvia Burroughs (Furman), Avery Bouquin (UNCG), and Ava Cowart (Chattanooga)

Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Jamison Noonan (Furman), Rhyann Jones (UNCG), and Taylor Long (Chattanooga)

2026 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 9 Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

Feb. 16 Olivia Shaw, Jr., SS, Samford

Feb. 23 Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

March 2 Riley Croley, Fr., 3B, ETSU

March 9 Maya McPherson, Jr., 3B, Western Carolina

March 16 Avery Barton, Sr., SS, Mercer

March 23 Maya McPherson, Jr., 3B, Western Carolina

March 30 Katie Campbell, Jr., C/1B, Samford

April 6 Baileigh Pitts, Sr., 1B, Chattanooga

April 13 Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

2026 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week

Feb. 9 Madison Starr, Jr., Mercer

Feb. 16 Abby Greenwood, Jr., Wofford

Feb. 23 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 2 Gabrielle Fowler, Jr., ETSU

March 9 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 16 Amanda Fulton, So., Western Carolina

March 23 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 30 Reese Hickey, Fr., Samford

April 6 Kristyn Embler, Fr., Furman

April 13 Makinley Turner, So., Samford

SoCon Announces Weekly Baseball Awards

Unknown — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, SC – Western Carolina freshman outfielder Jaylen Jones was named SoCon Baseball Player of the Week, and Wofford junior pitcher Alec Bouchard was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week following games played from April 6 through April 12.

Jones (Loganville, GA / Loganville HS) batted .438 over four games for the Catamounts, sparking a SoCon sweep of Mercer over the weekend. He went 7-of-16 at the plate with seven runs scored, seven RBI, two stolen bases, one double, one triple, and an inside-the-park home run. He went 3-for-4 in the Friday win over Mercer with two RBI, then followed by scoring five runs and driving in three to power a 17-9 win that clinched the series on Saturday. Jones had a pair of hits and two RBI in a midweek battle with USC Upstate last Tuesday. Jones posted a strong .500 on base percentage with 13 total bases for the week. He nine chances cleanly in centerfield, including one outfield assist.

Jones has been strong for Western Carolina this season, starting 35 times with a .311 batting average, 38 runs scored, nine doubles, 23 RBI, and 12 stolen bases.

Bouchard (Soddy Daisy, TN / Notre Dame HS) continued his dominance in a starting role on the mound, firing 7.0 shutout innings with a season-high 12 strikeouts in a 2-0 Friday night win at The Citadel. Bouchard scattered five singles in the win and, with his team clinging to a 1-0 lead, retired the final nine batters he faced before leaving the game to his bullpen over the final two frames. The performance comes on the heels of another sterling effort, which saw Bouchard toss 7.0 innings with nine strikeouts in last Friday’s 9-2 win at VMI. He has allowed only one earned run with 21 strikeouts over his last 14.0 innings of work.

Bouchard is now 6-2 with a 1.64 ERA in nine starts this season. He leads the SoCon with 61 strikeouts, and paces the conference in wins, ERA, and strikeouts per nine innings (11.1). He ranks in the top three in the SoCon with 49.1 innings pitched, a .213 opponents’ batting average, and a 1.14 WHIP.

In three SoCon starts, Bouchard is 3-0 with an 0.90 ERA and 28 strikeouts in only 20.0 innings pitched.

Also Nominated for Player of the Week: TJ Anderson (The Citadel), Tanner Berry (UNC Greensboro), Cole Cook (VMI), Braydon Kersey (Mercer), Jamie Palmese (ETSU), Jake Souders (Samford), Logan Tribble (Wofford).

Also Nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Noah Berry (Samford), Jake Colucci (UNC Greensboro), Michael Harpster (ETSU), Caleb Hughes (Mercer), Mason Snyder (Western Carolina).

