ODAC Athletes of the Week | Field Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball

ODAC Athletes of the Week | Field Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball

FOREST, Va. --- The first report of week four for ODAC teams and student-athletes features high scoring outputs and key contributions throughout all four sports. Those earning weekly honors for Monday, September 26, include (pictured, from left and top): Virginia Wesleyan University's Juan Tovar (men's soccer), Shenandoah University's Mairead McKibbin (field hockey), VWU's Morgan Ludovici (women's volleyball), and Roanoke College's MC Petrucelli (women's soccer).

Below are entries for all four winners from today's multi-sport release. Most weeks this fall, the following schedule will be used for awards reporting:

  • Sundays: football (thru 11/13/22)
  • Mondays: field hockey, soccer, swimming (when it begins), volleyball, wrestling (when it begins)
  • Tuesdays: cross country
  • Wednesday: golf

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.

FIELD HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mairead McKibbin | Shenandoah | So. | Forward
McKibbin, a sophomore from Magnolia, Del., picks up her third ODAC weekly honor in four weeks as she continues to post big offensive numbers to help keep Shenandoah unbeaten at 8-0 atop the conference table. McKibbin, who has registered at least one point in all eight Hornets' games this season, put up a 13-point week in three SU victories. She opened with two goals and an assist in a 6-0 victory over 2021 CSAC champion Wilson College. She opened Shenandoah's account in the eighth minute and made it 3-0 SU in the 36th minute. She assisted Lauren Tyre with Elizabeth Ranberger on the Hornets fifth goal in the 48:00 mark. McKibbin then recorded her third game of at least three goals this season in a 7-0 win over Stevenson University. She assisted Cassidy Morrison on SU's third goal in the 13th minute and then score three consecutive goals -- two in the second quarter and one in the third -- to make it 6-0 Hornets by the 36:47 mark. McKibbin then helped Shenandoah survive a scare at Washington College. In a back-and-forth affair, she assisted Morrison on SU's second tying-goal, making it 2-2 with 28:26 gone. Shenandoah eventually got a 57th minute goal from Morrison to win, 5-4. For the season, McKibbin leads not only the ODAC but NCAA Division III in points (35) and goals scored (16).

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC FIELD HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Juan Tovar | Virginia Wesleyan | Jr. | Forward
Tovar, a junior from Stephenson, Va., helped the Marlins kickoff the ODAC portion of their schedule with a pair of victories to keep Virginia Wesleyan atop the conference standings with a 2-0 league mark and 7-1-1 overall record. Tovar played a key role in three of VWU's four goals in road wins at Averett University and Roanoke College. Against the Cougars, Tovar spotted the Marlins to a 2-0 lead -- the eventual final score -- with a pair of goals inside the opening 6:29 of the contest. His first came at the 1:41 mark when he lofted a floater over the keeper's head from just inside the far-left corner the box following an AU defensive miscue. Tovar tallied his second goal a few minutes later when he redirected a cross from the left wing with a right foot at the eight-yard box across the goal into the far-side netting. Virginia Wesleyan returned to the western-side of Virginia on the weekend and posted a late 2-1 win at Roanoke. With the Maroons leading 1-0 following a first-half tally, Tovar provided the assist on the game-leveler in the 84th minute. He eluded two defenders on the left wing with excellent footwork and put his cross on Nate Mitchell's head at the middle of the eight-yard box. The Marlins secured the game-winner 24 seconds before full-time to post the late victory. For the season, Tovar has racked up 10 points on four goals and two assists.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC MEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MC Petrucelli | Roanoke | Jr. | Forward
Petrucelli, a junior from Midlothian, Va., helped Roanoke break through with a pair of victories over the past week with a five-goal explosion. Petrucelli scored twice to help the Maroons pick up their fourth win of the year in a 7-2 triumph at Mary Baldwin. After MBU took a 1-0 lead just 37 seconds from the opening whistle, Petrucelli leveled the score in the 12th minute. Her header at the left-post was initially saved by MBU's keeper, but Petrucelli sent the rebound shot into the far netting to register the equalizer. She made it 4-1 Maroons in the 58th minute with a calm finish off a pass from right-to-left across goal by Morgan O'Neill. Petrucelli then helped Roanoke begin ODAC play with her second career hat trick in a 4-0 win over Eastern Mennonite. With Roanoke ahead 1-0, Petrucelli received a cross from the right wing and brought it down mid-box with a defender at her back. She turned to her left and deposited a low left-foot shot past the keeper into the corner for a 2-0 advantage at the 11:36 mark. Petrucelli's second unassisted effort came as the first of two goals in the 70th minute. She took control the ball at midfield and took her shot from 20 yards into the top-right corner for a 3-0 lead. Just 11 seconds later, she finished off a through-ball from Brooke Nicholson with a left foot across the keeper and off the far-right post for a 4-0 lead at 69:29. For the season, Petrucelli is tied for the ODAC lead in points (16) and goals scored (6) with Shyenne Diaz from Virginia Wesleyan.

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK
VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Morgan Ludovici | Virginia Wesleyan | Jr. | Outside Hitter
Ludovici, a junior from Virginia Beach, Va., helped Virginia Wesleyan to a 2-1 week as Virginia Wesleyan opened ODAC play with 3-0 victories over Guilford and Averett following a 3-1 setback at Randolph-Macon. Ludovici registered 39 kills in 10 sets played and posted a .329 attack percentage over three matches. She collected 32 digs and six ace on the way to 45.0 points earned at 4.5 per set. Ludovici had a strong match at R-MC despite the loss to the Yellow Jackets as posted 14 kills at a .257 clip with 10 digs and two aces towards 16.0 points. In a weekend double with GC and AU, Ludovici opened with 13 kills at a .296 attack percentage against the Quakers. She added 15 digs and two aces. She had two more service winners to go with seven digs and 12 kills at a .500 attack percentage against the Cougars. For the season, Ludovici has racked up 188 kills (2.77/set) with 19 aces and 148 digs (2.85/set). She has accounted for 166.0 points earned (3.2/set).

Click to learn more about the past week in ODAC VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK