compliments of www.thesunconference.com
TAMPA, Fla. – The Sun Conference announces the players of the week for men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's soccer, and volleyball for the week of September 7, 2026.
All 12 awards are based on performances from September 1 – September 6.
Football Players of the Week
Defensive Player of the Week
Khari Fields, Florida Memorial
Graduate Student | New Orleans, La. | Defensive Back
Notes: Fields was on lockdown this week against NCAA DII opponent Allen. In the game, he racked up 2 interceptions, including one in the fourth quarter to propel FMU to the comeback win over Allen.
Offensive Player of the Week
David Buggs, Florida Memorial
Senior | Kissimmee, Fla. | Quarterback
Notes: Buggs sliced the defense against Allen and was the engine of the Lions' offense in South Carolina. He went 21/36, throwing for 420 yards and five passing touchdowns, including the game-winning TD throw with 1:12 left in the fourth quarter.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Sean Egloff Vega, Florida Memorial
Sophomore | North Port, Fla. | Kicker
Notes: Egloff was picture-perfect this week against Allen. On PATs, he was a perfect 5-for-5, along with 1-for-1 for field goals.
Volleyball Players of the Week
Attacker of the Week
Wiktoria Telecka, New College of Florida
Senior | Zgorzala, Poland | Outside Hitter
Notes: Telecka posted a team-high 18 kills and six service aces in NCF's victory over Ave Maria Saturday. She finished the match averaging 4.5 kills per set, with 6.9 points per set and a total of 27.5 points.
Defender of the Week
Ana Clara Valentim do Vale, St. Thomas
Senior | Sao Paulo, Brazil | Middle Blocker
Notes: Set the STU single-game record with 15 total blocks in a 3-0 sweep of Webber International, helping the Bobcats hold the visitors to a -.041 hitting percentage.
Setter of the Week
Addison Phillippe, New College of Florida
Sophomore | Alexandria, Ind.| Setter
Notes: Phillippe was outstanding once again in NCF's victory over Ave Maria, logging 43 assists and averaging 10.75 assists as she helped lead the Mighty Banyans on a 50-25 second/third set run that wound up being too much for Ave Maria to overcome.
Men's Soccer Players of the Week
Defensive Player of the Week
Noah Murray-Hawkins, Southeastern
Graduate Student | Northampton, England | Goalkeeper
Notes: Murray-Hawkins registered five saves in the 1-1 draw against #2 Georgia Gwinnett. He made an incredible double save at the end of the first half where he made back-to-back high quality saves to keep the Grizzlies off the scoreboard.
Offensive Player of the Week
Ian Garnero, Keiser
Graduate Student | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Midfielder
Notes: Garnero scored both goals in Keiser's 2-0 win over No. 22 Faulkner, netting in the 12th minute (assisted by Keanu Does and Santiago Duque) and again in the 23rd minute (assisted by Gabi Villafane and Francis Bolland). He did it on just two shots on goal, both finished, in a ranked win on the road. Across the two-game stretch that's 2 goals on 2 shots on goal, with both goals coming in a win over a ranked opponent.
Women's Soccer Players of the Week
Defensive Player of the Week
Emilia Irle, SCAD Savannah
Sophomore | Stockholm, Sweden | Defender
Notes: Irle played in every minute of both games this week for the Bees, leading a defense that did not allow a single goal as SCAD went 2-0 this week. The sophomore anchored a defense that only allowed four shots (one on goal) against WVU Tech and then only allowed three shots (two on goal) against Reinhardt two days later. Against Reinhardt, Irle scored the game-winning goal.
Offensive Player of the Week
Alaira Handy, Florida Memorial
Freshman | Live Oak, Fla. | Forward
Notes: Freshman striker Alaira Handy scored 4 goals in the 9-0 win vs Florida Polytechnic. Alaira tied the single game scoring record for most goals in a game.
Cross Country Runners of the Week
Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Iker Prados Molina, Keiser
Freshman | Barcelona, Spain
Notes: Broke the school 5K record with a time of 15:22.67, topping the previous mark of 16:22.3 set last year by Gorata Gabankitse. Finished 2nd overall out of nine teams, the top individual finish by a Keiser runner this season.
Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Annabella Descalzo, Ave Maria
Sophomore | Longmont, Colo.
Notes: Annabella Descalzo ran a great first race in the season opener at Keiser, finishing in the top 10 and first among the Gyrenes. Descalzo closed out the race very well, making up 12 spots from 1.2 km mark and going from 19th place to 7th place.
