GREENVILLE, Tenn. - The South Atlantic Conference fall sports all-conference teams and award winners were announced at the Food Lion SAC Fall Sports Food Festival banquet, held on the campus of Tusculum College, Friday night.

United States women's soccer great Michelle Akers was the special guest speaker for the event. More than 800 players, coaches, media, and support staff attended this year's function, which kicks off the 2001 Food Lion SAC Fall Sports Festival.

Wingate University took home two Coach of the Year honors and two Player of the Year honors. Host school Tusculum had two student-athletes receive the SAC Scholar Athlete Award, and had another player honored as Freshman of the Year. Catawba’s successful women’s soccer program received two awards – Coach of the Year and Player of the Year, while Newberry College also collected a Coach of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards. Mars Hill and Presbyterian also brought home some of the conference’s top awards.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete Award is presented to one athlete from each of the conference’s 14 spots programs and represents a combination of athletic skill, academic achievement and participation in community service and leadership.

The winner for women’s soccer is Jessi Adair of Presbyterian College. Adair Jessi is a three-time All-South Atlantic Conference player. She has led her team in scoring for two years. She ranks tied for fourth in career total points, and second in career assists in school history. She ranks 12th in SAC history in career assists and has seven game-winning goals in her career.

Adair has a perfect 4.0 GPA as an Elementary Education major. She has been named to the Dean’s List, the President’s List and the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. She is the recipient of the John I Smith Scholarship, the Junior Fellowship Scholarship and the Endowed Scholarship.

On campus and in the community, Adair is a member of the Student Volunteer Services, where she has participated in tutoring elementary children, visiting nursing homes and Kid’s Day at Presbyterian College. She is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The SAC Scholar Athlete for men’s soccer is Scott Hanger of Tusculum. Hanger is a three-time All-South Atlantic Conference player, and was the 2000 SAC Player of the Year. He was named to the Division II All-South Region team in 1999 and 2000.

He has a 3.65 GPA as a Biology and Environmental Science major. He has been named to the Dean’s List, the Tusculum Athletic Directors Honor Roll and the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

On campus and in the community, Hanger is active with the Nettie Day Service Project and the Little Theatre Group. He has assisted with food and clothing collection for Habitat for Humanity, is a member of the Environmental Science Club and referees at YMCA youth leagues

The 2001 Scholar Athlete for Volleyball is Sierra Harlacher of Tusculum College. She is a three-year starter as a setter and defensive specialist. She ranks 11th in the conference with 4.87 in assists per game. During her career, she has recorded 608 digs, 1293 assists and 95 service aces. She was named to the Lady Raider All-Tournament Team.

In the classroom, she has a 3.96 GPA as a Psychology and Political Science major. She has been named to the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Tusculum Athletic Directors Honor Roll every semester. She has also been named to the Dean’s List, the President’s List, the Charles Oliver Gray Honor List and the National Dean’s List. In 1998, she held the highest GPA by a Tusculum female student-athlete.

On campus and in the community, Harlacher is president of Alpha Chi Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She is a member of the psychology club, the Tusculum Institute for Public Leadership and Public Policy, and the Andrew Johnson Society. She is a Student Government representative and has interned in the Tennessee Office of the Governor and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. She has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and other community projects, including Toys for Tots.

The 2001 SAC Men’s Soccer Player of the Year, from Wingate, is Ben Hill. The Pensacola, Fla. (Washington H.S.) native led the SAC in goals scored and total scoring. He was named SAC Player of the Week on two occasions and becomes the third player from his school to be honored with this award.

Kim Clayton of Catawba was named the 2001 SAC Women’s Soccer Player of the Year. The Haw River, N.C., native anchored one of the top defenses in the SAC. A goalie, Clayton had six consecutive shutouts during a seven-match win streak, and broke her own record with 602 consecutive shutout minutes. She is the fourth player from Catawba to win this award.

The 2001 SAC Volleyball Player of the Year, from Wingate University, is Stephanie Poole. Poole, a native of Dallas, Texas (Highland Park HS) led the conference in assists and was fifth in service aces. She helped lead the Bulldogs to a second consecutive 20-win season. She was a three-time selection as Player of the Week and was named to four All-Tournament Teams.

The 2001 SAC Men’s Soccer Freshman of the Year is Brandon Cockrell from Newberry College. The Mauldin, S.C. (Mauldin HS) native led the conference in assists. He had four assists in one match, which tied for the single game high this season.

Tusculum College’s Franmarie Gregg was named the 2001 SAC Women’s Soccer Freshman of the Year. Gregg, a native of Fairfax, Va., (Fairfax HS), was sixth in the conference in goals scored and total scoring. This is the second consecutive year that a player from Tusculum has won the award.

The 2001 SAC Volleyball Freshman of the Year is Sarah Nash from Mars Hill. The Louisville, Ky., native (Presentation Academy) finished the regular season among SAC leaders in kills per game (second) and digs (third). She is only the second player from Mars Hill to earn this award.

The 2001 South Atlantic Conference Men’s Soccer Co-Coaches of the Year are Gary Hamill of Wingate University and Bobby Ladimir of Newberry College. Hamill led his team to a share of the 2001 SAC regular season championship with a 5-1-1 conference record. He receives this award for the fourth time in his career. Ladimir led the Indians to its best season in school history. He wins the award for the first time, and shares it with his former college coach.

John Cullen of Catawba was named the 2001 SAC Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year. Cullen led his team to a tie for second place in the conference in his first season as head coach. During the season, his team won seven consecutive matches.

Susan Deaton of Wingate University was named the 2001 SAC Volleyball Coach of the Year. Deaton guided her team to a third-place finish in the conference and won over 20 games for the second consecutive year. She was recently named one of the country’s most caring coaches by USA Weekend magazine. She wins this award for the first time.

The SAC also honored players with the SAC Senior award, given to players completing their eligibility within the league, the SAC statistical award, given to the leader in each statistical category, and one coach, Mars Hill women’s soccer coach David Bennett, with a 10-year SAC Service Award.

MEN’S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS AND AWARD WINNERS

WOMEN’S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS AND AWARD WINNERS

SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS