The USA South Athletic Conference has released the seventh Player of the Week listing for the fall with five Piedmont athletes earning awards this week.
Both soccer programs were represented as NATHAN METZGER earned Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week and SAVANNAH CASTLES took Women’s Soccer Player of the Week. HALEY HIXON earned Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week while women’s cross country swept the weekly awards as REESE BOWLES took Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week & CASEY TODD was named Women’s Cross Country Rookie of the Week.
For both cross country athletes, this marks the fourth time earning each of their respective honors this year while this is Hixon’s second honor of the season and both soccer player’s first time on the listing in 2016.
Metzger notched his third goal of the season over the weekend with the game winner against Ferrum 3-2 in OT in thrilling fashion. The sophomore defender connected on a corner kick by JOSE LINARES for the golden goal sending Piedmont into a frenzy on the field.
Castles also picked up a game winner over the weekend in a 1-0 contest against LaGrange netting the only score of the afternoon in the 59th minute. The senior from Helen, Georgia leads the team with eight goals scored in 2016 on 13 shots on goal.
Hixon took Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second straight week after a 3-0 week for the Lady Lions as the sophomore posted 16 or more digs in each of the three matches. Her best performance of the week came against Huntingdon as she posted 26 digs, her third-highest total of the season.
Bowles once again led the Lady Lion cross country team as they were in action at the Berry College Invitational in the 2016 regular season finale. The junior ran a 23:54 and came in 16th overall as the third DIII athlete across the line. Todd was again the top freshman for Piedmont as she posted a 25:01 at the Berry College Invitational coming across the line as the top freshman among USA South competitors.
The USA South Athletic Conference announces its weekly honor roll each Monday and at least half of the teams in a sport must have competed within the previous week for honors to be awarded.
To follow the USA South Athletic Conference, fans are encouraged to visit the official home of the league on the world wide web at USASouth.net. Fans can also connect with the league on social media platforms including Twitter,Instagram, and YouTube.
Courtesy of the USA South Athletic Conference Office:
MEN’S SOCCER
Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
NATHAN METZGER, Piedmont – The sophomore defender from Auckland, New Zealand tallied a game-winning goal during a 1-1 week for the Lions versus USA South competition. In a 3-2, overtime, win over Ferrum, Metzger headed-in the game-winner in the 94th minute off of a corner kick. In a 2-1 loss to Greensboro, Metzger helped the Piedmont defense hold the Pride to six shots on goal. Also Nominated: Thomas Palmer, Maryville; Jaime Payamps, Greensboro.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Women’s Soccer Player of the Week
SAVANNAH CASTLES, Piedmont – The Helen, Georgia senior midfielder tallied two game-winning goals in a 2-0 week for the Lions versus USA South competition. In a 2-0 win over Huntingdon, Castles tallied the eventual game-winning goal in the tenth minute. In a 1-0 victory over LaGrange, Castles notched the contest’s lone goal in the 59th minute. Also Nominated: Annalies Jobsis, Averett; Natasha Enrique, Maryville; Chloe Hudson, Ferrum; Logan Bill, N.C. Wesleyan; Jessica Wallace, Meredith; Anna Porch, Covenant.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
HALEY HIXON, Piedmont – The sophomore libero from Ringgold, Georgia averaged 6.40 digs per set as the Lions posted a 3-0 record last week. In a 3-0 win over Emory & Henry, Hixon totaled 16 digs, two service aces and one assist. In a 3-0 win over USA South foe Salem, Hixon notched 22 digs, three service aces, two kills and two assists. Finally, in a 3-1 victory over USA South rival Huntingdon, Hixon posted 26 digs, one assist and one service ace. Also Nominated: Kaitlyn Flickinger, Maryville; Mariah Sharon, Salem; Emily Stanley, Averett; Carson Williams, William Peace.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week
REESE BOWLES, Piedmont – The junior from Jefferson, Georgia placed 16th out of 177 runners at the Berry College Invitational last week. Bowles completed the 6K course in a time of 23:54, helping the Lions to a seventh place team finish. Also Nominated: Lilly Smith, Covenant; Lindsay Sopko, Mary Baldwin.
Women’s Cross Country Rookie of the Week
CASEY TODD, Piedmont – The freshman from Decatur, Georgia placed 44th out of 69 runners at the Berry College Invitational last week. Todd completed the 6K course in a time of 25:01, helping the Lions to a seventh place team finish. Also Nominated: Anna Danek, Covenant; Susanna Cook, Maryville.
