TSWA honors college players of the week - Oct. 22

October 22, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Memphis running back Mario Anderson Jr. tied for a program record as he rushed for four touchdowns in the Tigers’ 52-44 victory over North Texas, earning this week’s Football Offensive Player of the Week Award from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.

Anderson, a senior transfer from South Carolina, had 210 yards of total offense in the contest as he rushed 22 times for 183 yards. A candidate for the Doak Walker Award, Anderson broke the century mark for the fourth time this season and ranks sixth nationally in touchdowns with 13, while also ranking 27th in the country in rushing yards with 639.

On the defensive side, Tennessee redshirt senior safety Will Brooks had a big game against Alabama to earn the Football Defensive Player of the Week honor. Brooks, a native of Birmingham, led all Volunteers with eight tackles – five solo – including two that saved touchdowns in the 24-17 victory over the Crimson Tide.

The walk-on starter iced the game with a diving interception with 1:24 to play, allowing Tennessee to run out the clock. Brooks also had a shoestring tackle in the first quarter on quarterback Jalen Milroe that prevented a touchdown on a drive Alabama was held from scoring.

VOLLEYBALL: Chattanooga senior setter Elaine Redman took the Volleyball Player of the Week honor after a dominant performance in a pair of 3-0 sweeps over ETSU and Western Carolina. The Chattanooga native recorded 69 assists, 29 digs, six kills, four aces and three blocks in the winning effort.

Against ETSU, Redman put up 32 assists with 17 digs in the three-set double-double, then posted double-digit efforts with 37 assists and 12 digs against WCU. She has 10 double-doubles on the season and 39 in her career, while ranking first in the Southern Conference and third in Division I in total assists (854) and second in assists per set (10.29).

MEN’S SOCCER: Belmont redshirt sophomore Nate Mefford earned the Men’s Soccer Player of the Week honor as he came off the bench to lead the Bruins to a 1-0 Missouri Valley Conference victory at the University of Illinois-Chicago on Friday. He scored the goal in the 57th minute on a header off an outside cross from teammate Alex Clayton.

It was Mefford’s second career goal and only shot of the match.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Tusculum freshman forward Addison Rishling claimed the Women’s Soccer Player of the Week award with four total goals, knocking in two in back-to-back matches to lead the Pioneers back from a 1-0 deficit in each game. The Wonder Lake, Ill., native scored in the 61st and 88th minutes for the 2-1 win at Emory & Henry, then scored in the 73rd and 76th minutes to take the lead at Limestone.

Rishling leads the Pioneers and ranks fourth in the South Atlantic Conference in goals with six, while tied for eighth in the league with a team-best 12 points.

2024-25 TSWA College Players of the Week
FOOTBALL
9/3 | Offensive: Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt); Defensive: Bryan Longwell (Vanderbilt)
9/10 | Offensive: Sam Phillips (Chattanooga); Defensive: Elijah Herring (Memphis)
9/17 | Offensive: Dylan Sampson (Tennessee); Defensive: Alex Mitchell (Chattanooga)
9/24 | Offensive: La’Vell Wright (Austin Peay); Defensive: Major Williams (Carson-Newman)
10/1 | Offensive: Chase Artopoeus (Chattanooga); Defensive: Theron Gaines (Tennessee Tech)
10/8 | Offensive: Jayden Sullins (Carson-Newman); Defensive: Bryan Longwell (Vanderbilt)
10/15 | Offensive: Dylan Sampson (Tennessee); Defensive: James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee)
10/22 | Offensive: Mario Anderson Jr. (Memphis); Defensive: Will Brooks (Tennessee)

TSWA Prep Poll presented by CoachT. com - Oct. 21

October 21, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced football rankings after Week 9 on Monday, with the poll presented by CoachT.com. Top 10 teams in each of the six Division I classifications and Top 5 in three Division II classes were selected by TSWA members with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

Class A
1. McKenzie (8-0) – 100 (10)
2. Coalfield (7-1) – 85
3. Oliver Springs (7-1) – 77
4. Union City (6-2) – 67
5. South Pittsburg (6-2) – 50
t6. Whitwell (6-2) – 38
t6. MASE (6-1) – 38
8. Halls (7-1) – 29
9. Cosby (7-1) – 21
10. Chattanooga Prep (6-2) – 17
Others receiving votes: Gordonsville 13, Clay County 10, Middle College 3, South Fulton 2

