SALISBURY, Md. – Four Salisbury University student-athletes captured Jersey Mike's A Sub Above Players of the Week honors this past week, with awards coming from the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) and State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC).
Men's soccer's
Noah Blankensop netted C2C Offensive Player of the Week, while volleyball's
Elizabeth Gordon and
Sophia Blaufuss repeated as C2C Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively; and field hockey's
Layla Kent notched SUNYAC Offensive Athlete of the Week.
Noah Blankensop | C2C Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week | Second Career (First This Season)
Blankensop [So. – Salisbury, Md. (Bennett)] scored two goals and set up another to help the Sea Gulls improve to 10-1-2. On Wednesday against in-state rival Johns Hopkins, his long throw-in found
Brogan Eastlack at the back post for the opening goal of a 2-1 win. He then scored both goals in Saturday's 2-1 Senior Day win over St. Mary's (Md.), striking left-footed in the 34th minute before heading home the dramatic game-winner in the minute. All five of Blankensop's points this season came this week, including his first career two-goal game.
Elizabeth Gordon | C2C Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week | Second Career (Second This Season)
Gordon (Fr. – Nokesville, Va.) swung .704 on her way to 21 kills (3.00 K/S) as the Sea Gulls swept the "Battle of the SUs" tri-match to extend their winning streak to six matches. She blasted 10 kills against no errors (.769) in a 3-1 win over Stevenson, adding a team-high eight blocks (three solo) and the match-clinching ace in the fourth set, then followed it up with 11 kills (.643) in a 3-0 sweep of Susquehanna. Gordon's .368 hitting percentage for the year is currently tops in the C2C by over 30 points.
Sophia Blaufuss | C2C Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week | Third Career (Third This Season)
Blaufuss (Jr. – Frisco, Texas) corralled 37 digs (5.29 D/S) in a perfect Saturday afternoon at Stevenson. She paced Salisbury with 22 digs in the 3-1 win over the Mustangs and added 15 more in the 3-0 sweep of Susquehanna; she also dished out eight assists across the two matches. Blaufuss currently ranks third in the C2C in total digs (251) and digs per set (4.05).
Layla Kent | SUNYAC Field Hockey Offensive Athlete of the Week | Second Career (Second This Season)
Kent (Fr. – Millington, Md.) posted a hat trick and an assist for seven points in the sixth-ranked Sea Gulls' 7-0 win over SUNY Oneonta on Sunday, lifting Salisbury to 9-2 overall and 3-0 in league play. She found the back of the cage just 53 seconds into the game, added goals in the 17th and 24th minutes, and set up
Tessa Gray's tally in the 36th minute.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 26 individual national championships, and 211 conference championships, and have produced 54 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
