General | 3/30/2026 1:00:00 PM
Below are the Empire 8 Players of the Week, released on March 30, 2026, for games played from March 23-March 29, 2026. It is the 31st Empire 8 weekly honors release of the 2025-26 season. Sports featured include baseball, softball, women’s flag football, men’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s tennis, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field and men’s volleyball.
BASEBALL
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ryan Vanderlip, St. John Fisher, So., 2B, Buffalo, NY/West Seneca
Vanderlip hit .889 (8-for-9) with a home run, eight runs batted in and seven runs scored in a two-game sweep of Keuka on Sunday. He also walked three times and had an OPS of 2.300. In game one vs Keuka, he led the charge with a monster day at the plate, going 5-for-5 with a home run, six RBIs, and three runs scored. In game two, Vanderlip tallied three hits, four runs scored, and two RBIs, reaching base five times.
CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Austin Stoquert, SUNY Poly, Jr., P, Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro
Stoquert fired a dominant seven inning shutout in a conference win against Alfred Sunday, allowing only two hits to go along with nine strikeouts. His season record now sits at 3-0 with a 1.35 earned run average.
CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Ben Yerina, SUNY Brockport, So., P, Ballston Lake, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
In the Golden Eagles shutout victory over Rochester on Tuesday, Yerina was tremendous on the mound, tossing a complete game, nine-inning shutout with six strikeouts, needing just 93 pitches. Yerina would allow just five hits and one free pass against the Yellowjackets.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Matthew Paolucci, Utica, Fr., INF, Toronto, Ontario/Silverthorn Collegiate Institute
Paolucci continued his raucous rookie season this past week, putting up insane numbers over the Pioneers’ four-game stretch. The Pioneer slugger supplied massive power during a week when the team went 3-1, as he racked up six hits, eight RBIs, and eight runs scored, while posting an average of .545, an on-base percentage of .625, and a slugging percentage of 1.091. Paolucci also gathered three doubles and a big home run. To cap it all off, the rookie phenom also showcased stellar small-ball, drawing two walks and stealing a base. It is his third E8 weekly honor of 2026.
SOFTBALL
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Haleigh Suitor, Nazareth, Jr., OF, North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda
Suitor hit .375 (6-for-16) and had an OPS of 1.063 at the plate in four games, posting two doubles, a home run, five runs scored and six batted in against Rochester and Alfred. She launched the go-ahead three-run home run in 6-5 win over Rochester on Wednesday, her first of the season. In a game one win over Alfred Sunday, Suitor was 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI in a 13-5 win.
CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Colleen Davis, SUNY Brockport, So., P, Adams Center, NY/South Jefferson
In Brockport's sweep over Elmira on the road Sunday, Davis put together a full performance in game one by throwing a 1-hitter on the way to a win. Pitching the full seven innings, she struck out a career-high 13 batters in a shutout. She also made an impact at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and a triple.
CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Gabriella Petroski, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., P, Lancaster, NY/Sacred Heart
Petroski was dominant on the rubber for Geneseo this week, going 3-0 with zero earned runs over 15 innings pitched. The Lancaster, N.Y. native threw seven scoreless innings in a win over Fredonia on Wednesday, striking out eight and only allowing four hits. In the opener against Keuka on Sunday, Petroski threw five innings in the Knights run-rule victory, only allowing one hit while striking out seven. She then entered in relief against the Wolves in game two, throwing three scoreless innings with six strikeouts for the win.
WOMEN’S FLAG FOOTBALL
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Audra Doll, Hartwick, Fr., QB, Greene, NY/Greene
Doll was stellar in her first two contests, totaling 247 passing yards with four touchdowns to pair with one touchdown and 225 yards on the ground. Doll connected on a 51 yard and 50 yard passing touchdown in the win against Elmira, picking up 114 yards through the air and added a rushing TD with 97 rushing yards. The Greene product came up big in crunch time against Geneseo on Saturday, connecting on a 4th quarter 54 yard passing touchdown before sealing the contest with her legs on the two-point conversion. Doll picked up 133 passing yards and 128 rushing yards in the win over the Knights.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Megan Gerber, Sr., QB, Buffalo, NY/Sweet Home
In Brockport's Empire 8 opening win over Russell Sage Friday, Gerber provided a monster performance scoring all four of Brockport's touchdowns in the 26-12 win, totaling 120 passing yards and over 100 yards on the ground.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Ziyon Harrison, Hartwick, Fr., DL, Clay, NY/Liverpool
Harrison wreaked havoc for the Hawks in the flawless week, starting her collegiate career with 14 stops, including a sack and two tackles for loss against Elmira. Harrison turned in another stellar effort on Saturday against the Geneseo Knights, picking up eight tackles as well as two huge consecutive backfield stops in the fourth quarter, preserving the Hartwick lead.
MEN’S GOLF
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Nick Years, St. John Fisher, So., Farmington, NY/Victor
Years and the St. John Fisher men's golf team resumed the spring portion of its season in the McDaniel College Spring Invitation on Saturday and Sunday at the Bridgers Golf Club. He shot a 12-over 156 to finish the tournament in a tie for eighth place. Years, who carded a 79 on Saturday and a 77 on Sunday, recorded four birdies, two in each round.
MEN’S LACROSSE
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Kai Hew, SUNY Poly, Jr., A, Montgomery, NY/Valley Central
Hew tallied 14 points on four goals and 10 assists to go along with 10 ground balls and three caused turnovers in a 2-0 week for the Wildcats. He began the week with nine points on three goals, six assists and nine points in a 17-3 win over Elmira. Hew added five points on a goal and four assists and six ground balls in a win over Keuka to begin league play.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Jonah Vormwald, St. John Fisher, Fr., F/O, Syracuse, NY/West Genesee
Vormwald and the Cardinals dominated on faceoffs in a 29-2 victory over Russell Sage on Saturday, going 31-of-34. Vormwald continued his tremendous start to the season, finishing 17-of-18 on draws, while scooping up a season-best 15 ground balls. It is his second E8 weekly honor of the season.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Hailey Lewkovich, SUNY Brockport, Jr., A, Wading River, NY/Shoreham-Wading River
Lewkovich delivered a standout performance in Brockport’s 13-4 conference opening win over Hartwick, tying for the second-most goals in a single game in Brockport program history with seven, while adding one assist for a total of eight points. Lewkovich had a total of 10 shots, with eights on goal, also picking up four groundballs.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Maria Stuhlman, Utica, Jr., M, Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro
Stuhlman and the Pioneers took home two wins last week, defeating Elmira College 20-1 on the road on Wednesday, before opening Empire 8 conference play with a 13-7 home win over Nazareth University. Stuhlman tallied 15 points on nine goals and six assists to go along with 10 draw controls and nine ground balls. In the victory over the Soaring Eagles, she netted five goals and assisted another two before achieving both four goals and four assists against the Golden Flyers. It is her second E8 weekly honor of 2026.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Maddie Lowney, St. John Fisher, Jr., D, Baldwin, MD/McDonough
Lowney played hounding defense while leading St. John Fisher to wins over Cortland, Skidmore and Russell Sage last week, causing nine turnovers and recovering eight ground balls. The two-time E8 Defensive Player of the Year also controlled 11 draws. Lowney caused four turnovers and scooped up four ground balls in an 11-4 win over Cortland on Tuesday. On Friday, in an 11-6 win over Skidmore, she produced another superb stat line with seven draw controls, five caused turnovers, four ground all recoveries and a goal, her first since a 17-8 win over Endicott in the 2024 NCAA Division III Tournament. She needs just six more caused turnovers to pass Laurie Quackenbush (135 from 2005-08) for the most in program history.
MEN’S TENNIS
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Andre' López Jiménez, Alfred, Fr., Mexico City, Mexico/ PrepaTec Esmeralda
López Jiménez played an instrumental role in AU's first Empire 8 victory of the season against Nazareth University on Saturday. The first-year and partner Breece Erickson earned a dominating 6-0 victory at No. 2 doubles. López Jiménez broke the single season record for most doubles wins with 11 as a result. He went on to win singles at No. 2, where he won the first set 6-2 before following with a narrow 6-4 victory in the second.
DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK – Will Chubb, St. John Fisher, Sr., Akron, NY/Akron
Tyler Hernandez, St. John Fisher, Jr., Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park
Hernandez and senior Will Chubb earned their team-leading third victory in doubles as St. John Fisher snapped a 13-match losing streak to Houghton with a 7-0 win on Saturday. Hernandez and Chubb took down Rune Camps and Jonas Likens 6-2 in first doubles. Both also earned singles wins over Houghton.
MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Ryan Hagan, SUNY Geneseo, Jr., Middle Distance, Liverpool, NY/Liverpool
Ryan Hagan traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina to compete in the Raleigh Relays this past week and competed in the 800-meters, and finished 12th out of 193 runners, mostly from Division I, with a time of 1:49.99, marking a new program record. Hagan also took on the 1500-meters and finished 28th with a time of 3:43.50, marking the second fastest time in program history. He shattered Empire 8 records in both events.
FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Hayden Penna, St. John Fisher, Jr., Pole Vault, Hilton, NY/Hilton Penna opened the outdoor season by recording a mark of 4.91 meters in the pole vault to break the school record he set last outdoor season. Penna placed first in the event and qualified for the regional meet at the Fisher Tri-Meet at the Polisseni Track and Field Complex. His vault is the ninth best in Division III to date this season.
WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Sierra Doody, SUNY Geneseo, Sr., Middle Distance, Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder
Doody traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina to compete in the Raleigh Relays and take on some of the top D1 talent in the country. She raced in the 800-meters and recorded a time of 2:09.34, which currently puts her third in all of Division III to date this season.
FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK – Allie Cary, Utica, Jr., Throws, Liverpool, NY/Liverpool
Cary made her first appearance of the outdoor season in the shot put at the Blue and White Invitational, hosted by Lebanon Valley College on Saturday. In the event, Cary took home first place with a 12.81-meter toss, posting a new personal best and finishing in second on the program’s all-time leaderboard.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Devin Cline, Houghton, Jr., OH, Belmont, NY/Genesee Valley
Cline had a busy week with a total of 38 kills for Houghton's three match week, in which they finished 2-1. He also added 22 digs and seven service aces. Cline had 23 kills and hit .354 with 13 digs and four service aces in Friday night's reverse sweep win over Mount Aloysius. He also hit .375 with 12 kills in a sweep over Penn State Altoona Saturday.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK – Avery Kielbasinski, St. John Fisher, Fr., OH, Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt
Kielbasinski accounted for 19 points to lead St. John Fisher to a four-set victory (25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 26-24) over No. 14 MIT on Friday night inside Manning & Napier Varsity Gym. The Cardinals clinched a spot in the UVC Postseason Tournament with the victory. Kielbasinski slammed 15 kills while hitting .481 and aced a season-high three serves. The match marked his fourth this season with 15-plus points and third with 15-plus kills. He added nine kills against Vassar on Saturday. It is his third E8 weekly honor of the season.