Class 2A
1. Fairley (7-0) – 96 (8)
2. Milan (7-1) – 83 (1)
3. East Robertson (7-1) – 79
4. Westmoreland (7-1) – 65 (1)
5. Bledsoe County (7-1) – 57
6. Huntingdon (6-2) – 47
7. Decatur County Riverside (6-2) – 35
8. East Hickman (6-1) – 30
9. Marion County (6-2) – 22
10. York Institute (6-2) – 19
Others receiving votes: South Greene 8, Mitchell 3, Memphis Business 3, Jackson Central-Merry 2, Happy Valley 1

Class 3A
1. Alcoa (5-1) – 99 (9)
2. Covington (8-0) – 90 (1)
3. Westview (8-0) – 80
4. Johnson County (8-0) – 66
5. Sequatchie County (7-1) – 59
6. Unicoi County (6-1) – 46
7. East Nashville (7-2) – 45
8. Meigs County (6-2) – 29
9. White House Heritage (6-2) – 13
10. Bolton (6-2) – 9
Others receiving votes: Memphis East 5, Dyersburg 5, Gatlinburg-Pittman 3, Tyner Academy 1

Class 4A
1. Upperman (8-0) – 99 (9)
3. Marshall County (8-0) – 83
t3. Greeneville (5-2) – 64 (1)
t3. Anderson County (6-1) – 64
5. Loudon (8-0) – 57
6. Gibbs (8-0) – 52
7. Pearl-Cohn (6-2) – 49
8. Haywood (6-2) – 32
9. Dyer County (7-1) – 25
10. Soddy Daisy (7-1) – 16
Others receiving votes: White County 5, Elizabethton 4

Class 5A
1. Page (8-0) – 98 (8)
2. Sevier County (8-0) – 87 (2)
3. Powell (7-1) – 75
4. Beech (7-1) – 71
t5. Southwind (7-1) – 55
t5. Munford (8-1) – 55
7. Shelbyville (7-1) – 42
8. Walker Valley (7-2) – 26
9. Knox West (5-3) – 22
10. Hendersonville (6-2) – 6
Others receiving votes: East Hamilton 5, Lincoln County 4, Knoxville Halls 3, Nolensville 1

Class 6A
1. Oakland (8-0) – 94 (8)
2. Maryville (8-0) – 88 (2)
3. Ravenwood (8-0) – 84
4. Collierville (8-0) – 64
5. Mt. Juliet (8-0) – 56
6. Brentwood (7-1) – 49
7. Riverdale (7-1) – 37
8. Science Hill (6-1) – 25
9. Clarksville (8-0) – 22
10. Green Hill (8-0) – 20
Others receiving votes: Germantown Houston 8, Cookeville 2, Bearden 1

Division II-A
1. Jackson Christian (7-1) – 45 (9)
2. Nashville Christian (7-1) – 36
3. Donelson Christian (7-1) – 27
4. Columbia Academy (5-3) – 14
5. Trinity Christian (5-3) – 7
Others receiving votes: Friendship Christian 4, Providence Christian 2

Division II-AA
1. Christ Presbyterian (8-0) – 40 (5)
2. Boyd Buchanan (8-0) – 39 (3)
3. Franklin Road Academy (8-0) – 25
4. Grace Christian-Knoxville (7-0) – 19 (1)
5. Lausanne (5-0) – 5
Others receiving votes: Battle Ground Academy 3, University School of Jackson 3, Silverdale Academy 1

Division II-AAA
1. Baylor (8-0) – 45 (9)
2. Ensworth (8-0) – 36 (1)
3. McCallie 65-2) – 27
4. Brentwood Academy (5-3) – 14
5. Christian Brothers (5-2) – 7
Others receiving votes: Father Ryan 5, Lipscomb Academy 1

College players of the week announced by TSWA - Oct. 15

October 15, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee junior running back Dylan Sampson led the Volunteers back from a 10-0 second-half deficit to a 23-17 overtime victory over Florida on Saturday, earning this week’s Tennessee Sports Writers Association Football Offensive Player of the Week honor.

Sampson rushed for 112 yards on 27 carries with three touchdowns with two of the scores coming in the second half and his one-yard plunge gave Tennessee the walk-off win. Sampson also had a 23-yard touchdown with 9:42 remaining in regulation to put the Vols on top.

It was his ninth career game over the century mark on the ground and the fifth of the current campaign. He has also scored at least one touchdown for the sixth straight game – the longest streak since Montario Hardesty in 2009. The three touchdowns gave Sampson 15 on the season – the most by a Southeastern Conference player through the first six games of the season since 1992 and the most by a Tennessee player since Tony Thompson had 16 in 1990.

Teammate James Pearce Jr. was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week as the Charlotte, N.C., native recorded seven tackles, half-a-sack, one tackle-for-loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. With Florida at the one-yard line, Pearce forced Florida quarterback Graham Mertz to fumble at the goal line, then recovered the loose ball. He also had two QB pressures.

VOLLEYBALL: Tusculum senior setter Madison Adkins was named the Volleyball Player of the Week as she helped lead the Pioneers to a sweep on the week with a pair of 3-0 victories over Emory & Henry and Coker. In all, the Olive Hill, Ky., native averaged 11.5 assists per set for a total of 69. She also added four kills, two aces, 15 digs and five assisted blocks.

She recorded 37 total assists – 12.3 per set – at Emory & Henry with eight digs, while she had 32 assists against Coker with seven digs.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Vanderbilt goalkeeper Sara Wojdelko collected 10 saves and a shutout to take the Women’s Soccer Player of the Week honor, leading the Commodores to their first two SEC victories of the season. At Texas A&M, the Northville, Mich., native picked up the clean sheet with five saves. It is the ninth shutout of her career – tied for the sixth-most in program history – and the seventh for Vanderbilt this season with five behind Wojdelko.

She held Kentucky to one goal in a 3-1 victory on Sunday, picking up five more saves against a Wildcat squad that is receiving votes in the Top 25 poll.

TSWA Prep Poll presented by CoachT.com - Oct. 14

October 14, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced football rankings after Week 8 on Monday, with the poll presented by CoachT.com. Top 10 teams in each of the six Division I classifications and Top 5 in three Division II classes were selected by TSWA members with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

Class A
1. McKenzie (8-0) – 120 (12)
2. Coalfield (7-1) – 101
3. Oliver Springs (7-1) – 90
4. Halls (7-0) – 81
5. Chattanooga Prep (6-1) – 58
6. Whitwell (6-2) – 48
7. Union City (5-2) – 44
8. MASE (5-1) – 33
9. Gordonsville (6-2) – 26
10. South Pittsburg (5-2) – 20
Others receiving votes: Cosby 11, Richland 10, Clay County 8, Middle College 6, South Fulton 4

Class 2A
1. Fairley (6-0) – 114 (9)
2. Milan (6-1) – 102 (1)
3. East Robertson (7-1) – 95 (1)
4. Westmoreland (6-1) – 70 (1)
5. Bledsoe County (7-1) – 68
6. Huntingdon (5-2) – 61
7. Jackson Central-Merry (6-1) – 37
8. Decatur County Riverside (5-2) – 33
9. Marion County (6-2) – 26
10. East Hickman (6-1) – 24
Others receiving votes: York Institute 19, South Greene 8, Memphis Business 3

Class 3A
1. Alcoa (4-1) – 118 (11)
2. Covington (7-0) – 107 (1)
3. Westview (8-0) – 99
4. Johnson County (7-0) – 71
5. Sequatchie County (7-1) – 69
6. East Nashville (6-2) – 47
7. Unicoi County (5-1) – 45
8. Bolton (6-1) – 43
9. Gatlinburg-Pittman (5-2) – 23
10. Meigs County (5-2) – 19
Others receiving votes: Pigeon Forge 13, White House Heritage 5, Memphis East 1

Class 4A
1. Upperman (7-0) – 109 (10)
2. Anderson County (6-0) – 93
3. Marshall County (8-0) – 83
4. Haywood (6-1) – 71
5. Greeneville (5-2) – 60 (1)
6. Loudon (8-0) – 52
7. Pearl-Cohn (5-2) – 47
8. Gibbs (7-0) – 37
9. Dyer County (6-1) – 30
10. Soddy Daisy (7-1) – 12
Others receiving votes: Elizabethton 5, White County 2, DeKalb County 2, Macon County 2

Class 5A
1. Page (7-0) – 118 (10)
2. Sevier County (7-0) – 103 (2)
3. Powell (6-1) – 89
4. Beech (6-1) – 85
5. Southwind (6-1) – 66
6. Munford (7-1) – 60
7. Shelbyville (6-1) – 51
8. Walker Valley (6-2 – 26
9. Knox West (4-3) – 21
10. Lincoln County (6-1) – 18
Others receiving votes: Centennial 17, East Hamilton 4, Hendersonville 2

Class 6A
1. Oakland (7-0) – 114 (10)
2. Maryville (7-0) – 105 (2)
3. Ravenwood (7-0) – 100
4. Collierville (7-0) – 73
5. Mt. Juliet (7-0) – 68
6. Brentwood (6-1) – 62
7. Riverdale (6-1) – 44
8. Science Hill (5-1) – 27
9. Green Hill (7-0) – 26
10. Clarksville (8-0) – 24
Others receiving votes: Germantown Houston 7, Cookeville 5, Stewarts Creek 2, Cleveland 1, Rossview 1, Bearden 1

Division II-A
1. Jackson Christian (6-1) – 53 (9)
2. Nashville Christian (6-1) – 44 (1)
3. Donelson Christian (7-1) – 33 (1)
4. Columbia Academy (5-3) – 17
5. Friendship Christian (5-2) – 13
Others receiving votes: Providence Christian 3, Trinity Christian 2

Division II-AA
1. Christ Presbyterian (8-0) – 49 (7)
2. Boyd Buchanan (8-0) – 48 (4)
3. Franklin Road Academy (8-0) – 32
4. Lausanne (5-0) – 18
5. Grace Christian-Knoxville (7-0) – 12
Others receiving votes: Silverdale Academy 3, Battle Ground Academy 2, University School of Jackson 1

Division II-AAA
1. Baylor (7-0) – 54 (10)
2. Ensworth (8-0) – 44 (1)
3. McCallie (5-2) – 34
4. Brentwood Academy (5-3) – 16
5. Father Ryan (5-1) – 15
Others receiving votes: Christian Brothers 2

TSWA recognizes college players of the week - Oct. 8

October 8, 2024 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman junior running back Jayden Sullins put on a show on the ground this past Saturday as he rushed for an incredible 261 yards on 31 carries – averaging 8.4 yards per rush – to earn the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Football Offensive Player of the Week honor.

In the Eagles’ 28-17 victory over Barton, Sullins posted the seventh-most rushing yards in program history as he also scored a touchdown and had a 78-yard pick-up in the contest. He had eight rushes on the day that were for 10 or more yards.

On the defensive side, Vanderbilt linebacker Bryan Longwell helped lead the Commodores to a victory over top-ranked Alabama. The sophomore from Nashville posted a team-best eight tackles in the contest, which included a tackle-for-loss – the fifth-straight game with at least one TFL. This was the second time in as many Southeastern Conference games that Longwell led the team in tackles.

With the effort, Vanderbilt became the first team this season to hold Alabama under 100 rushing yards and a season-low in scoring.

VOLLEYBALL: Tennessee Tech junior setter Jordan Karlen fed a Golden Eagle offense that reached plateaus unseen by a Tech squad in more than a decade to earn her third Ohio Valley Conference accolade of the year and ninth of her career, averaging 12.88 assists and 3.13 digs over eight sets of action. The junior kicked off the week with 40 helpers in the team's 3-0 sweep of Western Illinois, adding one block and 12 digs to pick up a double-double.

She went off in the five-set thriller on Friday, tying for the fourth-most assists in a five-set match in the rally-scoring era in Tech history with an eye-popping 63. She also dropped in a career-high five service aces, earned her ninth double-double of the year with 13 digs, and chipped in three block assists. Tech accounted for 74 kills in the match, the most by the team since crushing 75 against Murray State in the OVC Tournament Championship match in 2008.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Sewanee graduate goalkeeper Leah Atkins recorded a career-high 12 saves against No. 13 Emory in a 1-1 draw on the road. Emory took 25 shots in the contest with 13 on-goal, while the one goal allowed came off of a penalty kick in the 80th minute.

Atkins followed it up on Sunday as she collected her eighth shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory against Oglethorpe.