Salem Honors Student-Athletes at 2022-23 Athletic Banquet

Posted: Apr 27, 2023

2023 Athletic Banquet Photo Gallery

The Salem Department of Athletics capped off its 2022-23 athletic season with a banquet held in Bryant Hall, located on the Salem Campus, on Thursday, April 27th. The banquet honored 18 student-athletes for their individual contributions over the course of the year.

During the 2022-23 athletic season, the student-athletes, coaches and individual teams received a total of 26 in-season or postseason honors from organizations ranging the American Volleyball Coaches Association, Intercollegiate Tennis Association, United Soccer Coaches and USA South Conference.

In addition to the honors received from the aforementioned organizations, the Salem Department of Athletics was also represented by volleyball student-athlete Brianna Moore as part of the Morgan's Message organization, which focuses on mental health awareness with the student-athlete community both on-campus and nationally.

Honored by each of the six head coaches, the 18 student-athletes were recognized for their contributions, impact and overall influence on their respective programs at the ceremony. The award winners are noted below:

Basketball

Coaches Award | Cristina Battistini
2022-23 Synopsis: The Salem first-year closed out a solid season on the hardwoods with 61 rebounds and 54 points for the Spirits. Her 61 rebounds were the fifth-most on the team, and she climbed the offensive glass for 25 boards over the course of the slate. She converted 19 field goals, including six 3-pointers, along with 10 free throws for Salem, capping off the season with 54 points. Battistini maneuvered her way to force the opposition into 18 steals and dished out 19 assists to her Salem teammates.

Most Improved Player | Dionne Sampson
2022-23 Synopsis: Led all Salem players in scoring with 306 points (13.3 ppg), after hitting 97-of-231 from the floor to cap off the season. She connected on 16-of-65 3-pointers and knocked down the most free throws (96-140) with the highest free throw percentage (68.6%) of any Salem shooter. The Burlington, N.C., native topped all Salem guards with 63 assists while being active defensively with 93 rebounds (64 defensive) and 57 steals for the Spirits. Sampson closed out her Salem career with 675 points (7th-most), 231 field goals (9th-most), 222 rebounds, 167 made free throws (7th-most), 157 assists (4th-most) and 147 steals (4th-most) and is one of just five players in program history to score 600 points, grab 200 rebounds, hand out 100 assists and force 100 steals.

Soccer

Coaches Award | Sarah Salinas
2022 Synopsis: Played in 13 matches, making eight starts over the course of the season. Salinas attempted two shots and one shot on goal. As a defender, she played a key role in helping the Salem defense to limit opponents to 33 goals, 22 assists (88 points) as well as a .108 shot percentage along with 150 shots on goal (.490 shots on goal percentage). Salinas had her first of two shots come against Randolph (Sept. 14) and notched her second at Brevard (Oct. 19), which also marked her only shot on goal of the campaign.

Blue & Gold Award | Alexcina Wartski
2022 Synopsis: Finished the season by making the second-most saves (20) after logging 401:29 minutes in net. Wartski played in 10 matches, making three starts, and combined with teammates Jordan Tomberlin and Mireya Sanchez for three shutouts. Teamed with Tomberlin to hold Johnson & Wales (Sept. 10) scoreless after logging 10:14 in net, following that by claiming her first win of the season at Agnes Scott (Sept. 18) after converting five saves in 66:34 as Salem emerged with the 4-1 victory. Made her final appearance of the season against N.C. Wesleyan (Sept. 25), finishing with a save in a 3-1 setback.

Spirit Award | Cristina Battistini
2022 Synopsis: She appeared in 17 matches over the course of her first-year on the pitch at Salem, making 10 starts along the way. Battistini was one of seven players with multiple goals, netting two on the season. The Italy native closed out her first season with 10 shots and six shots on goal, amassing four points. Began her collegiate career with a goal on one shot in an 8-0 victory at Regent (Sept. 3). Delivered the first goal, a game-winning shot, of a 3-0 victory against Johnson & Wales (Sept. 10). Capped off a clash against Pfeiffer (Oct. 22) with a single-match season-high four shots.

Most Valuable Player | Darilyn Nieto
2022 Synopsis: Wrapped up one of the most impressive first-year seasons in Salem program history, becoming the first player in program history to capture USA South Rookie of the Year honors along with being recognized as a First Team All-Conference honoree. She joined Brooke Bukas (2016, 2017), Sydney Priest (2017) and Alyssa Denkovich (2018, 2019) as the fourth different Spirit to earn USA South First Team All-Conference honors. Nieto led all Salem players in goals (14), points (30), shots (102), shots on goal (67) and game-winning goals (three) in the 2022 season. The Greensboro, N.C., native was responsible for a .657 shot on goal percentage, finishing with the third-most goals by a Spirits rookie, one off the pace established by Alexi Saganich (2010) and Tarryn Johnson (2014). Became just the fourth player in conference history, dating back to the 2010 season, to receive USA South Conference Rookie of the Week accolades on three occasions in the same season and the second player to receive the honor in consecutive weeks. She joined Cassidy Reich (Piedmont), Payton Stuart (Ferrum) and Celia de Diego (Averett) as the only players to receive the honor at least three times in the same season.

