WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Salem College wrapped up the 2021-22 athletic season with a banquet held in Bryant Hall on the Salem Campus on Thursday, April 28th, honoring 16 student-athletes for their contributions throughout the campaign.
Each of the six head coaches in the Salem athletic department recognized two student-athletes for the influence and impact that they made to their respective programs during the ceremony. The award recipients are as follows:
BASKETBALL
Most Valuable Player: Tyler Davenport
2021-22 Synopsis: Wrapped up the season by ranking among the Top-5 in points (268-1st), field goals made (81-1st), free throws made (98-1st), total rebounds (119-1st), defensive rebounds (77-2nd), offensive rebounds (42-2nd), field goal percentage (76.2-2nd), 3-point field goals (8-4th), assists (20-5th), blocks (4-t-5th). Concluded a solid season against USA South Conference members by ranking in the Top-5 of points (191-1st), field goals (60-t-1st), free throws made (65-1st), free throw percentage (76.5-1st), total rebounds (90-2nd), 3-point field goals made (6-4th), assists (15-t-5th) and blocks (4-4th)
Reached double figures in 15 of 22 games played over the course of the season. Eclipsed the 20-point mark on two occasions, including a single-game season-high 21 in a 73-67 home win over Virginia Wesleyan on November 13th. Came through with 20 points in a clash with Southern Virginia on January 12th.
Most Improved Player: Dionne Sampson
2021-22 Synopsis: One of only three players (Savanah Atkins, Cree Bass) to play in all 24 games for Salem. Was among the top performers on the Spirits during the 2021-22 season, finishing in the Top-5 in steals (55-1st), free throw percentage (77.2-1st), points (221-2nd), field goals made (79-2nd), 3-point field goals (19-2nd), free throws (44-2nd) and assists (42-2nd) over the course of the slate. Capped off a solid campaign against USA South Conference foes by ranking in the Top-5 in field goals (60-t-1st), steals (46-1st), points (165-2nd), 3-point field goals (13-2nd), free throws made (32-2nd) and assists (39-2nd).
A solid defender for head coach Quntashea Lewis, Sampson finished the season with multiple steals in 12 contests. Sampson had one of the best single-game performances in Salem history on February 12, 2022. In a clash with William Peace, Sampson became the first player since Tyler Davenport (Feb. 4, 2018) to eclipse the 30-point mark for Salem and just the seventh player in the NCAA history of the program with a 30-point outing. She not only established a career-high in points, but she also set a single-game program-high mark for steals (12), capping off her first double-double.
SOCCER
Blue and Gold Award: Caelan Gaul
2021 Synopsis: Played in 15 matches, making 12 starts along the way. She found the back of the net for one goal, while handing out two assists to net four points on the season. Gaul attempted 16 shots, including nine shots on goal, resulting in a .563 shot on goal percentage. Drove home her first collegiate goal as part of an 8-0 victory over Agnes Scott on September 4th. Made 10 straight starts for head coach Robin Ramirez's unit between September 11 and October 9th. Had one assist in clashes with Warren Wilson (Sept. 1) and Pfeiffer (Oct. 6).
Coach's Award: Layla Locklear
2021 Synopsis: Played in all 18 matches for Salem in 2021, earning 10 starts along the way. Locklear netted two goals, two assists and six points. She finished with 11 shots, including six shots on goal (.545 shot on goal percentage). Responsible for a goal and an assist in her collegiate debut, which came at Warren Wilson (Sept. 1), closing with three points in the match. Locklear made 10 starts over the course of the season and delivered a goal for the Spirits in a clash with Southern Virginia (Oct. 20) as Salem tallied four in the contest.
SOFTBALL
Impact Player: Savannah Atkins
2022 Synopsis: A multi-sport athlete who joined the softball team immediately after the 2021-22 Salem basketball season, Atkins finished the softball season with the second-most RBI (17) and third-most hits (21). She made an impact on the Spirits lineup with a .400 slugging percentage, connecting on three home runs, four doubles and a triple along with drawing 11 walks.
Atkins, a utility infielder that played at catcher, first base, second base and shortstop throughout the course of the season, had five multi-hit games in 2022. The first of those came against DeSales (March 9) and was followed by two-hit games at Averett (April 9), Mary Baldwin (April 20) and Carolina University (2x, April 24). One of her best individual performances came against the Fighting Squirrels on April 20th, where she was 2-for-2 at the plate with three RBI, notching one run along with a triple and a home run, helping lead the Spirits to a 6-5 win.
Heart & Hustle: Kat Price
2022 Synopsis: One of seven first-year players on head coach Kierston Garner's squad, Price played in 31 games and made 10 appearances in the circle. At the plate, Price tallied nine hits, scored five runs and was responsible for a .244 on-base percentage in 68 official at bats. She earned nine starts in the circle, logging 36.1 innings, while scattering 67 hits, 50 runs (41 earned runs), 19 walks and making one strikeout on the slate.
Price had a pair of multi-hit performances for Salem, the first of which came against Centenary (N.J.), where she was 2-of-2 at the dish. Her final two-hit game of the season came in the finale against Carolina, where she was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Price's first collegiate start in the circle came on March 8th versus DeSales, where she tossed a complete game. She would go onto make six starts against USA South Conference opposition Salem.
SWIMMING
Impact Award: Kylie Clark
2021-22 Synopsis: A multi-sport athlete that joined the Salem swim team after competing for the soccer team in the fall. She was a solid competitor throughout the slate, earning 16 Top-10 finishes and three Top-3 individual finishes along the way. Clark reached the podium for the first time as a collegiate swimmer on January 29th when she placed third in the 200 backstroke. She went onto place third in the Pfeiffer Dual on February 2nd in the 100 freestyle. The following afternoon, in a dual meet with Mount Nazarene, Clark had first-place performances in the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle for the Spirits.
Clark's season came to a close at the team's first-ever appearance in the Sun Coast Conference Championship, where she enjoyed a seventh-place finish in the 50 freestyle.
Breakout Performer of the Year: Olivia Nivens
2021-22 Synopsis: Joined the Salem swim team after competing for the soccer team in the fall. Was a solid competitor throughout the slate, Nivens earned a team-high 18 Top-10 finishes and eight Top-3 individual finishes along the way. Nivens claimed five first-place finishes on the season, giving her the second-most first-place finishes in program history to Olivia Kleven's eight.
Nivens made an immediate impact on the program by earning four Top-5 finishes, including a pair of third-place outings, at the Greensboro Dual on October 30th. Had one of her best individual meets on February 2nd against Pfeiffer, where she had a pair of first-place finishes (200 breaststroke/500 freestyle) and a third-place outing in the 200 freestyle. Claimed a trio of first-place finishes in a clash with Mount Vernon Nazarene on February 3rd, which came in the 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke and 500 freestyle. Her season drew to a close on a positive note with three Top-15 finishes at the Sun Coast Conference Championship, including an eighth-place performance in the 500 freestyle.
TENNIS
Most Improved: Alyssa Cosentino
2021-22 Synopsis: Ended the 2021-22 season tied with Alyson Gammons for the most singles wins (five) on the roster, earning all of her victories as the Spirits' No. 3 seed. All five of her wins in singles play came during the 2022 regular season for Salem. Cosentino also grabbed three doubles wins on the season, two while paired with Alyson Gammons and one alongside teammate Gina Franco.
Posted her first win of the season in a three-set clash against Hannah Miller (Hollins) in the spring opener. Cosentino claimed her first of four win victories in April in two sets over Kilee Kemp (Greensboro). She followed that by defeating Mya Sampson (William Peace) in two sets. Came through with two wins in the final week of the season, defeating both Miranda Montes (Johnson & Wales) and Carlia Kearney (Hollins) down the stretch. Cosentino ended her collegiate tennis career with five singles victories along with nine wins in doubles action.
