TSWA recognizes players of the week - Nov. 16

November 16, 2022 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Carson-Newman’s Thomas earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Bryant Thomas was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, averaging 24.0 points and 7.0 rebounds with one double-double in two outings for the Eagles.

The Charlotte, N.C., native connected on 11-of-14 field goals and made 6-for-9 at the foul line for 28 points while pulling down 10 boards in a season-opening three-point loss to Lees-McRae. The senior posted 20 points and four caroms the following day in a win versus King University, hitting 7-of-11 shots and 6-for-7 at the charity stripe.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Vanderbilt’s Harbison garners TSWA Player of the Week accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Ciaja Harbison was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, netting 20.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 3.0 steals in helping the Commodores to their first 3-0 start in eight seasons.

The Louisville, Ky., native made 7-of-8 field goals with a pair of 3-pointers and hit 12-for-14 at the foul line in the season opener at Western Kentucky, finishing with 28 points, four rebounds and five assists. She posted just seven points at Samford but added four boards, seven assists and four steals and ended the week with 27 points, seven assists and four steals at Columbia, connecting on 9-of-13 from field and 9-for-12 at the foul line.

Harbison recorded 16 of her 27 points in the second half against the Lions, as the Commodores overcame an eight-point third quarter deficit en route to the road win.

FOOTBALL: Carson-Newman’s Westfield, Middle Tennessee’s Fluellen earn TSWA weekly honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Braxton Westfield and Middle Tennessee’s Tra Fluellen were named the football Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from November 7-13.

Westfield posted five receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns in the season finale for the Eagles, tying the school single-game receiving TD record in the process. The Simpsonville, S.C., native caught TD passes of 33, 61 and 37 yards, all in the second half at Catawba College, part of a 40-point second half for the Eagles in a 61-23 victory.

Westfield became the sixth player in school history with 100 career receptions, reset the option-era record for receiving yards in a season (886 yards) with the performance and is the only player in program annals with three straight 100-yard receiving games.

Fluellen registered a career-best 16 tackles, eight solo, with 1.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup in a 24-14 win against Charlotte. The Blue Raiders limited the high-scoring 49ers offense to just 277 total yards and no points after halftime, creating a pair of turnovers and stopped Charlotte on 3-of-4 fourth-down plays.

2022 TSWA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
September 6 – Ailym Ford, Chattanooga (Offense); Reuben Lowery III, Chattanooga (Defense)
September 13 – Preston Hutchinson, Chattanooga (Offense); Quindarius Dunnigan, Middle Tennessee (Defense)
September 20 – Preston Hutchinson, Chattanooga (Offense); Ty Boeck, Chattanooga (Defense)
September 27 – Chase Cunningham, Middle Tennessee (Offense); Zaylin Wood, Middle Tennessee (Defense)
October 4 – Ailym Ford, Chattanooga (Offense); Jay Person, Chattanooga (Defense)
October 18 – Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee (Offense); Frank Lee, Carson-Newman (Defense)
October 25 – Tre Simmons, Tusculum University (Offense); Ty Boeck, Chattanooga (Defense)
November 8 – Ivan Corbin, Carson-Newman (Offense); Josh Reliford, Tennessee Tech (Defense)

Carson-Newman’s Corbin, Tech’s Reliford earn TSWA weekly awards

November 8, 2022 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Ivan Corbin and Tennessee Tech’s Josh Reliford were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from October 31-November 6.

Corbin passed for two touchdowns and ran for two others in a 38-22 win for the Eagles against UVA-Wise. The Warner Robins, Ga., native scored on runs of one and 12 yards and tossed TD passes from 27 and 31 yards. The 27-yard strike to Luke Simpson gave Carson-Newman a 31-0 lead.

Corbin finished the game 13-of-23 passing for 251 yards, the first Eagles quarterback to throw for more than 200 yards in consecutive games since 2016, and rushed 16 times for 57 yards (not including sacks/negative plays).

Reliford posted eight tackles, six solo, in the Golden Eagles 35-34 victory over Lindenwood University. The Fitzgerald, Ga., native added a sack, a forced fumble and broke up the potential game-winning two-point conversion pass with 14 seconds remaining in the contest. His sack and forced fumble in the second quarter ended a drive in TTU territory and his PBU secured a second consecutive win for Tech.

TSWA honors players of the week - Nov. 1

November 1, 2022 Forrest Freeman

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Lipscomb’s Beiler named TSWA Player of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb’s Kelli Beiler scored the team’s lone goal in a draw to garner Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week accolades.

The Mount Pleasant Mills, Pa., native tied the match at one with a goal in the 34th minute on an assist from Kele’a Perry versus Central Arkansas. The teams remained tied for the final 74 minutes before the match was decided on penalty kicks, with Beiler converting 1-of-4 made shots for the Bisons, who lost 5-4 on PKs. Beiler finished the season with a team-leading 12 goals and 24 points.

2022 TSWA WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
August 30 – Mackenzie Smith, Chattanooga
September 6 – Manon Lebargy, Middle Tennessee
September 13 – Veronica Roach, King University
September 20 – Sydney Duncan, Carson-Newman
September 27 – Delayna Holman, Trevecca Nazarene
October 4 – Kelli Beiler, Lipscomb
October 11 – Rylee Iorio, Union University
October 18 – Leah Firsdon, Belmont

VOLLEYBALL: Trevecca’s Buffler named TSWA Player of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca University’s Ellie Buffler earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week honors, registering 33 kills and 29 digs with one double-double in two matches for the Trojans.

The Nashville, Tenn., native produced 19 kills and 21 digs in a come-from-behind five-set victory at Kentucky Wesleyan. The senior added 14 kills and eight digs versus Northwood University. Buffler leads the team with 337 kills and service aces with 67.

2022 TSWA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
August 30 – Julia Wheeler, Carson-Newman
September 6 – Julia Wheeler, Carson-Newman
September 13 – Taylor Eisert, Middle Tennessee
September 20 – Katie Harless, King University
September 27 – Jordan Vick, Union University
October 4 – Kristen Clemons, Belmont
October 11 – Ellie Buffler, Trevecca Nazarene
October 18 – Julia Wheeler, Carson-Newman

MEN’S SOCCER: Belmont’s O’Brien garners TSWA Player of the Week accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Liam O’Brien was named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week, scoring a goal in the club’s only match of the week.

The Freehold, N.J., native found the back of the net in the 57th minute, the 22nd goal of his five-year Bruin career. He is now tied with Fernando Castellanos (2002-03) for the second-most ever by a Belmont player. With 48 career points, O’Brien is ranked fourth on the Bruins’ all-time scoring list.

2022 TSWA MEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
August 30 – Hayes Wood, Lipscomb
September 6 – Michael Sibley, Lipscomb
September 13 – Jelldrik Dallmann, Lipscomb
September 20 – Kenneth Walton, King University
September 27 – Michael Saunders, Belmont
October 4 – Case Cox, Belmont
October 11 – Malachi Jones, Lipscomb

FOOTBALL: Tusculum’s Simmons, Chattanooga’s Boeck earn TSWA weekly awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum’s Tre Simmons and Chattanooga’s Ty Boeck were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from October 24-30.

Simmons completed 20-of-29 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 40 yards and catching a 20-yard TD pass in a 49-14 victory over Erskine College. The Tampa, Fla., native tossed TD throws of 52, 35 and 49 yards and caught the 20-yarder to tie the game at seven in the second quarter.

Boeck posted a season-high 14 tackles with an interception in a 24-20 loss at 24th-ranked Furman. The Soddy Daisy, Tenn., native made five stops in the second quarter and four in the fourth period. The interception in the final quarter gave the Mocs a chance to take the lead.

TSWA recognizes players of the week - Oct. 18

October 18, 2022 Forrest Freeman

VOLLEYBALL: Carson-Newman’s Wheeler named TSWA Player of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Julia Wheeler earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week honors, registering 33 kills and 17 digs with one double-double in two matches for the Eagles.

The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native posted 20 kills and six digs at Wingate University, committing just four errors in 56 total attacks. The senior accounted for 13 kills and 11 digs in a sweep at Coker University. Wheeler has 336 kills (4.54 per set) along with 212 digs (2.86 per set) in 21 outings this season.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Belmont’s Firsdon named TSWA Player of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Leah Firsdon posted a pair of goals in two matches to garner Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week accolades.

The Dayton, Ohio, native recorded both of her team’s goals in a 2-1 victory over Evansville, the first one on a header in the 54th minute to open the scoring. Less than nine minutes later the sophomore found the back of the net again for the game-winner. Firsdon is tied for the team lead with three goals this season in 11 outings.

FOOTBALL: Tennessee’s Hyatt, Carson-Newman’s Lee earn TSWA weekly awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s Jalin Hyatt and Carson-Newman’s Frank Lee were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from October 10-16.

Hyatt caught six passes for 207 yards and five touchdowns, breaking the UT single-game record and tying the SEC mark for receiving TDs in a game against Alabama. He was the first player to register three or more touchdowns and 100 receiving yards against Alabama in the Nick Saban era. He also was the first FBS player with five or more receiving touchdowns against an AP Top 5 team since N.C. State's Terry Holt did so at No. 3 Florida State on Nov. 8, 1997. Hyatt has 33 catches for 595 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

Lee posted five total tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks along with a pass breakup in a shutout against Erskine College, the first home shutout for the Eagles since 2006. The Orangeburg, S.C., native helped limit the Fleet to 214 yards of total offense with six 3-and-outs and 12 possessions of five plays or less. Lee has posted 24 tackles with 9.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks in seven games this season.

TSWA announces players of the week - Oct. 11

October 11, 2022 Forrest Freeman

VOLLEYBALL: Trevecca’s Buffler named TSWA Player of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca Nazarene’s Ellie Buffler earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week honors, posting 39 kills and 23 digs with a pair of double-doubles in two outings for the Trojans.

The Nashville, Tenn., native tallied 21 kills on 44 attacks (.396 hitting percentage), adding 11 digs and five service aces at Malone University. The next day the senior recorded 18 kills and 12 digs at Walsh University. Buffler leads her team in kills with 245 (3.45 per set) and service aces (49) and ranks third in digs (186).

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Union’s Iorio earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union University’s Rylee Iorio registered a pair of shutouts, making 19 total saves in the two outings for the Bulldogs, to garner Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week accolades.

The Columbia, Ill., native faced 18 total shots and collected eight saves in a 1-0 victory over Valdosta State. The senior was even better in a scoreless draw against West Georgia two days later, taking on 22 total shots and making 11 saves. Iorio has posted a 1.25 goals-against-average this season, allowing more than two goals just once. Union has a 4-8-1 record overall this season with seven one-goal losses.

MEN’S SOCCER: Lipscomb’s Jones garners TSWA Player of the Week accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb’s Malachi Jones was named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week, scoring two goals with an assist in the club’s only match of the week.

The Freetown, Sierra Leone, native assisted on a Javanne Smith goal in the 18th minute to give the Bisons a 1-0 lead at Mercer. The freshman then found the back of the net twice in the second half, the first at the 71-minute mark for a 2-1 Lipscomb edge and then again just over seven minutes later. Jones ranks second on the club with six goals while adding three assists in 10 matches this season.