After a stellar week for ETSU athletics, Nani Emmerson and Michael Deren have been recognized for their outstanding achievements in recent competition.
Off to their best conference start in 15 years, and winners of eight consecutive matches, the Lady Bucs added another accolade to an already stellar 2006 campaign as Emerson was named Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week Monday afternoon. Emerson is the Lady Bucs’ first honoree this season, and it is the first such recognition of her career.
The senior setter dished out 186 assists in the Lady Bucs’ three victories last week, as well as consecutive 60-plus assist performances, including a career high 67 in ETSU’s five-game victory over Chattanooga. Emerson followed up her performance against the Lady Mocs with a 64-assist outing against Jacksonville and accumulating 55 assists against North Florida, helping the Lady Bucs to their first 4-0 start in conference play since 1991.
On the season, the biology major is second in the conference, averaging 13.07 assists per game overall and 12.93 assists in conference matches, ranking 19th in the nation.
The Lady Bucs hit the road for their next match, taking on North Carolina A&T in non-conference action Tuesday, Oct. 10 in Greensboro, N.C. Match time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
ETSU sophomore Deren was named Atlantic Sun Runner of the Week, Wednesday by the conference office. Over the weekend, Deren helped the Bucs win their first meet of the season by defeating conference foes Kennesaw State, Campbell and Gardner-Webb, along with UNC-Asheville and Wofford. He becomes the first ETSU runner to win the award this season.
Deren had a stellar performance over the weekend as he won his first-ever collegiate race at the Gardner-Webb Dual Meet last Friday. He finished the 6K race with a time of 18:59, 11 seconds faster than second-place finisher. The math major has led the charge for the Bucs this season, as he has been the first ETSU runner to cross the finish in three consecutive meets.
The Bucs cross country will travel to Boone, N.C., on Friday to compete in the Blue Ridge Open hosted by Appalachian State beginning 4 p.m.
The Atlantic Sun Runner of the Week is announced every Wednesday during the 2006 cross country season.
Athletes are chosen by a 10-member group made of teams in the A-Sun conference.

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