Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Month for March of 2025

4/4/2025 4:00:00 PM

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH - Previous Winners
Luca Colombo | Mount Olive | Freshman | Libero | Milan, Italy
Colombo continued his outstanding freshman campaign at libero after averaging 3.16 digs per set, as the Trojans posted a perfect 8-0 record in the month of March. He reached double-digit digs in five of the eight matches while boasting a .985 reception percentage with just two errors in 25 sets played. Colombo registered 10 digs and three assists in a 3-0 sweep at Barton on March 18 before an impressive 14-dig performance at King in a 3-0 win. He also registered 10 digs in back-to-back contests with sweeps over Emmanuel and Erskine.

WOMEN'S LACROSSE
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH - Previous Winners
Berghan Balparda | Barton | Freshman | Midfield | Melbourne, Florida
In eight games last month, Balparda accounted for 19 points, 21 ground balls and eight caused turnovers. She scored 13 goals to go along with six assists. She posted three games with three goals and two with two goals. The freshman added two games with two assists.

MEN'S LACROSSE
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH - Previous Winners
Brayden Rieger | Mount Olive | Freshman | Attack | Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Rieger delivered a balanced effort on the offensive side of the field with a team-best 17 points in March behind eight goals and nine assists in five games played. He recorded at least a goal and an assist in all five contests, while also securing seven ground balls. Rieger registered three-pointe performances against Lees-McRae, North Greenville, and Young Harris before tallying three goals and three assists in an 11-3 win over Barton on March 25.

ACROBATICS & TUMBLING
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH - Previous Winners
Brooke Spurway | Wingate | Freshman | Base/Tumbler | Okotoks, Alberta
Spurway competed in 11 heats across all six events for the Bulldogs. Her performance this month is highlighted by an incredible 9.30/9.55 in her individual pass in the open tumbling heat. Following that performance, Spurway was named honorable mention NCATA Freshman of the Week, the first Bulldog to receive weekly recognition from the NCATA.

The freshman has been a key tumbler for the Bulldogs, posting scores of 7.850/8.75 in the trio pass and 9.30/9.55 in the open pass. In the pyramid event, Spurway helped Wingate to scores of 9.20/9.70 in heat one and 9.60/9.90 in heat two. In the compulsory event, Spurway helped Wingate to scores of 9.50 in heat two, 9.75 in heat three and 7.25 in heat four. She also helped the Bulldogs to scores of 8.30/9.20 in acro heat two as well as 8.65/9.00 in toss heat one and 8.30/9.25 in toss heat two.

WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH - Previous Winners
Janara Bryant | Mount Olive | Freshman | Sprints| Beaufort, North Carolina
Bryant established a top-five distance in NCAA Division II in the triple jump, while boasting a trio of top-four marks in the Conference Carolinas. At the Trojan Challenge on March 28, Bryant delivered an outstanding performance at her first home meet with the Trojans. She established a new Mount Olive record in the triple jump and placed first overall with a distance of 12.28 meters, which ranks fifth in the nation and first in the Conference Carolinas. Additionally, Bryant captured first place in the high jump after clearing 1.60 meters to match the top mark in the league. She also registered a third-place finish and reached the conference mark with a leap of 5.50 meters in the long jump, which sits fourth in the Conference Carolinas.

MEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH - Previous Winners
Caleb Bass | Mount Olive | Freshman | Throws | Middlesex, North Carolina
Bass registered four Conference Carolinas qualifying marks in the opening month of the outdoor season while boasting top 10 marks in three events. At the Trojan Challenge on March 28, he set the fourth-best mark in the league with a distance of 49.54 meters to finish third overall. Bass also recorded a third-place finish in the javelin with a toss of 47.30 meters, which sits ninth in the Conference Carolinas. Additionally, he placed fourth overall in the discus and ranks 11th in the conference with a mark of 42.57 meters. Bass would also place fifth in the shot put with a toss of 13.98 meters, which ranks seventh across the entire league.

WOMEN'S TENNIS
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH - Previous Winners
Nina Bernier | Mount Olive | Freshman | Sainte-Rose, Guadeloupe
Bernier delivered an outstanding 8-1 overall record in singles play and a 5-0 mark in conference play while competing in three different lineup positions. She is currently on a four-match winning streak with league victories in the fifth slot over Erskine, North Greenville, and Young Harris. Additionally, she boasts a 5-4 mark in doubles action in the month of March with a 3-2 record in Conference Carolinas while playing primarily in the first position.

MEN'S TENNIS
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH - Previous Winners
Daniel Lopez | Barton | Freshman | Palma De Mallorca, Spain
In March, Lopez went 8-3 in singles play and 9-2 in doubles play for the Bulldogs.

MEN'S GOLF
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH - Previous Winners
Adrian Ronn | Young Harris | Freshman | Bro, Sweden
In two tournaments in March, Ronn averaged 70.5 strokes per round with two top 10 finishes. He finished 10th at the Bearcat Classic, shooting two-under 214 with rounds of 73, 71 and 70 on the par 72 course. Later in the month he shot one-under 209 to finish 10th at the Music City Invitational with rounds of 70, 70 and 69 on the par 70 course.

SOFTBALL
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH - Previous Winners
Alona Hanna | UNC Pembroke | Freshman | Utility | Lumberton, North Carolina
Hanna had a big month of March for the Braves, hitting .433 with hits in 14 of UNC Pembroke's 20 games, including a five-game hitting streak. She posted 26 hits, including seven doubles, four triples and one home run while scoring 16 runs and driving in 15. She also stole five bases on six attempts. Hanna also posted eight games with at least two hits, including three games with three hits.

BASEBALL
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH - Previous Winners
Jonny Smith | Young Harris | Freshman | Infield | Suwanee, Georgia
Smith started 17-of-18 games in March, helping the Mountain Lions to 13 wins. He registered a .408 batting average with 29 hits, one double and four home runs. He also scored 15 runs and drove in 19 while stealing two bases. The freshman posted nine games with at least two hits, including four hits and three runs batted in against Francis Marion. He also recorded five games with at least two runs batted in, including three with three runs batted in.