Monday, September 15, 2008

MACON, Ga. - Throughout its championship season in 2007, Florida Gulf Coast ran its offense through setter Roberta Santos. That trend continues in 2008 as the senior directed the Eagles attack to open A-Sun play and powered the Eagles to a 2-0 conference start over the weekend. On Monday, the conference office named her Player of the Week for the second time in her career and first time for 2008.

The Recife, Brazil native led FGCU to a pair of victories on the week, as the Eagles swept past Stetson and Campbell to open A-Sun play. Santos paced the Eagle offense that hit .255 for the week. She also hit .520 herself while helping FGCU to its 27th straight win at Alico Arena. In addition to her rally-terminating prowess, the resort and hospitality management major coordinated the Eagle attack distributing 69 assists on the weekend.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers
Libby Hansch, Mercer (So. – MB – Fort Collins, Colo. – Business) – Hansch recorded a .365 hitting percentage over the past week a now ranks eighth among all A-Sun players in that category.

Emily Werner, Campbell (So. – OH – Sarasota, Fla. – Elementary Education) – Posted a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs in a 3-1 victory over Stetson.

Sara Bendorf, Jacksonville (Sr. – OH – Buckley, Wash. – Accounting) – For the week, she led the squad with 41 kills, a 3.15 kills per set average and 11 blocks while also hitting .263 (41-11-114) with 27 digs, a 2.08 digs per set average and four aces.

A-Sun Weekly Notes
The Lady Bisons have opened the A-Sun portion of the season with three straight 3-0 match wins. This is the second consecutive season Lipscomb has opened conference play with three straight victories. In 2007, the Lady Bisons beat USC-Upstate Sept. 29, Stetson Oct. 5 and Florida Gulf Coast Oct. 7. Combined with their three wins in the A-Sun Tournament last season the Lady Bisons have a six-game win streak against conference foes.

Florida Gulf Coast has won 22 consecutive sets against A-Sun teams. The Eagles have swept seven straight Atlantic Sun opponents.

USC Upstate head coach Jennifer Calloway enters the week just one win shy of career win No. 250. At age 35, Calloway is currently the youngest coach in the NCAA Division I ranks with 200 career wins and needs just one win to become the youngest coach in the nation with 250 career wins. Calloway, who is in her 13th season as a head coach, all at USC Upstate, was hired at age 23 and was the youngest coach in the NCAA at the time of her hiring.