ANNVILLE, Pa. (Conference News) – The Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) has announced its conference weekly award recipients for the week ending Feb. 28, 2021. A total of 11 student-athletes were recognized for performances from Feb. 22-28, 2021.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (#MAChoops)
MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week
Collin Jones (Lebanon Valley / So., F / Lock Haven, Pa.) earns his second conference weekly award of the season. Jones led Lebanon Valley to two thrilling victories over Widener. In a 66-65 win at home, Jones led all scorers with 21 points. He added nine rebounds and two assists in the win. Then, in a 92-90 double-overtime victory on the road, the sophomore poured in a game-best 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting and added 14 rebounds for a double-double. The Dutchmen are now 5-0 to begin a season for the first time since 1998-99.
MAC Freedom Player of the Week
Timmy Edwards (DeSales / Sr., F / Shiremanstown, Pa.) led DeSales to a sweep of Arcadia this past week. Edwards averaged 21.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The senior recorded 16 points and eight boards in the 75-72 road win on Thursday. Edwards then added a game-high 26 points on 12-for-17 shooting to go with seven boards in the 78-71 home win on Friday. Edwards shot 65.5 percent from the field in the two games.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (#MAChoops)
MAC Commonwealth Player of the Week
Maggie O’Hare (Albright / Jr., G / West Chester, Pa.) led the Lions to a pair of wins over Delaware Valley last week. O’Hare averaged 22.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game. The junior shot 60-percent from the field (12-of-20) and 58-percent (7-of-12) from three-point range. In the Lions 82-69 overtime win on Thursday, O'Hare registered a career-high 30 points behind 8-for-12 shooting, while grabbing eight rebounds and two steals. She followed that with 15 points, five steals and three rebounds the next night in the Lions’ 70-54 victory.
MAC Freedom Player of the Week
Averi Jordan (DeSales / Jr., F / Frackville, Pa.) repeats as MAC Freedom Player of the Week for her second of the season. Jordan helped DeSales post its third-straight sweep handing Arcadia its first two losses of the season. The junior averaged 13.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Jordan recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the 73-40 home victory on Thursday. She finished the two-game slate with 15 points in the 74-24 road win on Friday. Jordan also recorded three steals and a block during the week.
MEN’S ICE HOCKEY (#MAChky)
MAC Offensive Player of the Week
Riley Johnson (Lebanon Valley / Fy., RW / Mechanicsburg, Pa.) netted the game-winning goal to give Lebanon Valley a 3-2 victory over Nazareth in the Dutchmen's opener. Johnson received a pass from Darion Benchich and buried it with 2:37 remaining in the game. Johnson added an assist for LVC in the win.
MAC Defensive Player of the Week
Aidan Richardson (Lebanon Valley / So., G / Pittsford, N.Y.) made 18 stops between the pipes to help Lebanon Valley earn a 3-2 win over Nazareth in the Dutchmen's 2021 opener. Richardson stopped eight shots in the final period and made several saves in the final minute with the Golden Flyers' netminder pulled.
WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY (#MAChky)
MAC Offensive Player of the Week
Hannah Labbe (Stevenson / Fy., F / Pasadena, Calif.) finished the weekend with two goals and two assists as the Mustangs swept Neumann. In the 3-2 road victory, Labbe dished out an assist on the game's opening goal, and then scored the game-winner on the power play midway through the third period. In the 5-2 home victory, Labbe scored on the power play in the first period to tie the game before dishing out an assist on the eventual game-winner.
MAC Defensive Player of the Week
Julia Beaven (Alvernia / So., G / Seaforth, Ontario) led Alvernia to a 2-0 weekend to open the season. Beaven made 31 saves in 1-0 shutout over Lebanon Valley. She then picked up a 2-1 win on the road versus Lebanon Valley, making 17 saves.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL (#MACvb)
MAC Offensive Player of the Week
Mason Nissley (Messiah / So., OH / Manheim, Pa.) was stellar for the Falcons in a 3-0 week to start the season. Nissley accumulated 63 kills across 11 sets for a 5.73 kills per set. In both matches against Arcadia, Nissley picked up double-doubles in kills and digs, including 23 kills and 11 digs in a 3-2 win and 22 kills and 10 digs in a 3-0 win. He recorded 18 kills and six digs in the sweep of Misericordia. The sophomore also added four total blocks, a service ace and two assists.
MAC Defensive Player of the Week
Jonny Ortega (Alvernia / Fy., L / Old Bridge, N.J.) led the Golden Wolves to a 2-1 week with a 3-0 win over Wilkes and a doubleheader split with Misericordia. Ortega totaled 26 digs over the week, including 18 in the doubleheader against Misericordia.
WRESTLING (#MACwrestle)
MAC Wrestler of the Week
Nick Barnhart (Messiah / So., 157 lbs. / West Grove, Pa.) earned a fall in 2:24 against Averett's Landon Childress. Messiah handed Averett their first loss of the season, moving them to 10-1 on the year. Messiah defeated the Cougars 24-21 thanks to a trio of pins. Barnhart's was the quickest of the three for the Falcons. In Barnhart's four victories of the season, three of them have come by fall.