TSWA announces players of the week - Oct. 10

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Chattanooga sophomore wide receiver Javin Whatley put together a tremendous game on Saturday in the Mocs’ 52-50 loss to Football Championship Subdivision No. 17 Western Carolina. In the contest, he recorded a Chattanooga-record 353 all-purpose yards with career highs in receptions (11) and receiving yards (231), while hauling in four touchdown catches. 

Whatley was named the Football Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday as the Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its weekly College Sports Players of the Week for October 2-8. 

The redshirt sophomore from Rockmart, Ga., had touchdown catches of 31, eight, 11 and 32 yards, becoming just the third Chattanooga player to record four or more touchdown catches in a game, joining NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens (vs. Marshall, 1994) and Cos DeMatteo (six vs. Mississippi Valley State in 2000). 

It was the first time a Moc player had more than 300 all-purpose yards in a Southern Conference game. The 231 receiving yards are the most for a Chattanooga player since Bryce Nunnelly against the Citadel in 2018 and is the fifth-most in a single game in program history. 

On the defensive side, Tennessee transfer Derek Taylor had a big game as the Phoenix upset No. 23 University of the Cumberlands 21-17. Taylor had five tackles in the game but had two huge interceptions. 

MEN’S SOCCER: Belmont graduate midfielder Jansen Wilson led the Bruins to its first-ever win at Bradley as he collected two goals in the match to lead Belmont to the 3-1 victory. He scored in the 23rd minute off of a cross, then took a feed from Michael Saunders in the 54th minute. 

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Sewanee freshman defender Katye Dullye worked hard on both sides of the ball as she collected two goals and an assist as she picked up a score in a 2-0 win over Hendrix on Sunday, while tallying a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over Rhodes on Friday. 

VOLLEYBALL: Lipscomb middle blocker Meg Mersman had strong outings this weekend as the Bison defeated Eastern Kentucky 3-2 for the Colonels’ first conference loss and third overall loss of the season, then topped Bellarmine 3-1 for Lipscomb’s eighth straight victory. Mersman had 38 total kills, averaging 4.22 per set. She hit .452 with a season-high 21 kills against the Colonels, then had 17 kills against Bellarmine. 

2023-24 TSWA College Sports Players of the Week
FOOTBALL
8/29 | Offensive: A.J. Swann (Vanderbilt), Defensive: De’Rickey Wright (Vanderbilt)
9/5 | Offensive: Joe Milton III (Tennessee), Defensive: Jake Cottle (Carson-Newman)
9/12 | Offensive: Sam Franklin (UT Martin), Defensive: Aaron Beasley (Tennessee)
9/19 | Offensive: Kinkead Dent (UT Martin), Defensive: Sam Brumfield (Middle Tennessee)
9/26 | Offensive: Matthew Palazzo (Tusculum), Defensive: Alex Mitchell (Chattanooga)
10/3 | Offensive: Mike DiLiello (Austin Peay), Defensive: Quinn Johnson (Sewanee)
10/10 | Offensive: Javin Whatley (Chattanooga), Defensive: Derek Taylor (Cumberland) 

MEN’S SOCCER
8/29 | Brock Kiper (Belmont)
9/5 | Malachi Jones (Lipscomb)
9/12 | Tyrese Spicer (Lipscomb) 
9/19 | Ploutarchos Alonefti (Lipscomb)
9/26 | Nathan Vanhoeve (Sewanee)
10/3 | Tyler Cozzie (Sewanee)
10/10 | Jansen Wilson (Belmont) 

WOMEN’S SOCCER
8/29 | Eleanor Gough (Middle Tennessee)
9/5 | Caroline Richvalsky (Chattanooga)
9/12 | Kelli Beiler (Lipscomb)
9/19 | Kylene Monaghan (Sewanee) 
9/26 | Brenna Swiger (Cumberland)
10/3 | Taylor Stubbs (King)
10/10 | Katye Dullye (Sewanee) 

VOLLEYBALL
8/29 | Laure Jansen (Middle Tennessee)
9/5 | Mikayla Powell (Austin Peay)
9/12 | Taylor Eisert (Middle Tennessee)
9/19 | Emma Titus (Trevecca) 
9/26 | Jayla Holcombe (Tennessee State)
10/3 | Kristen Clemons (Belmont)
10/10 | Meg Mershman (Lipscomb)