2025-26 SoCon Player of the Week

Feb. 16 – Andrew Quarless, R-So., Western Carolina (C, Winston-Salem, NC)

Feb. 23 – Braydon Kersey, Jr., Mercer (DH/INF, Alpharetta, GA)

Mar. 2 – Titan Kamaka, Sr., Mercer (SS, Orlando, FL)

Mar. 9 – Grayson Fitzwater, Sr., VMI (1B, Suffolk, VA)

Mar. 16 – Grayson Fitzwater, Sr., VMI (1B, Suffolk, VA)

Mar. 23 – Tristan Curless, Sr., ETSU (1B/P, Amarillo, TX)

Mar. 30 – Parker McDonald, Sr., Samford (3B, Tallahassee, FL)

Apr. 6 – Ben Timblin, So., Wofford (Signal Mountain, TN)

Apr. 13 – Jaylen Jones, R-Fr., Western Carolina (Loganville, GA)

2025-26 SoCon Pitcher of the Week

Feb. 16 – Andrew Marble, Jr., Samford (RHP, Hurley, MS)

Feb. 23 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA)

Mar. 2 – Bryce Coulter, Jr., The Citadel (RHP, Sumter, SC)

Mar. 9 – Mason Snyder, Jr., Western Carolina (RHP, Ocilla, GA)

Mar. 16 – Carter Burnette, So., Western Carolina (RHP, Asheville, NC)

Mar. 23 – Joseph Lee, Sr., Samford (RHP, San Jose, CA)

Mar. 30 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA)

Apr. 6 – Mason Snyder, Jr., Western Carolina (RHP, Ocilla, GA)

Apr. 13 – Alec Bouchard, Jr., Wofford (RHP, Soddy Daisy, TN)

The Southern Conference and CBS Sports Expand Television Package

Unknown — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, SC – The Southern Conference (SoCon) and CBS Sports announced a multi-year extension of their media rights agreement, significantly expanding the conference’s national men’s basketball exposure and continuing a valued partnership through the 2031-32 season.

Beginning in 2026-27, CBS Sports Network will televise 10 Southern Conference regular-season men’s basketball games annually, doubling the previous annual commitment and further elevating the league’s national linear presence. The extended agreement ensures consistent national exposure for SoCon men’s basketball across one of the country’s leading sports television platforms. As the long-time broadcast home of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, CBS brings its nationally recognized basketball platform that aligns with the SoCon’s tradition of excellence and March Madness success.

“This extension with CBS Sports represents a significant step forward in the continued growth and visibility of Southern Conference men’s basketball,” said SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross. “By doubling our annual national linear exposure on CBS Sports Network, we are creating greater opportunities for our student-athletes, enhancing the profile of our member institutions, and reinforcing the strength and momentum of our league. We value our partnership with CBS Sports and look forward to building on this collaboration in the years ahead.”

The renewed partnership reinforces the SoCon’s long-term media stability and strengthens its multi-network national distribution strategy. The SoCon and CBS Sports will work together to target unique television windows that maximize visibility. In combination with the conference’s broader media portfolio, the agreement guarantees SoCon men’s basketball a significant and sustained presence on national linear television throughout the year.

Expanded National Showcase for SoCon Men’s Basketball

Under the extension, CBS Sports Network will continue to feature marquee regular-season matchups, showcasing the depth and competitive strength of SoCon men’s basketball. The expanded slate provides additional opportunities for student-athletes and member institutions to compete on a national stage while offering fans consistent access to premier conference contests.

The agreement runs through the conclusion of the 2031-32 men’s basketball season, aligning with the conference’s broader long-term media strategy and ensuring continuity across key broadcast partnerships.

The SoCon retained TrailRunner Sports to advise on the negotiation.

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

The Southern Conference, headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., includes 10 member institutions across six states: The Citadel, East Tennessee State University, Furman University, Mercer University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Samford University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Virginia Military Institute, Western Carolina University, and Wofford College. Tennessee Tech University will join the SoCon as a full member on July 1, 2027.

ABOUT CBS SPORTS NETWORK

CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour cable home of CBS Sports, is widely available through all major cable, satellite and telco distributors as well as via OTT streaming service providers YouTube TV, Fubo, DIRECTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV. Additionally, a live CBS Sports Network stream is available through CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports App by authenticating with select providers. For more information, including a full programming schedule, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com .

SoCon Women’s Tennis Championship pairings announced

Unknown — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman has earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Southern Conference Women’s Tennis Championship, which will be contested on April 16-18 at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The 71^st-ranked Paladins, who captured their 28^th regular season crown, will enter the tournament with a 15-4 overall record and a 7-0 mark in SoCon matches. Furman defeated ETSU, 6-1, in a battle of conference unbeatens to clinch the regular season title on April 11.

The Paladins will face No. 8 seed Western Carolina in the quarterfinals of the tournament at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. This will be the third consecutive year that the two teams meet in the conference tournament, with Furman winning the last two matchups.

No. 4 seed Wofford went 11-7 overall and 4-3 in SoCon play and will take on No. 5 seed Samford, which enters the tournament 11-10 overall and 3-4 in league matches, at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. The Terriers were victorious in the first matchup of the season, claiming a 4-3 victory on March 28.

In the bottom half of the bracket, second-seeded ETSU faces No. 7 Mercer at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. The Buccaneers defeated the Bears, 5-2, in Macon on March 26. The two squads last met in the tournament in the 2024 semifinals, which ended in a ETSU 4-1 victory.

The final matchup of the quarterfinals pairs No. 3 seed Chattanooga and No. 6 seed UNCG at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. In the first meeting of the season, the Mocs claimed a 5-2 win on March 15.

Friday’s semifinals are at 10 a.m., with Saturday’s title match set for 1 p.m.

Among current members, Furman owns a league-best 22 SoCon tournament titles, while Chattanooga has won five and ETSU has won three.

2026 SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Champions Club
Thursday, April 16

Match 1: No. 1 Furman vs. No. 8 Western Carolina, 8:30 a.m.

Match 2: No. 4 Wofford vs. No. 5 Samford, 8:30 a.m.

Match 3: No. 3 Chattanooga vs. No. 6 UNCG, 10:30 a.m.

Match 4: No. 2 ETSU vs. No. 7 Mercer, 10:30 a.m.

Friday, April 17

Match 5: Match 1 winner vs. Match 2 winner, 10:00 a.m.

Match 6: Match 3 winner vs. Match 4 winner, 10:00 a.m.

Saturday, April 18

Match 7: Match 5 winner vs. Match 6 winner, 1 p.m.

SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship Pairings Announced

Unknown — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The ETSU Buccaneers went a perfect 7-0 in conference play, securing the regular season championship and the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament. The SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship will be contested on April 16-18 at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Bucs finished the regular season with a 6-1 victory at The Citadel on April 8, pushing their overall record to 19-3. ETSU, who comes into the championship on a 19-match winning streak, looks to reclaim the tournament title after being upset in the semifinals a year ago. Prior to that, the Bucs had won the tournament every year it had been contested since rejoining the SoCon in 2014-15 school year. ETSU will face No. 8 seed The Citadel in the first round of the tournament on Thursday at 1 p.m.

On the same side of the bracket, No. 4 seed Mercer faces No. 5 seed Furman at 1 p.m. on Thursday. The Paladins edged out the Bears, 5-2, in Macon back on March 17. Both finished the regular season with a 4-3 record in league play.

In the bottom half of the bracket, third-seeded Chattanooga faces No. 6 seed UNCG at 3 p.m. on Thursday. The Mocs, who will be vying for their first tournament title since 2000, went 10-11 overall and 4-3 in SoCon play. The Spartans, the sixth seed for the second consecutive year, will be looking for their first tournament win since the 2017 season.

No. 2 seed Samford, the defending tournament champion, faces No. 7 seed Wofford on Thursday at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs went 14-6 overall and 6-1 in SoCon play. In the two teams’ first meeting this season, Samford was victorious, 7-0, in Birmingham on March 1.

