March 26, 2007
Geisinger, Bull, Giannini, Fletcher and Hutson Honored as USA South Athletes of the Week
Methodist student-athletes receive weekly conference honors

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-  The USA South has announced their athletes of the week.  The conference gives an award for Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week for each sport active during the week.

Fred Geisinger has been named the USA South Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week.  The Woodbridge, Connecticut freshman appeared in three games last week, earning two saves. In four innings of work last week, Geisinger did not allow a run or a walk on three hits with two strikeouts. Geisinger earned a save in Methodist's 3-2 win over Tufts by collecting the final six outs. In the Monarch's, 4-1, win over Christopher Newport, Geisinger tossed a scoreless ninth inning to collect his second save of the week.  The baseball team hosts Guilford College on Tuesday at 7 pm.

Leighton Bull has been named the USA South Women's Tennis Player of the Week.  The Berwick, Pennsylvania junior was 4-0 in both number-three singles and number-one doubles action last week. In singles action, Bull earned conference victories over players from N.C. Wesleyan, Greensboro, Ferrum and Averett. In doubles play, Bull and teammate Tiffany Tucker earned a key victory over Greensboro's top doubles duo which included last season's conference player of the year, Carrie Pacifico.

Nikki Giannini has been named the USA South Women's Tennis Rookie of the Week.  The freshman from Tiverton, Rhode Island was 1-0 in singles play and 2-0 in doubles action last week for the Monarchs. In her only singles action of the week, Giannini earned a win at the number-six position over conference foe Greensboro. Giannini teamed with Shannon Vivian to earn a conference victory over Greensboro while matching up with Courtney Vail to get a USA South win over Averett.  The women's tennis team will face Shenandoah on Friday in Richmond, Virginia before traveling to Christopher Newport on Saturday.

Andrew Fletcher has been named the USA South Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week.  The New Castle, New Hampshire freshman was 2-1 in singles play and 3-3 in doubles action last week. Fletcher earned wins over USA South rival N.C. Wesleyan at the number-five singles position and Limestone at the number-six singles spot. At the number-one doubles position, Fletcher teamed with Andrew Freeman to earn a conference victory over N.C. Wesleyan before matching up with Chris Fletcher to get a USA South win over Greensboro.  The men's tennis team will face Shenandoah on Friday in Richmond, Virginia before traveling to Averett on Saturday.

Megan Hutson has been named the USA South Softball Rookie of the Week.  The freshman second baseman from Garner, North Carolina batted .471 (8-for-17) with six RBI, seven runs scored, four doubles, two walks, four stolen bases and one sacrifice hit as the Monarchs went 5-1 last week. In a doubleheader sweep of USA South rival N.C. Wesleyan, Hutson was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, one walk, one sacrifice hit and one stolen base. In a doubleheader sweep of Meredith, Hutson was 1-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBI, one double, two stolen bases and one walk. Finally, in a doubleheader split with conference foe Peace, Hutson was 4-for-7 with one run scored, three RBI, three doubles and one stolen base.  The softball team will travel to Shenandoah on Saturday before returning home to host Averett on Thursday at 2:30 pm.

For more information about the USA South Athletic Conference visit http://www.usasouth.net/