AVE MARIA, Fla. –  In a back and forth contest, the No. 2 ranked Southeastern University women’s basketball team grabbed their 20^th win of the season with a 55-51 victory over Sun Conference opponent, Ave Maria University to advance to 20-1 and 9-0 in SUN play.
 
the Fire got on the board first with Angela Perry’s first points of the contest but seven consecutive points by the Gyrenes gave them a 7-2 advantage four minutes into the first quarter. After four more lead changes through the remainder of the quarter, the Gyrenes had the 17-16 advantage going into the second quarter after the Fire struggled from distance going 1-6 from beyond the arc.
 
Four consecutive points by Marta Aranda tilted the scales back in favor of the Fire as they took the 20-17 edge early in the second quarter. The Gyrenes continued their strong showing from three point range with back-to-back baskets to tie things up at 25 with just under five minutes to play before the half. The teams continued to battle with neither being able to grab the advantage heading into the locker room as they concluded the first 20 minutes with a 29-29 tie.
 
The Fire began to pull away from the Gyrenes in the third quarter after putting together an 8-0 run with Leilah Vigil contributing to five of those eight points. The late quarter run allowed the Fire a 45-38 lead heading into the final quarter after shooting 50% from the field and from beyond the arc. The fourth quarter saw the Fire lead by as much as nine but multiple missed opportunities by the Gyrenes with the clock winding down lent the Fire the 55-51 victory.
 
Leilah Vigil led the Fire in points and rebounds and recorded her first double-double of the season after recording 14 points and 11 rebounds. Angela Perry ended the night with 12 points while Rebecca Cook ended a strong defensive showing with eight rebounds, three steals, and four blocks.

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MIAMI, Fla. – The Sun Conference announced on Thursday the addition of four affiliate members in beach volleyball. The University of Mobile, St. Andrews University, Truett McConnell University, and William Carey University will compete in Sun Conference beach volleyball action starting the 2022 season. 

“We are excited to welcome these four new affiliate members to our conference and thankful to the leadership of the respective institutions in working to make this happen,” Sun Conference Commissioner Dustin Wilke said. “Each institution adds great value and allows us to strengthen what is already a highly competitive Beach Volleyball conference.”  

The four new additions will join current Sun members Ave Maria, Florida Memorial, Southeastern, St. Thomas, Warner, and Webber International to bring the total number of competing schools to 10 in 2022. 

The Sun Conference kicked off its inaugural season in 2021 with Florida Memorial claiming the league’s first title in a 3-1 victory over Webber International in Babson Park, Florida. (3/27/21).    

Sun Conference Beach Volleyball Affiliate Members 

University of Mobile – The Rams played their inaugural season in 2021, competing in six matches. Mobile is under the direction of Jon Campbell, who started the Rams indoor program in 2005.  

St. Andrews University – The SAU Knights competed in 14 matches during the program’s inaugural season in 2021. The Knights are led by Tessa Smith, who entered her first year as head coach last season.    

Truett McConnell University – The Bears will begin their first year of competition this season after the school announced the addition of beach volleyball last January. TMU will be led by Director of Volleyball Mark Corbin. 

William Carey University – The Lady Crusaders wrapped up their third season of competition in 2021, going 6-2. WCU is coached by Kelsea Seymour Weldon, who has been at the helm since the program began. 

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MIAMI, Fla. – Southeastern’s Donnie Smith has been named the 2020-21 Sun Conference Sports Information Director of the Year the league announced on Tuesday as voted on by the league’s 11 SIDs. 

“I’m incredibly proud of the work our team did this year and the high standard we held ourselves to as we told the stories of our student-athletes,” Smith said. “In a year like we just experienced, having high-quality people that are great team players makes all the difference. Andrew Tew, our assistant SID, was a huge part of our success especially when it came to social media and our live broadcasts, and the group of graduate assistants, and interns we had this year made handling the many challenges of the year much easier. Thank you to my peers in The Sun Conference for this honor and to the administration at Southeastern for making the resources needed to be successful available to us.” 

“Donnie has continued to show over the past year why he is one of the very best at his craft in all of college athletics,” Sun Conference Commissioner Dustin Wilke said. “His work ethic, knowledge, and expertise have a positive impact on everyone that is around him. We are fortunate to have him as a part of our conference and this honor certainly reflects that.” 

During the 2020-2021 school year, Smith was vital in the promotion of the Fire’s 13 NAIA National Championship team appearances and four NAIA national championships titles. He oversaw a staff that highlighted SEU winning 12 Sun Conference crowns (both regular season and tournament) and provided media coverage and services for an athletic department that achieved 73 weekly conference awards, 192 all-conference selections, five Champions of Character recipients, 11 conference players of the year, and 51 NAIA All-American placements. The Fire hosted four conference championships and three NAIA opening rounds during the year. 

Smith’s work with the Fire Network has also been a driving force for Southeastern and Sun Conference’s increased exposure on the digital network front.  

“Looking at the Southeastern athletic website and tuning into many of our game broadcasts, anyone can see that Donnie is at the top of his profession at any level,” Southeastern Director of Athletics Drew Watson said. “What people do not see is his tireless work ethic, attention to detail, and the sacrifices he regularly makes for our student-athletes and coaches. I could not be more proud of him for this accomplishment.” 

The two-time Sun Conference SID of the Year (2017 & 2021) was also named the NAIA National Sports Information Director of the Year in 2017. Smith has been part of the NAIA-Sports Information Directors Board since 2017 and currently serves as First Vice President. He is also a member of the NAIA’s Council for Student-Athletes. 

Smith will be put forward by the league, along with Watson (SUN Athletic Director of the Year) and B.J. Geasa (SUN Athletic Trainer of the Year), in consideration for the respective NAIA National Awards that will be announced in mid-September. 

2020-2021 Sun Conference Award Winners
Donnie Smith (Southeastern) – Sun Conference Sports Information Director of the Year 
B.J. Geasa (Southeastern) – Sun Conference Athletic Trainer of the Year
Drew Watson (Southeastern) – Sun Conference Athletic Director of the Year

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BABSON PARK, Fla. – Webber International University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Gabriel Rutledge has announced of Maverick Harris as a new assistant coach and Nick Johnson as a new graduate assistant coach for the upcoming 2021-22 men’s basketball season.

Maverick Harris comes to Webber from Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, Okla.), where he was a graduate assistant men’s basketball coach in 2019-20 along with current Webber men’s basketball assistant coach Chase Driscoll, and then in 2020-21 when the Golden Eagles were the champions of the Summit League and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. This summer, Harris will be working with the San Antonio Spurs as a camp coach, and earlier this summer, he worked as a head coach for the EuroBasket Summer League Camp.

Harris played collegiate basketball at NCAA Division-III Schreiner University (Kerrville, Texas) from 2013 to 2015 and at NCAA D-III Hardin-Simmons University (Abilene, Texas) from 2015 to 2017. At Schreiner, Harris was an Honorable Mention All-Southern College Athletic Conference Player in 2014 and was named SCAC Player of the Week in 2015. At Hardin-Simmons, he was a member of the American Southwest Conference Championship team in 2016 and 2017, and a team that made it to the Sweet 16 in 2017. Harris attended Boerne High School, where he was a three-time first-team all-district selection and also made the all-region team.

Harris graduated from Hardin-Simmons University with his Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing and management in 2018, and then graduated from Oral Roberts with his Master of Science degree in sports and leisure administration in 2021.

Harris said, “God is good. First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and savior for his guidance and showing me the path he wants me to go through. Second, I want to thank coach Paul Mills and the rest of the ORU coaching staff for taking a shot and giving me an opportunity to put my foot in the door of the only thing I’ve ever had a burning passion for… and that’s basketball and coaching. I’ve learned countless on and off the court lesson from them and I will be a better coach, person and man of God thanks to them. Last but not least, I want to thank Coach Gabriel Rutledge. Coach Mills got my foot in the door, and now Coach Rutledge is letting me take my first steps in my coaching career. I’ve worked with Coach Chase Driscoll and Coach Austin Tomaz in the past and I’ve really enjoyed my time with them. And after getting to know Coach Rutledge, I quickly saw how much passion and knowledge he has for the game, as well as the believe and love he has for his players. It was a no-brainer for me at that point. I’m so excited to get to work and build something special here at Webber International.”

Webber’s new graduate assistant coach, Nick Johnson, comes from the University of North Florida, where he worked as a student assistant coach with current Webber men’s basketball assistant coach Chase Driscoll and his father, Matthew Driscoll. Johnson has also coached at the Jay Bilas Basketball Camp in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as an assistant coach at Edgewood Middle School (2016) in Merritt Island, Florida.

Johnson is set to graduate from UNF with his Bachelor of Science degree in sports management this summer.

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MIAMI, Fla. – The Sun Conference unveiled on Monday a new brand identity featuring a redesign of the league’s primary logo, the creation of secondary, tertiary, and word marks as well as school-specific primary marks. The new visual identities were developed through a partnership with the Enliven Agency, LLC.   
 
“We are proud to present the new identity for the Sun Conference,” Sun Conference Commissioner Dustin Wilke said. “It acknowledges our rich history but also signifies our evolution into a new era of the Sun Conference, which offers limitless opportunity. Our new brand identity is the culminating result of an extensive analysis into the core of who we are as a conference and who we strive to be. These marks serve to capture the character of the conference and the ideals that define us. Leadership. Unity. Integrity. Excellence. Diversity. Strength. Respect. Confidence. Opportunity.”

Through the development of its new brand, the Sun Conference sought to create an identity that would point the conference towards the future and reflect its position as the nation’s leading NAIA Conference.
 
To deliver on this strategic design objective the new brand identity utilizes a bold, angular typeface that conveys excellence, confidence and power. To add to this, the conference’s regionality is brought to life through the sun rays that combine to create the dynamic ‘C’ with gold and orange tones that further celebrate the Sun Conference’s distinct geography. Finally, the new brand is anchored by a unique primary slate color which enables the Sun Conference to stand apart as a modern and forward-thinking leader within collegiate athletics.

Along with the new conference logos, the project also developed a new color palette and typography as well as updated, sport-specific championship marks.  

The new branding is the first for the conference since August 2008 when the league changed its name from the Florida Sun Conference to the Sun Conference.

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LAKE WALES, Fla. – Southeastern Director of Athletics Drew Watson has been named the 2020-21 Sun Conference Athletic Director of the Year the league announced on Friday.
 
 A four-time Sun Conference Athletic Director of the Year (2013-14, 2015-16, 2018-19, and 2020-21), Watson guided Southeastern to this year’s Sun Conference Commissioner’s Cup as the Fire scored a perfect 200 points, becoming the first school to accomplish a perfect score in the Commissioner’s Cup standings. 
 
 I want to thank SEU president Dr. Kent Ingle and executive vice president Dr. Chris Owen for the opportunity they give me each day to pursue my passion,” Watson said. “The support this university gives athletics is a game changer. I would also like to thank our student athletes, coaches, and our entire staff for their dedication to excellence. Without their efforts, recognition like this does not happen and I thank God for each one of them. Finally, this award means so much to me because it’s voted on by my peers. We could not have a better group of athletic directors in the Sun. The future of our conference is bright.”
 
 “Drew did a great job leading Fire athletics to great success over the course of the 2020-21 season,” Sun Conference Commissioner Dustin Wilke said. “Additionally, he is an outstanding representative of The Sun Conference and a deserving recipient of this year’s Athletic Director of the Year award.” 
 
In 2020-21, SEU boasted championships in men’s and women’s cross country, women’s soccer (regular season and tournament), men’s and women’s indoor track & field, women’s basketball (regular season and tournament), men’s and women’s outdoor track & field, and baseball (regular season and tournament).
 
In the 2020-21 athletic year, the Fire secured 13 NAIA National Championship team appearances and four NAIA national championships. SEU secured individual national wrestling titles in two weight classes, as Andreus Bond was the 149 pound champion and Kyle Kirkham the 165 pound champion. At Indoor Track & Field Nationals, the SEU women’s 4×400 meter relay team won the program’s first national championship. Later in the semester at Outdoor Nationals, Jaqual Bush captured the women’s 200-meter championship. In the latest release of the Learfield Cup standings, the SEU athletic department came in at No. 8, with the final standings still to be determined.
 
During his tenure as athletic director, the department has grown from nine programs and 150 student-athletes to 19 programs and over 430 student-athletes.  Watson has overseen the development of men’s and women’s cross country (2012), football (2013), women’s golf (2013), wrestling (2015), men’s and women’s track and field (2018), and beach volleyball (2019).
 
Watson currently serves on The Sun Conference Executive Committee and the NAIA’s Conduct and Ethics Committee. He is also first vice president of the NAIA’s Athletic Director’s Association (ADA). Additionally, he served as chair of the NAIA task force on divisions in basketball, working for two years on the recommendation to unify the two divisions. The change was adopted in 2018 and is in its first year of implementation during the current 2020-21 season.  

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LAKE WALES, Fla. – Southeastern remained unbeaten in Sun Conference play with an 84-61 win at Warner Thursday night, outscoring the Royals 50-30 in the second 20 minutes.

The Fire got off to a slow start in the first quarter, going 0-for-3 from 3-point land but the defense kept the team in the game. SEU had five steals in the first 10 minutes and trailed by one, 15-14.

Southeastern used an 8-0 run in the first three minutes of the second period to take control and its biggest lead at 22-15. Additionally, the Fire forced three turnovers on Warner’s first five possession of the second period. The Royals were able to heat back up from long range, connecting on four of their eight 3-point attempts to cut the SEU lead to 34-31 at halftime.

In the third, it was all Fire. SEU closed the third on an 11-0 run over the final 3:10 to take a 64-40 lead into the fourth quarter. Again, it was the defense, forcing nine Warner turnovers and holding the Royals to eight total shot attempts, outscoring the hosts 30-9.

Haley Howarth was 5-of-7 from 3-point land in the second half scoring 15 of her 18 points during the 13 minutes she played in the second half. The sophomore also had six rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Madi Hecox also had 18, going 8-of-10 from the field and had five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Bekki Kalaydijev was also in double-figures with 10 points and led the team in assists with seven. The junior added four steals and four rebounds.

The Fire return to action on Tuesday at home against Thomas at 5:30 p.m.

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MIAMI, Fla. – Coastal Georgia’s Elijah Goodman and Southeastern’s Gabrielle Ozoude have been named the Sun Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players of the Week for the week ending Jan. 3.

Sun Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week
Elijah Goodman – Coastal Georgia – JR – Monroe, Georgia 

Goodman scored a career and game-high 31 points in Coastal Georgia Victory over the RV Southeastern University Fire. He shot 10-18 from the field, 6-11 from behind the arc, and 5-5 at the foul line. This was the second-highest amount of points scored by a Mariners this season.

This is Goodman’s first TSC weekly award of the season and the first of his career.

Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week 
Gabrielle Ozoude – Southeastern – GS – Bellbrook, Ohio

Ozoude turned in another proficient week in the paint, offensively and defensively. She averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. Versus Edward Waters, Ozoude shot an impressive 72.7% from the field. Against the Mariners in a Sun Conference contest, she notched her third double-double in TSC play this season.

This is Ozoude’s second TSC weekly award of the season and the second of her career.

Sun Conference Basketball Players of the Week 

Men
Week 9 – Elijah Goodman – Coastal Georgia (Jan. 4)
Week 8 – Rod Boggan – Warner (Dec 21)
Week 7 – Riley Minix – Southeastern (Dec. 14)
Week 6 – Aubrey Washington – Florida Memorial (Dec. 7)
Week 5 – Jaylon Myles – Webber International (Nov. 30)
Week 4 – CoreVon Lott – Keiser (Nov. 23)
Week 3 – Eric Klekas – Ave Maria (Nov. 16)
Week 2 – Kris Goettert – Webber International (Nov. 9)
Week 1 – Riley Minix – Southeastern (Nov. 2) 

Women
Week 9 – Gabrielle Ozoude – Southeastern (Jan. 4)
Week 8 – Gabrielle Ozoude – Southeastern (Dec. 21)
Week 7 – Haley Gantt – Warner (Dec. 14)
Week 6 – Antigonie Sanabria – Keiser (Dec. 7)
Week 5 – N/A
Week 4 – Keaynna Tolbert– Florida Memorial (Nov. 23)
Week 3 – Anari Dozier – St. Thomas (Nov. 16)
Week 2 – Haley Gantt – Warner (Nov. 9)
Week 1 – Syanne Rowe – Ave Maria (Nov. 2)

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Sun Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week  

Riley Minix – Southeastern – SO – Vero Beach, Florida 
A 20-day layoff had no effect on Minix as he tied his season-high in points with 29 and registered a season-high in steals with five against St. Thomas. The Vero Beach native nearly doubled his season 3-PT field goal total after three games this week, giving him 31 on the year which has him ranked eighth in the NAIA. The sophomore maintained his position as conference scoring leader, averaging 22.6 PPG, three more points than the next closest.  

This is Minix’s second TSC weekly award of the season and the third of his career. 

Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week 

Haley Gantt – Warner – JR – Boynton Beach, Florida 
Gantt was essential to the Royals success this week picking up two wins. She had a strong performance in the Royals only loss on the week to the Bobcats of St. Thomas where she registered 26 points and 3 blocks. She added 2 more blocks against the Rams in another good night with 12 points and 8 rebounds in the Royals victory. Gantt’s game against the Eagles of Trinity Baptist led to a season high 21 rebounds (14 defensive, 7 offensive). As a forward, Gantt was impressively 6-13 from 3-point range and surpassed the 100 point mark against the Eagles now sitting at 108 points on the season. Haley Gantt currently ranks #15 in the NAIA with 11 rebounds per game. Having played in only six games she ranks #4 in The Sun Conference with an average of 18.00 points per game. Gantt and D’Asia James of the Royals lead The Sun Conference in rebounds per game, #1 Gantt (11), #2 James (10.57). Gantt also now ranks #1 in The Sun Conference in blocks per game with 1.67.  

This is Gantt’s second TSC weekly award of the season and the second of her career. 

Sun Conference Basketball Players of the Week 

Men 
Week 7 – Riley Minix – Southeastern (Dec. 14) 
Week 6 – Aubrey Washington – Florida Memorial (Dec. 7) 
Week 5 – Jaylon Myles – Webber International (Nov. 30)   
Week 4 – CoreVon Lott – Keiser (Nov. 23)
Week 3 – Eric Klekas – Ave Maria (Nov. 16)
Week 2 – Kris Goettert – Webber International (Nov. 9)
Week 1 – Riley Minix – Southeastern (Nov. 2) 

Women 
Week 7 – Haley Gantt – Warner (Dec. 14) 
Week 6 – Antigonie Sanabria – Keiser (Dec. 7) 
Week 5 – N/A  
Week 4 – Keaynna Tolbert– Florida Memorial (Nov. 23) 
Week 3 – Anari Dozier – St. Thomas (Nov. 16) 
Week 2 – Haley Gantt – Warner (Nov. 9) 
Week 1 – Syanne Rowe – Ave Maria (Nov. 2)

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MIAMI, Fla. – Florida Memorial’s Aubrey Washington and Keiser’s Antigone Sanabria have been named the Sun Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Players of the Week for the week ending Dec. 6.    

Sun Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week  
Aubrey Washington – Florida Memorial – SR – Jacksonville, Florida 

Washington led the Lions to a big Sun Conference win over visiting Webber International University this past week, scoring a game-high 23 points (knocking down 5-of-9 from three-point range) while also adding 4 rebounds and 3 assists. 

This is Washington’s first TSC weekly award of the season and the first of his career. 

Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week 
Antigonie Sanabria – Keiser – JR – Milan, Ohio 

Sanabria had back-to-back 21-point games to lead the Seahawks to a perfect week while moving back to .500 in conference play. She also had her first double-double of the year. 

This is Sanabria’s first TSC weekly award of the season and the first of her career. 

Sun Conference Basketball Players of the Week 

Men 

Week 6 – Aubrey Washington – Florida Memorial (Dec. 7) 
Week 5 – Jaylon Myles – Webber International (Nov. 30)   
Week 4 – CoreVon Lott – Keiser (Nov. 23)
Week 3 – Eric Klekas – Ave Maria (Nov. 16)
Week 2 – Kris Goettert – Webber International (Nov. 9)
Week 1 – Riley Minix – Southeastern (Nov. 2) 

Women 

Week 6 – Antigonie Sanabria – Keiser (Dec. 7) 
Week 5 – N/A  
Week 4 – Keaynna Tolbert– Florida Memorial (Nov. 23) 
Week 3 – Anari Dozier – St. Thomas (Nov. 16) 
Week 2 – Haley Gantt – Warner (Nov. 9) 
Week 1 – Syanne Rowe – Ave Maria (Nov. 2) 

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