ODAC Players of the Week - Week 21

ODAC Players of the Week - Week 21

FOREST, Va. --- ODAC sports continued in full action for a second straight week with indoor track and swimming programs marching thru their slates and basketball reaching the mid-point of its conference seasons. Those earning weekly honors include (pictured, l-r, t-b): Chase Branscomb from Emory & Henry men's basketball, Kelly Williams from Randolph-Macon women's basketball, Rolonda Taylor from Virginia Wesleyan women's track, Jason White from Shenandoah men's track, Donovan Fiore from Washington and Lee men's track, Jayla Cross from VWU women's track, Ben Brown from W&L men's swimming, and Elle Chancey from W&L women's swimming.

Below are entries for all eight winners from the past week of competition.  Click on the associated links to see that sport's weekly honor roll.

For more on ODAC athletics, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.

 

ODAC Players of the Week

Thru Week Prior to: January 22, 2018

MEN'S INDOOR TRACK - FIELD ATHLETE
Jason White, Shenandoah, Fr.
White, a freshman from Roanoke, Va., put together a strong performance in the jumps at the Collegeville Classic hosted by Ursinus College. White won the triple jump with a leap of 13.86 meters (45-5.75). That ties for the best in the ODAC this season and ranks 28th in NCAA Division III. It also set a new Shenandoah program record. White also competed in the long jump, placing fifth overall at 6.48 meters (21-3.25). That slots fifth in the conference.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC INDOOR TRACK

 

MEN'S INDOOR TRACK - TRACK ATHLETE
Donovan Fiore, Washington and Lee, So.
Fiore, a sophomore from Gilbert, Ariz., put together a strong showing on the track at the Keydet Invitational hosted by Virginia Military Academy. Fiore was the top Division III finisher in both the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes. His 60m time of 7.09 seconds placed 26th overall and ranks fifth in the ODAC. His time of 22.46 seconds in the 200m is 43rd in the country and placed 19th in the race. When converted for the ODAC top-times qualifying lists, Fiore slots second at 22.86 seconds.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC INDOOR TRACK

 

WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK - FIELD ATHLETE
Rolonda Taylor, Virginia Wesleyan, Sr.
Taylor, a senior from Norfolk, Va., was busy and successful at the Captains Invitational and Combined Events hosted by Christopher Newport University. Taylor competed in four events including three jumps and a sprint with three top-five finishers. She won the triple jump at 10.56 meters (34-7.75), which would be second in the ODAC if not for her previous mark of 10.59 earlier this season. Taylor added a third place finish in the long jump at 5.14 meters (16-10.50), which ties for second in the ODAC. She also placed fifth in the high jump at 1.51 meters (4-11.50), which slots third in the league. On the track, Taylor competed in the 60-meter dash and finished sixth with a time of 8.26 seconds, which is tied for fourth-fastest in the ODAC.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC INDOOR TRACK

 

WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK - TRACK ATHLETE
Jayla Cross, Virginia Wesleyan, So.
Cross, a sophomore from Franklin, Va., put together a strong showing in four events at the Captains Invitational and Combined Events including two top-10 finishes in sprints and a pair of relay victories. Cross was the second fastest Division III competitor in both the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes. She was third overall in the 400m at 1:02.56, which is #1 in the ODAC this season. She chimed in eighth overall in the 200m at 27.20 seconds, which is second in the conference ranks. Cross also ran a leg in both the 4x200-meter and 4x400-meter relays. The Marlins won the 200-meter event in 1:51.40 and stopped the watches first in the 4x400-meter race in an ODAC-best 4:14.66.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC INDOOR TRACK

 

MEN'S BASKETBALL
Chase Branscomb, Emory & Henry, Sr., Forward
Branscomb, a senior from Bristol, Tenn., shot nearly 65-percent from the field in leading Emory & Henry to a pair of conference victories, including a 75-65 decision over Randolph-Macon to take over sole possession of first place in the ODAC standings at 8-0 in league play. Branscomb opened his week with a career-high 34 points on 14-of-22 shotting from the field and 5-of-6 from the line in a 102-81 victory over Lynchburg. He added 11 rebounds with seven coming via the offensive glass for his sixth double-double of the season. The 34 points also marked his first 30-plus point game of his collegiate career. Branscomb then dropped in 20 points with nine rebounds against R-MC. He was 8-of-12 form the field and notched a steal. For the season, Branscomb is sixth in the ODAC in scoring (16.2) and fifth in rebounding (8.3). He is fourth in overall points scored (275) and field goals made (100) and fifth in free throws made (61).

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC MEN'S BASKETBALL

 

MEN'S SWIMMING
Ben Brown, Washington and Lee, So.
Brown, a sophomore from Baldwin, Md., posted a pair of ODAC top-10 times in winning two individual events and helping the Generals to one relay victory in a 147-43 dual meet triumph over Randolph. Brown won the 50-yard freestyle in 22.23 seconds and picked up a 100-yard butterfly victory in 53.31 seconds. The latter time is just off the ODAC's top-five. Brown helped W&L post a time of 1:37.37 in the 200-yard medley relay, which is second only to the Generals' previous season-best mark.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC SWIMMING

 

WOMEN'S SWIMMING
Elle Chancey, Washington and Lee, Jr.
Chancey, a junior from Tampa, Fla., posted a pair of ODAC top-four individual times and helped the Generals win one relay in a 154-39 dual meet victory over Randolph. Chancey won the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyles in 53.43 seconds and 1:56.68, respectively. She previously set the ODAC's best marks in both events -- 52.37 in the 100-free and 1:55.42 in the 200-free. Chancey helped the W&L win the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:40.26, which is second only to the Generals' previous season-best mark (1:37.19).

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC SWIMMING

 

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Kelly Williams, Randolph-Macon, So., Center
Williams, a sophomore from Garysburg, N.C., returns to the player of the week spotlight for a fifth time this season after leading Randolph-Macon to a pair of ODAC victories. The second win, a 71-59 decision at league-leading Lynchburg, marked the 600th career triumph for head coach Carroll LaHaye. It also put R-MC into a three-way tie for first place in the ODAC table at 6-2 in conference games. Williams opened her week with 21 points and 16 rebounds in a 67-40 win at Randolph College. She added two assists and blocked shot in 26 minutes of action. Williams went a full 40 minutes at Lynchburg, pouring in 35 points with 15 rebounds, four assists, four blocked shots, and three steals. She was 13-of-20 from the field and 9-of-9 from the line. She finished the week 20-of-36 (.556) fro the field and 16-of-19 (.842) from the stripe. For the season, Williams leads the ODAC in scoring (24.6), total points scored (394), field goals made (150), rebounding (18.4), total rebounds (295), and blocked shots (66). She is second in free throws made (94) and third in field goal percentage (.512). Williams leads NCAA Division III in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots per game (4.13). Her 15 double-doubles top the ODAC and are second in the country.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL