Monday, October 09, 2006

MACON, Ga. (October 8, 2006) - Off to their best conference start in 15 years, and winners of seven consecutive matches, the Lady Bucs added another accolade to an already stellar 2006 campaign as Nani Emerson (Tracy, Calif.) was named Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week Monday afternoon.  Emerson is the Lady Bucs' first honoree this season, and it is the first such recognition of her career.

The senior setter dished out 186 assists in the Lady Bucs' three victories last week, as well as consecutive 60-plus assist performances, including a career high 67 in ETSU's five-game victory over Chattanooga. Emerson followed up her performance against the Lady Mocs with a 64 assist outing against Jacksonville and accumulating 55 assists against North Florida, helping the Lady Bucs to their first 4-0 start in conference play since 1991.

On the season, the biology major is second in the conference, averaging 13.07 assists per game overall and 12.93 assists in conference matches, ranking 19th in the nation.

The 10-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., includes Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, North Florida and Stetson, with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate to compete in 2007.

The Lady Bucs hit the road for their next match, taking on North Carolina A&T in non-conference action Tuesday, October 10 in Greensboro, N.C.  Match time is scheduled for 6 p.m.