FOOTBALL: Tennessee Tech’s Fisher, UT Martin’s Moton earn TSWA weekly awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech’s Bailey Fisher and UT Martin’s Wanya Moton were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from August 26-September 1. This is the first of weekly awards for the 2019-20 academic year sponsored by the TSWA.
Fisher completed 31-of-44 passes for 415 yards with two touchdowns while also rushing 13 times for 48 yards and three TDs in a double-overtime victory against Samford. Over the final 15:51 of regulation along with the two extra periods, the Clayton, Ga., native tossed two touchdown passes, rushed for three scores and executed 3-of-4 2-point conversions, including the game-tying rush to send the game to OT and the game-winning pass to David Gist for the win.
Tech trailed by as many as 23 points in the contest and was behind by 16 with just over two minutes to go in regulation. The 415 passing yards marks the third-best single-game total in Tech history, as was the 463 yards of total offense.
Moton recorded seven tackles with one tackle for loss while collecting two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown in UT Martin’s season-opening victory against Northwestern State. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native’s first INT of the game late in the first half stalled a drive on the Skyhawk side of the field.
The redshirt sophomore then picked off a throw from NSU’s Kaleb Fletcher and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown, giving UTM a 35-20 advantage with 5:06 remaining in the contest.
MEN’S SOCCER: Cumberland’s Siri named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cumberland University’s Ben Siri earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Soccer Player of the Week accolades, netting seven goals with one assist in a pair of matches for the Phoenix. This is the first of weekly awards for the 2019-20 academic year sponsored by the TSWA.
The Naharyya, Israel, native posted five goals in 41 minutes of action against Fisk University, collecting a pair of scores in the first half, in the 12th and 16th minutes, on assists from Bakary Bagayoko and John Azar. The freshman added three more goals in the second half, including the final two of the match.
Siri scored in the 35th minute on another assist from Bakayoko and the two players switched roles for a goal five minutes later, giving CU a 3-1 advantage at the half versus Thomas University. He added a second goal on an assist from Tyler Watson in the 75th minute in a 4-3 neutral-site win for the Phoenix.
WOMEN’S SOCCER: Vanderbilt’s Hopkins garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Haley Hopkins netted goals in both road victories for the Commodores, registering Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Soccer weekly honors. This is the first of weekly awards for the 2019-20 academic year sponsored by the TSWA.
The Newport Beach, Calif., native found the back of the net just 97 seconds into the second half in the club’s 1-0 victory at UC Irvine, beating a defender and the goalkeeper to a long ball near the top of the box and poking it past both. The sophomore added the game-winner in the 87th minute at 22nd-ranked Pepperdine in another 1-0 triumph.
Hopkins has scored six goals in four matches this season with at least one goal in every outing so far for the Commodores.
VOLLEYBALL: East Tennessee’s Massey named TSWA Player of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – East Tennessee State’s Kaela Massey was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Volleyball Player of the Week, earning MVP honors at the Jacksonville State Invitational and helping the Bucs to three victories.
The Brentwood, Tenn., native averaged 2.55 kills per set with 15 digs and 20 total blocks in the three outings. She started the tourney with 11 kills, three digs and eight total blocks (four solo) against the host Gamecocks.
Massey followed that with 11 kills, nine digs and eight block assists in a 3-0 win versus Southeastern Louisiana and finished the event with six kills, three digs and four total blocks in a 3-1 victory against Troy.