Region 8 Player of the Week Awards: October 3, 2023

Region 8 and the FCSAA would like to congratulate all student-athletes who are recognized as part of our Player of the Week Awards. Weekly honorees are automatically submitted for NJCAA Player of the Week consideration on behalf of Region 8 and the FCSAA.

DI Volleyball Player of the Week | DI Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week | DI Volleyball Setter of the Week | DII Volleyball Player of the Week | DII Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week | DII Volleyball Setter of the Week | Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week | Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week

POTW Archives: August 29, 2023 | September 5, 2023 | September 12, 2023 | September 19, 2023 | September 26, 2023


DI Volleyball Player of the Week

Katielle Alonzo

Katielle Alonzo, Miami Dade
Fr. | OH
Miami, Fla. 

  • Averaged 5.2 kills over six sets
  • Also averaged 0.7 service aces, 1.5 digs and 0.5 blocks while posting a .282 hitting percentage
  • Posted 15 kills and four digs in a three-set loss to No. 1 Florida SouthWestern
  • Had 16 kills and five digs in 3-0 win at Indian River State

Other nominees: Alondra Alarcon, Florida SouthWestern; Leia Lund, Daytona State; Crismeyli Rodriguez, Polk State


DI Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week

Irene Mostardini

Irene Mostardini, Polk State
So. | L
Monsummano Terme, Italy

  • Averaged 6.8 digs over eight sets
  • Helped Polk State to a 2-0 week including a 5-set win vs. No. 18 Eastern Florida State
  • Had 26 digs vs. Hillsborough and 28 vs. Eastern Florida State

Other nominees: Izzy Collier, Florida SouthWestern; Mia Martinez, Miami Dade; Arianna Warner, Daytona State


DI Volleyball Setter of the Week

Roberta Purashaj

Roberta Purashaj, Florida SouthWestern
So. | S
Milano, Italy

  • Averaged 11.7 assists over six sets
  • Also averaged 0.3 kills, 0.5 service aces, 2.8 digs and 0.8 blocks
  • Helped Florida SouthWestern to a pair of 3-0 wins, including one vs. No. 2 Miami Dade in which she posted 37 assists, 11 digs and five blocks
  • Recorded 33 assists vs. Hillsborough

Other nominees: Madison O'Sullivan, Polk State; Luiza Da Cruz, Miami Dade; Mya Mendoza, Daytona State

 


DII Volleyball Player of the Week

Kaylee Hunt

 

Kaylee Hunt, Lake-Sumter State
So. | OH
Georgetown, Ind.

  • Averaged 4.0 kills and 1.9 digs over 10 sets
  • Also averaged 0.1 assists, 0.3 service aces and 0.5 blocks while only being charged with 12 errors in 125 total attempts
  • Recorded three double-digit kill efforts, beginning with 14 vs. St. Petersburg
  • Narrowly missed a double-double vs. Pasco-Hernando State, finishing with 15 kills and nine digs

Other nominees: Gianna San Filippo, St. Johns River State; Paige Patterson, Pensacola State


DII Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week

Lauren Herz

Lauren Herz, St. Johns River State
Fr. | DS
Peoria, Ill.

  • Averaged 4.7 digs over 15 sets
  • Helped St. Johns River State to a 4-0 week, including wins against DI Santa Fe and DII RV Pasco-Hernando State
  • Recorded 25 digs in the four-set win vs. Santa Fe
  • Followed that up with dig totals of 18 (vs. State College of Florida), 11 (vs. St. Petersburg) and 17 (vs. Pasco-Hernando State)

Other nominees: Maddie Mire, Pensacola State; Jayden Ponsford, Lake-Sumter State


DII Volleyball Setter of the Week

Kiara Vega

Kiara Vega, Pensacola State
So. | S
Lake Mary, Fla.

  • Averaged 10.6 assists over eight sets
  • Also averaged 0.6 kills, 0.3 service aces, 2.8 digs and 0.6 blocks
  • Helped Pensacola State to a 2-0 week
  • Recorded a double-double (47 assists, 15 digs) vs. South Florida State and tallied 38 assists vs. Palm Beach State

Other nominees: Taylor Delaney, St. Johns River State; Grace King, Lake-Sumter State


Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week

Evan Casterline

Evan Casterline, Daytona State
Fr. 
Orlando, Fla. 

  • Finished 28th out of 342 runners at the FSU Invitational and was the top NJCAA runner
  • Posted an 8K time of 25:33.4

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week

Giovana Meade

Giovana Meade, Daytona State
So.
Oviedo, Fla.

  • Finished 40th overall out of 335 runners at the FSU Invitational and was the top NJCAA runner
  • Posted a 5K time of 18:39.6