March 10, 2008
Monarchs 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.

Kaitlin Flaherty has been named the USA South Women's Tennis Rookie of the Week. The League City, Texas freshman went 2-0 at both number-two singles and number-two doubles last week for the Monarchs. In a singles victory over St. Scholastica's previously unbeaten player, Flaherty forced a third-set tiebreaker by winning the second set after dropping the first. Flaherty won that tie breaker to win the match, 4-6, 6-1, (10-1). Her doubles victory was against a St. Scholastica team which had been undefeated as well.

Lesley Hewitt has been named the USA South Softball Pitcher of the Week. The Garner, North Carolina junior appeared in five games for the Monarchs last week, earning a 3-0 record with one save and a 1.25 ERA. Hewitt tossed a total of 22.1 innings for the week, giving up six runs, four of which were earned, on 22 hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts. Hewitt earned victories over Augustana, 18th-ranked Muskingum and 5th-ranked Wartburg. Hewitt's save came in a win over Wittenberg.

Hannah Stutts has been named the USA South Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week. The freshman from Statesville, North Carolina appeared in four games, three in relief, for the Monarchs last week, earning a 1-0 record with a 1.31 ERA. Stutts tossed a total of 10.2 innings giving up two runs on nine hits with one walk and two strikeouts. In her only start of the week, Stutts pitched six innings, giving up two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts to help Methodist earn an 8-2 win over Bluffton.

Andrea DiStefano has been selected as the USA South Lacrosse Player of the Week. The Albany, New York junior attacker totaled 19 points on 14 goals and five assists with eight ground balls, two draw controls and two caused turnovers as the Monarchs went 1-3 last week. In a 20-7 win over the Savannah College of Art & Design, DiStefano tallied nine points on five goals and four assists while adding four ground balls and two draw controls. In each of the Monarchs three losses, DiStefano tallied three scores.

Chrystal Bradley has been named the USA South Lacrosse Rookie of the Week. The senior midfielder from Fairfax, Virginia, playing her first year of collegiate lacrosse, scored nine goals and assisted on five others for a total of 14 points last week for the Monarchs. Bradley tallied four goals and three assists in Methodist's, 20-7, win over the Savannah College of Art & Design. In losses to Wilkes and Wesley, Bradley scored twice and three times, respectfully.

For more information on the USA South Athletic Conference visit: www.usasouth.net