Freshman Player of the Year: McKinley Rice
2021-22 Synopsis: Competed as one of four first-year players on the Salem roster for head coach Ed Steele. She emerged with three singles victories, all coming as the No. 2 seed for the Spirits. Rice earned four wins in No. 1 doubles action alongside teammate Haley Gilley.
Rice emerged with her first collegiate singles victory (6-1, 6-1) on April 9th, when she took down Natalie Habich (Greensboro). She followed that by claiming back-to-back wins against Eboni Montague (Johnson & Wales) and Alexis Seymore (Mary Baldwin) in the final week of the season. Meanwhile, her first doubles victory came on March 18th when she and Gilley defeated Hannah Stokes and Miranda Montes (Johnson & Wales) by an 8-0 margin. The duo of Rice and Gilley emerged with three more wins in the April, defeating Greensboro College (8-3), Johnson & Wales (8-1) and Mary Baldwin (8-4) to help Salem win six of its final seven matches.
VOLLEYBALL
Most Valuable Player: Valeria Rosa Lopez
2021 Synopsis: A staple in the Salem lineup, playing in 23 matches (82 sets). Rosa Lopez topped the team in kills (282), kills/set (3.44), total attacks (173), service aces (17), digs (344), digs/set (4.20) and double-doubles (13). She ranked fifth in total blocks (21), converting 15 assisted blocks and six solo blocks, which were second-most on the unit. Rosa Lopez recorded 15 double-digit kill matches over the course of the season.
She came through with a pair of 20-kill outings during the season, including a single-match career-high 23 kills at Ferrum on September 16th. Nine days later, in a clash with N.C. Wesleyan, Rosa Lopez delivered 21 kills in a clash with the Battling Bishops. She also narrowly missed two more 20-kill matches, coming through with 19 against both Pfeiffer (Sept. 21) and Mary Baldwin (Oct. 9). A solid defender for the Spirits, Rosa Lopez also eclipsed the 20-dig mark on five occasions, including a single-match season-high 24 versus N.C. Wesleyan on October 16th.
Coaches Award: Brooklyn Snow
2021 Synopsis: One of just three Spirits to compete in all 24 matches and 85 sets in 2021. Snow ranked second on the team in total kills (188) at a clip of 2.21 kills/set, dishing out 68 assists, third-most on the team and was responsible for 209 digs (2.46 digs/set) while making 22 total blocks (0.26 blocks/set). She also came through with 17 assisted blocks and five solo blocks along the way.
Snow ended her Salem career 478 kills, 317 digs and 135 assists to her credit. She was active on the front row, using her skills to amass 87 blocks, including 77 assisted blocks and 10 solo blocks in three seasons, leaving the program ranked inside the Top-15 of five different statistical categories including eighth in career kills, eighth in total attacks with 1,643, eighth in assisted blocks, eight in total blocks and ninth in total assists.
SALEM COLLEGE DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS
Jess Byrd Scholar-Athlete Award
The Jess Byrd Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award was established in 1984 to honor a distinguished professor, Jess Byrd, and to recognize a graduating senior who has attained a strong academic record and exhibited qualities of sportsmanship, athletic ability, and leadership.
This year's Jess Byrd Scholar- Athlete of the Year will be given to two outstanding student athletes—Hannah Escala of the softball team and Allison Wakefield from the swimming team.
Hannah Escala was a three-year member of the Salem softball team, finishing with a lifetime .282 batting average and .378 on-base percentage. Escala started in 28 of the 31 games that she played during her time with the blue and gold. She finished her softball career with 24 hits, which included two doubles, along with 16 RBI.
Nicknamed "Lilo" by her teammates, Escala drew 10 walks and was hit by opposing pitchers on three occasions. Escala had one of the best single-game performances of her collegiate career at Randolph on March 7, 2020, where she finished 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Allison Wakefield was a two-year member of the Salem swim team, joining the Spirits when the Department of Athletics brought back the program after a nine-year hiatus. Between October 2019 and November 2021, Wakefield was among the Top-5 finishers in 21 individual events, reached the podium on 13 occasions and placed first in four meets.
She capped off her 2019-20 campaign with three first-place performances, the first of which came in the 400 freestyle in a dual meet with Pfeiffer on November 9th. Wakefield returned to the team in 2021-22, placing in the Top-5 in each of her first eight races. At the close of her collegiate swimming career, Wakefield had taken part in 11 different events, including the freestyle and medley relays.
Nan Tilley Athletic Department Service Award
Brianne Coleman has enjoyed a highly-decorated softball career at Salem, which included her being named First Team All-Conference, Rookie of the Year, First Team East Division and All-Tournament Team in 2019 for USA South Conference. Coleman concluded her career by starting started in all 89 games that she has played, posting 109 hits in 248 at bats for a .439 lifetime batting average. Coleman closed her career with 32 multi-hit games, including 18 during her first year at Salem.
Those 109 hits put her 13th in program history and she is also among the Top-15 with 90 RBI, resulting in her becoming the fourth player in Salem history with 90 RBI. She was also among the Top-15 all-time in runs 68 runs (10th-most) and notched 25 doubles (tied-7th) and three triples (tied-5th) along the way. Coleman has slammed 20 home runs in her Salem career, second only to Spirits' head coach Kierston Garner, coming through with 10 as a first-year. Earlier this week, Coleman enjoyed her first multi-HR game, when she blasted two in a clash with Mary Baldwin. Coleman is also responsible for the fourth-longest hitting streak in Salem history, 17 games, which spanned from April 18, 2019 to March 8, 2020.
Anne Woodward Student-Athlete of the Year
In February, Tyler Davenport put the finishing touches on her Salem basketball career, recording the 10th-most points in program history (555) in 44 games, making 35 starts along the way. She logged 1,077 minutes, finishing with 177 field goals (t-13th) and 18 3-point conversions. Successfully knocked down 186-of-267 free throws (68.5%) in her Spirits' career, with her 186 free throws ranking fifth-most in program history. Davenport was also active on the glass with 207 rebounds (134 defensive), while notching 33 steals, 31 assists and 12 blocks.
Davenport closed out her collegiate career with four double-double performances. She came through with 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 70-69 victory at Meredith on February 10, 2018, the first of her career. The second came four days later on February 14, when she tallied 33 points and 13 rebounds in a clash with N.C. Wesleyan in the USA South Conference Tournament. She returned to the floor this season and emerged with double-double outings against William Peace, which resulted in 15 points and 11 rebounds, along with 10 points and 10 rebounds versus Southern Virginia.
Scholar Athlete of the Year Award
Jordan Tomberlin made her presence felt both on the field and in the classroom at Salem this year. On the field, Tomberlin appeared in 15 matches over the course of the season, making a team-high 10 starts along the way. She logged 991:26 minutes in net, allowed just 16 goals (1.45 goals against average) and converted 85 saves, which ranked fifth among USA South goalkeepers. Against league opposition, Tomberlin concluded the slate with the 59 saves, which ranks seventh-most in program history against league opposition, and enters next season ranked 11th on the all-time list in single-season save percentage (.843).
In 2021, Tomberlin emerged with at least five saves in nine matches, stopping a single-game career-high 14 in a 1-0 shutout of Greensboro on September 28th. Tallied six saves in shutout at Pfeiffer on October 6th and followed that with nine saves in a scoreless tie versus Meredith, earning USA South Defensive Player of the Week honors for her effort. On two occasions, Tomberlin came through with eight saves for the Spirits, which came against Ferrum in September and Mary Baldwin in October.