September 2023 Women’s Volleyball Freshman of the Month
Samantha Ball, North Greenville

A freshman outside hitter from Saint Paul, Minnesota, Samantha Ball of North Greenville closed out the first month of the regular-season averaging an impressive 3.60 digs, 3.44 points and 2.84 kills per set. She was second on the team in all three of those categories along with overall kills (162) and digs (205). 

Ball is currently in the top-15 in Conference Carolinas in kills, digs and points per set. 

2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball Freshman of the Month

September 2023

Samantha Ball, North Greenville

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

September 2023 Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Month
Michela Gritti, UNC Pembroke

A freshman from Primaluna, Italy, Michela Gritti of UNC Pembroke made her collegiate debut at the UNG Nighthawk Invitational where she posted an impressive 5K time of 19:37.9 to claim 23rd individually. UNC Pembroke finished fourth as a team at the event. 

Gritti recorded a 6K time of 24:03.8 to finish ninth individually at the Akiah McMillian Invitational hosted by Columbia College. The Braves finished second as a team at the meet. 

2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Month

September 2023

Michela Gritti, UNC Pembroke

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

September 2023 Men’s Cross Country Freshman of the Month
Alain Flores, Converse

A freshman from Sopelana in Basque Country in Spain, Alain Flores of Converse started his career by recoding the third-fastest men’s cross country 8K time in Converse history with a 26:53 at the USC Upstate Eye Opener. 

The Converse men finished eighth at the event as a team. 

2023 Conference Carolinas Men’s Cross Country Freshman of the Month

September 2023

Alain Flores, Converse

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

September 2023 Women’s Soccer Freshman of the Month
Haley Long, Belmont Abbey

A freshman forward from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Haley Long of Belmont Abbey opened her collegiate career with five goals and three assists in the first month of the season. 

Long’s 13 points on the month all came in wins for Belmont Abbey. She opened the season with a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over Anderson before posting two goals and two assists in a conference victory over Erskine. 

Long is currently in the top-15 in Conference Carolinas in goals, points and assists. 

2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Soccer Freshman of the Month

September 2023

Haley Long, Belmont Abbey

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

September 2023 Men’s Soccer Freshman of the Month
Steven Boaghe Braniste, Francis Marion

A freshman defender from Getafe in Spain, Steven Boaghe Braniste of Francis Marion was pivotal for the Patriots from his defensive position in their strong 5-1-3 start to the season that included a 4-0-1 record in league play. 

Braniste logged 82.8 minutes per match in the month of September in the eight matches that he played. In his eight matches on the field, Francis Marion only allowed seven goals and just 36 shots on goal. The Patriots recorded two shutouts over the course of the month of September. 

2023 Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Freshman of the Month

September 2023

Steven Boaghe Braniste, Francis Marion

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

September 2023 Women’s Golf Freshman of the Month
Claire Beitel, Mount Olive

Beitel, a freshman from Irvington, Virginia, tied for fifth on the individual leaderboard at the UC Invitational after firing a seven-over 149 (74-75) in her first appearance with the program. She tied for the team lead with three birdies and she made 23 pars over two rounds while leaping two positions on the final day at the Edgewood Country Club. As a team, Mount Olive also finished fifth in the team standings in its first tournament of the fall season. 

Beitel garnered Conference Carolinas Golfer of the Week honors following the season-opening performance and registered a scoring average of 74.5.

2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Golf Freshman of the Month

September 2023

Claire Beitel, Mount Olive

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

September 2023 Men’s Golf Freshman of the Month
Jack Garcia, Emmanuel

A freshman from Alpharetta, Georgia, Jack Garcia of Emmanuel posted an impressive 73.0 scoring average in his first month with the Lions. 

Garcia opened his college career by picking up an impressive finish of tied for sixth at the Griffin Fall Invite hosted by Saint Leo in Petersburg, Virginia. Garcia collected an ever-par three-round score of 216. He concluded the event with a final round score of 69. As a team, Emmanuel finished tied for seventh at the event. 

Garcia also secured a top-40 finish at the King Invitational in Bristol, Tennessee. Emmanuel finished tied for sixth as a team at the event.  

2023 Conference Carolinas Men’s Golf Freshman of the Month

September 2023

Jack Garcia, Emmanuel

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.