Friday’s semifinals are at 2 p.m., with Saturday’s title match set for 1 p.m.

2026 SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Champions Club
Thursday, April 16
Match 1: No. 1 ETSU vs. No. 8 The Citadel, 1 p.m.
Match 2: No. 4 Mercer vs. No. 5 Furman, 1 p.m.
Match 3: No. 3 Chattanooga vs. No. 6 UNCG, 3 p.m.
Match 4: No. 2 Samford vs. No. 7 Wofford, 3 p.m.

Friday, April 17
Match 5: Match 1 winner vs. Match 2 winner, 2 p.m.
Match 6: Match 3 winner vs. Match 4 winner, 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 18
Match 7: Match 5 winner vs. Match 6 winner, 1 p.m.

SoCon Announces Men’s Golfer of the Week

Unknown — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, SC – Chattanooga freshman Evan Rogers was named Southern Conference Men’s Golfer of the Week for tournaments played between April 1 and April 7.

Rogers (Duluth, GA / Hebron Christian Academy) shot 70-69-70 (209) to capture medalist honors at the 2026 Racer Intercollegiate at the Country Club of Paducah in Kentucky. Rogers finished each round at least four strokes better than the tournament average, using 12 birdies and 37 pars to edge Austin Peay’s Patton Samuels (210) and teammate Camden Braidech(211). He finished with a 4.42 stroke average on Par 5 holes, which led the tournament. His 69.67 stroke average over 54 holes was more than five strokes better than the tournament average (74.87). Rogers was at his best in cool and windy conditions, with only 10 other golfers finishing under par for the tournament. It was Rogers' third top-10 finish of the season, and his highest since finishing fifth at the 2025 Visit Knoxville Collegiate in early September. He leads all SoCon freshmen this season with a 72.75 stroke average over 24 rounds.

Rogers’ individual excellence lifted the Mocs to a team title on the 6,924-yard course, beating second-place North Dakota State by 20 strokes. Chattanooga posted a season-best 19-under par (845), which is tied for the sixth lowest team score vs. par in program history. Coach Blaine Woodruff’s squad is 35 strokes under par over its last eight rounds of golf.

Also nominated: Harris Barth (Furman), Josemaria Gutierrez (Mercer), Keenan Royalty (UNC Greensboro).

2025-26 SoCon Men’s Golfer of the Week

Sep. 10 – Tyler Jones, R-So., Western Carolina (Jacksonville, NC)

Sep. 17 – Harris Barth, Sr., Furman (Atlanta, GA)

Oct. 1 – Andrew Korytoski, Jr., Western Carolina (Cataula, GA)

Oct. 8 – Harris Barth, Sr., Furman (Atlanta, GA)

Oct. 15 – Gavin Isbell, So., Samford (Trussville, AL)

Oct. 22 – Ward Harris, So., Chattanooga (Birmingham, AL)

Nov. 5 – Yannick Malik, Sr., ETSU (Munich, Germany)

Feb. 4 – Tyler Jones, R-So., Western Carolina (Jacksonville, NC)

Feb. 11 – Kelvin Hernandez, Jr., UNC Greensboro (Caguas, Puerto Rico)

Feb. 18 – Tyler Jones, R-So., Western Carolina (Jacksonville, NC)

Feb. 25 – Kelvin Hernandez, Jr., UNC Greensboro (Caguas, Puerto Rico)

Mar. 4 – Camden Braidech, Jr., Chattanooga (Scottsdale, AZ)

Mar. 11 – Oli Blackadder, Fr., ETSU (Aberdeen, Scotland)

Mar. 18 – Jace Butcher, Jr., Western Carolina (Kennesaw, GA)

Mar. 25 – Henry Robards, So., Mercer (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL)

Apr. 1 – Dax Isbell, Sr., UNC Greensboro (Cumming, GA)

Apr. 8 – Evan Rogers, Fr., Chattanooga (Duluth, GA)

SoCon announces Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

Unknown — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina’s Christian Roberts, Austin Cline, and Toria Roundtree have been named the Southern Conference men’s track, men’s field, and women’s field outdoor athletes of the week, respectively. Wofford’s Taylor Jennings‑Ward has been selected as the women’s outdoor track athlete of the week, the conference office announced Wednesday.

This week’s honorees competed at the VertKlasse Meeting hosted by High Point University.

Jennings‑Ward ran a personal‑best 54.91 in the 400‑meter dash. She finished third at the meet, and her time now leads all Southern Conference performances.

Roundtree recorded a conference‑leading 45.98m in the discus. The mark also ranks as the third‑best performance in Western Carolina program history.

Roberts ran 52.71 in the 400‑meter hurdles to place second and set the conference‑leading mark. He also clocked 14.35 in the 110‑meter hurdles, another conference‑leading performance, finishing fifth overall.

Cline placed third in the hammer throw with a mark of 55.38m, improving his No. 5 all‑time performance in program history. The junior now leads the league by just under two meters.

Wofford and Western Carolina are set to compete next at the Duke Invitational.

Also nominated
Garner Ezell, Samford	Men’s Field
McCrary Beaty, WCU	Women’s Track
Jayla Simmons, Mercer	Women’s Field
Laurel Phelps, Samford	Women’s Field

2025-26 Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week

March 18	Men’s Track – Trevor Williams, WCU Men’s Field – Austin Cline, WCU Women’s Track – Shaneil Lysight, WCU Women’s Field – Ellison Chadwick, Samford
March 25	Men’s Track – Trevor Williams, WCU Men’s Field – Austin Cline, WCU Women’s Track – Naturale Faison, VMI Women’s Field – Sadler Miller, WCU
April 1	Men's Track - Albert Velikonja, Furman Men's Field - Bryce Davis, Samford Women's Track - Aaliyah Mbenda, Samford Women's Field - JT Shaw, Samford
April 8	Men's Track - Christian Roberts, WCU Men's Field - Austin Cline, WCU Women's Track - Taylor Jennings-Ward, Wofford Women's Field - Toria Roundtree, WCU

Furman’s Lillie Murphy named SoCon player of the week

Unknown — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Lillie Murphy has been named the Southern Conference women’s tennis player of the week for all matches played from March 31-April 6, the conference announced on Tuesday. The award is selected by the league office.

Murphy, who won the honor for the fourth time this season, went 4-0 over singles and doubles play last week as Furman topped Wofford and Chattanooga. In a 7-0 win over Wofford on March 31, the freshman combined with Elle Warren for a 6-2 win in doubles, before winning, 6-1, 6-1, in singles. Three days later, the native of Knoxville, Tennessee, won, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, in her topflight singles match, and teamed up with Warren once again for a 6-2 victory in doubles.

Furman concludes its regular season at ETSU on April 11. The winner of that match will be the outright SoCon regular season champion and the top seed in the SoCon Tennis Championships.

Also nominated: Alessandra Caceres (ETSU) and Marina de Diego Quinones (Mercer)

2026 SoCon Women’s Tennis Players of the Week
Jan. 20 Lillie Murphy, Fr., Furman

Jan. 27 Elle Warren, Fr., Furman

Feb. 3 Eleni Liakonis, So., Samford

Feb. 10 Addison Iacono, Fr., Chattanooga

Feb. 17 Mariya Dobreva, So., Western Carolina

Feb. 24 Savannah Presson, So., Chattanooga

March 3 Ksenija Rage, So., ETSU

March 10 Lillie Murphy, Fr., Furman

March 17 Rufaro Magarira, So., Chattanooga

March 24 Lillie Murphy, Fr., Furman

March 31 Elle Warren, Fr., Furman

April 7 Lillie Murphy, Fr., Furman

ETSU’s Oscar Martinez named SoCon player of the week

Unknown — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Oscar Martinez has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Week for all competition from March 31-April 6. The selection is made by the league office.

Martinez, who won the award for the sixth time this season, led ETSU to wins over Chattanooga and Furman, clinching at least a share of the SoCon regular season crown. On April 2, the junior topped the Mocs’ Jakub Jupa, (6-2, 6-7(5-7), 10-7), ending Jupa’s 13-match singles winning streak as ETSU won, 7-0. Against Furman on April 6, the native of La Guaira, Venezuela, picked up a 6-3, 6-3, win over Nico Snyder in singles en route to leading Chattanooga to a 5-2 victory. In doubles play, Martinez teamed up with Martin Vergara for a 6-3 win versus Chattanooga, and a 6-1 victory at Furman. Martinez, who has been the Bucs’ No. 1 player all season, currently holds a 17-1 record in singles play.

ETSU concludes its regular season at The Citadel on April 8.

Also nominated: Nemanja Stefanovic (Mercer) and Darcy Nicholls (Samford)

2026 SoCon Men’s Tennis Players of the Week
Jan. 20 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

Jan. 27 Martin Vergara, R-So., ETSU

Feb. 3 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

Feb. 10 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

Feb. 17 Nico Snyder, So., Furman

Feb. 24 Jakub Jupa, Jr., Chattanooga

March 3 Kai Cowcher, Jr., ETSU

March 10 Santiago Arredondo, Sr., Samford

March 17 Tymofiy Khrystyuk, Sr., UNCG

March 24 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

March 31 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

April 7 Oscar Martinez, Jr., ETSU

SoCon Softball Player, Pitcher of the Week announced

Unknown — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga infielder Baileigh Pitts and Furman right-hander Kristyn Embler have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for their efforts from March 30-April 5. The awards are selected by the league office.

Pitts hit .615 over four games as Chattanooga went 3-1 last week. In an 8-7 win over Georgia State on March 31, the senior sparked a seventh-inning rally with a sac fly as the Mocs scored five runs in the frame, sending the game to extras before hitting a walk-off two-run double in the eighth inning. The native of Ringgold, Georgia, had a home run and a RBI single in the team’s 8-0 win over Mercer in the first game of their series against the Bears on April 3. Later that day, Pitts was 2-for-4 with a run scored in a 6-5 10-inning triumph. In the series finale on April 4, Pitts had two hits and a pair of walks in a 5-2 setback versus Mercer.

Embler threw a complete-game shutout, striking out two batters and surrendering zero extra base hits in a 3-0 win at UNCG on April 4. The freshman’s performance inside the circle fueled the Paladins’ first conference win of the season and gave the Spartans their first conference defeat of 2026. Along with her strong performance as a pitcher, the native of Harrisburg, North Carolina, drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single in the first inning.

Chattanooga (15-21-1, 3-6 SoCon) welcomes ETSU for a weekend series on April 11-12. Furman (6-30, 1-8) hosts a doubleheader against Presbyterian on April 7, before going to Mercer for a series on April 11-12.

Other nominees for player of the week: Macy Michael (UNCG), Maya McPherson (Western Carolina), and Brianna Stanley (Wofford)

Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Taylor Long (Chattanooga), Amanda Fulton (Western Carolina), and Margaret Axelson (Wofford)

2026 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 9 Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

Feb. 16 Olivia Shaw, Jr., SS, Samford

Feb. 23 Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

March 2 Riley Croley, Fr., 3B, ETSU

March 9 Maya McPherson, Jr., 3B, Western Carolina

March 16 Avery Barton, Sr., SS, Mercer

March 23 Maya McPherson, Jr., 3B, Western Carolina

March 30 Katie Campbell, Jr., C/1B, Samford

April 6 Baileigh Pitts, Sr., 1B, Chattanooga

2026 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week

Feb. 9 Madison Starr, Jr., Mercer

Feb. 16 Abby Greenwood, Jr., Wofford

Feb. 23 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 2 Gabrielle Fowler, Jr., ETSU

