NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee redshirt sophomore quarterback Nick Vattiato led the Blue Raiders to a 34-30 win over UTEP this weekend and his numbers earned him this week’s Tennessee Sports Writers Association Football Offensive Player of the Week honor.
The Plantation, Fla., native led Middle Tennessee to its second straight win, completing 18 passes for 242 yards with three touchdown passes. He also rushed for 92 yards on 15 carries. It was the ninth 200-plus-yard game for the QB this season.
On the defensive side, Tennessee Tech sophomore linebacker Aaron Swafford was the Defensive Player of the Week honoree as he finished Saturday’s 35-0 win over Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association rival Tennessee State with five tackles and two interception returns for 52 yards. Both interceptions by the Decatur native led to touchdown drives as the Golden Eagles picked up their first shutout since 2013 and fourth since 2000.
VOLLEYBALL: Tusculum graduate outside hitter Emiah Burrowes led the Pioneers to their first conference championship in program history and was named the South Atlantic Conference tournament MVP as Tusculum upset Anderson 3-0 and Wingate 3-1 in the semifinal and championship matches.
Burrowes averaged 4.42 kills, 3.17 digs and 4.79 points per set as she collected 53 total kills, 38 digs and had three blocks, ending the tournament with a .219 attack percentage.
MEN’S BASKETBALL: King freshman forward Mikhail Pocknett had an incredible game as the Wilmington, N.C. product scored 33 points in the Tornado’s 98-94 double-overtime loss to Emory and Henry. Pocknett scored 33 points in the contest, while also pulling down five boards. He shot 12-for-23 from the field and 9-for-16 from the free-throw line.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Fighting a lower-body injury, Fisk senior forward Maya Buckhanon led the team to a 63-56 victory over NCAA Division II Lane College. The Talladega, Ala., native led the way with 30 points and 15 rebounds. She finished the game shooting 12-for-16 from the floor and 6-for-7 at the line.