March 9 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 16 Amanda Fulton, So., Western Carolina

March 23 Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 30 Reese Hickey, Fr., Samford

April 6 Kristyn Embler, Fr., Furman

SoCon Announces Weekly Baseball Awards

Unknown — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

SPARTANBURG, SC – Wofford sophomore outfielder Ben Timblin was named SoCon Baseball Player of the Week, and Western Carolina junior reliever Mason Snyder was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week following games played from March 31 through April 5.

Timblin (Signal Mountain, TN / Signal Mountain HS) batted .467 (7-for-15) with five runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and 12 RBI to lead the Terriers in four games last week. In the weekend SoCon series at VMI, Timblin homered in all three games and finished 7-for-12 (.583) with two doubles, three home runs, and all 12 RBI. He drove in five runs in each of the final two games of the series. In the 16-5 win over VMI in the series opener, Timblin went 2-for-3 with a home run and a double. He went 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBI in Friday’s 9-2 win and finished by going 3-for-5 with a double, home run, and five RBI in the series finale. He posted a 1.200 slugging percentage and 1.700 OPS for the week, powered by 18 total bases.

Timblin is batting .336 with six home runs and 40 RBI so far this season for the first-place Terriers (21-11, 5-1 SoCon).

Snyder (Ocilla, GA / Irwin County HS) earned his second SoCon Pitcher of the Week honor after picking up a pair of saves in 4.1 innings of work for the Catamounts this past week. He worked a scoreless frame at Presbyterian on Tuesday night, before closing out the series opener vs. Winthrop with 3.0 innings of scoreless relief work on Thursday. Snyder came on for the final two outs in the series clincher Saturday, stranding the tying run at third base in a 7-6 win over the Eagles.

Snyder is 3-0 this season with a 1.20 ERA and two saves in 13 appearances this season.

Also Nominated for Player of the Week: Jacob Budzik (UNC Greensboro), Tristan Curless (ETSU), Grayson Fitzwater (VMI), Garrett Fulmer (The Citadel), Michael Graziano (Mercer), Jake Souders (Samford), Trent Turner (Western Carolina).

Also Nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Alec Bouchard (Wofford), Noah Chapman (UNC Greensboro), Michael Gibson (The Citadel), Garrett Lambert (Mercer).

2025-26 SoCon Player of the Week

Feb. 16 – Andrew Quarless, R-So., Western Carolina (C, Winston-Salem, NC)

Feb. 23 – Braydon Kersey, Jr., Mercer (DH/INF, Alpharetta, GA)

Mar. 2 – Titan Kamaka, Sr., Mercer (SS, Orlando, FL)

Mar. 9 – Grayson Fitzwater, Sr., VMI (1B, Suffolk, VA)

Mar. 16 – Grayson Fitzwater, Sr., VMI (1B, Suffolk, VA)

Mar. 23 – Tristan Curless, Sr., ETSU (1B/P, Amarillo, TX)

Mar. 30 – Parker McDonald, Sr., Samford (3B, Tallahassee, FL)

Apr. 6 – Ben Timblin, So., Wofford (Signal Mountain, TN)

2025-26 SoCon Pitcher of the Week

Feb. 16 – Andrew Marble, Jr., Samford (RHP, Hurley, MS)

Feb. 23 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA)

Mar. 2 – Bryce Coulter, Jr., The Citadel (RHP, Sumter, SC)

Mar. 9 – Mason Snyder, Jr., Western Carolina (RHP, Ocilla, GA)

Mar. 16 – Carter Burnette, So., Western Carolina (RHP, Asheville, NC)

Mar. 23 – Joseph Lee, Sr., Samford (RHP, San Jose, CA)

Mar. 30 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA)

Apr. 6 – Mason Snyder, Jr., Western Carolina (RHP, Ocilla, GA)