Softball

Sportsmanship Award | Jessica Pinnix
2023 Synopsis: The junior outfielder, who was named as USA South Rookie of the Week in late March, appeared in 20 games over the course of the season before suffering an injury. Pinnix delivered eight hits, including a stretch of four straight games against Livingstone (March 20) and Brevard (March 26). On two occasions, Pinnix had a pair of multi-hit performances, which came in the second game against both Brevard and Mary Baldwin (April 5). Pinnix also managed two RBI in games against Livingstone and the Fighting Squirrels.

Blue & Gold Award | Maleah Tate
2023 Synopsis: The speedy Salem first-year outfielder is one hit short of becoming the seventh different Spirit to reach double figures in hits. The Lexington, N.C., native has crossed the plate for the third-most runs, nine, in 2023 along with notching one double. Tate has capitalized on her 10 walks by swiping 10 bases, which place her in a three-way tie for fifth-most in program history alongside Kayla Kennedy (2012) and Jennifer Vitarelli (2016).

Most Valuable Player | Savanah Atkins
2023 Synopsis: During her three years at Salem, Atkins has played in 71 games and had 188 official at bats. She enters her final regular season games of the 2023 season with 44 hits, 26 runs, along the way amassing 12 doubles, nine home runs and one triple. Atkins is responsible for 39 RBI during the course of her career and has a lifetime slugging percentage of .452 along with a .332 on-base percentage. Her eight home runs place are the seventh-most in program history.

Swimming

Most Improved Award | Eleanore Regenthal
2022-23 Synopsis: Regenthal completed her only season with the swimming program by claiming eight Top-3 finishes. She capped off her collegiate debut at the Greensboro Dual on November 12, 2022 by finishing second in both the 50 backstroke (49.57) and 200 backstroke (3:56.39). In December, she notched her first-ever first-place finish at the Ferrum Dual, which came in the 200 freestyle (3:37.18). She ended the season with a trio of second-place outings at the first-ever Salem Last Chance meet on February 25th in the 50 freestyle (43.97), 100 backstroke (1:46.41) and 100 freestyle (1:46.51).

Golden Goggles Award | Kylie Clark
2022-23 Synopsis: Concluded her senior campaign by becoming the individual with the single-most Top-3 wins in a career (18) in program history. Clark earned 14 Top-3 finishes over the course of the slate after beginning the season with a trio of Top-3 finishes at the Greensboro Dual, claiming first in the 50 backstroke (48.54), second in the 100 backstroke (1:46.37) and third in the 50 freestyle (39.26). She bookended her 2022-23 season with three first-place finishes, allowing her to surpass Olivia Kleven for most Top-3 finishes in Salem swimming history, in the program's first-ever Last Chance Meet on February 25th. In that meet, she touched the wall first in the 50 freestyle (36.90), 100 freestyle (1:28.37) and 100 backstroke (1:41.44).

Tennis

Most Improved Award | Ashley Linden
2022-23 Synopsis: A sophomore two-sport student-athlete, Linden finished off her 2023 season with three singles wins, all as the No. 5 seed for the Spirits. She also claimed three wins in doubles play, alongside fellow soccer teammate Alyson Gammons, which came as the No. 2 seed for Salem. Her first win of the season came at the end of March, against Hailey Gilliam (William Peace), which was followed by a two-set victory over Delaney Geygan (Pfeiffer) on April 1st. Linden claimed her third singles victory of the slate versus Anna Bittler (Meredith), overcoming a second-set loss to win by scores of 6-4, 3-6, 10-6. Her first of three doubles wins on the season came at Ferrum, which was followed by she and Gammons defeating doubles opponents from William Peace (March 29) and Johnson & Wales (April 21).

Coaches Award | Alyson Gammons
2022-23 Synopsis: Gammons won six of those singles matches over the course of the 2022-23 campaign, finishing with the second-most singles wins on the team this year, behind only Alana Bridges, who won seven singles victories. She was paired with five different doubles partners in 2023, combining for six wins along the way. Gammons collected three of those wins beside Ashley Linden, two alongside Haley Gilley and one with Abrielle Eckenroth. Gammons opened the season with three straight singles wins before claiming her fourth singles win in March in a clash with Katlyn Bliss (William Peace) in straight sets. The Ridgeway, Va., native closed out the season with two wins in her final three matches, both in straight sets.

Volleyball

Coaches Award | Ashlyn Wood
2022 Synopsis: Wood led the Salem lineup in assists (685), assists/set (5.91) and attack percentage (.368) while making 38 service aces, which was second-most on the team. She closed with fourth-most digs (236) at a clip of 2.03 digs/set, earning USA South All-Sportsmanship Team honors. Wood made her mark on the Salem volleyball record books by helping the Spirits finish with 1507 kills (12.88 kills/set) and a .230 attack percentage, all single-season highs in program history. Her 685 assists mark the fifth-most in program history in a single-season, while her attack percentage (.368) is the best of any Spirit to play at least 10 sets. The Kings Mountain, N.C., native had at least 10 matches where she handed out a minimum of 25 assists, including a single-match season-high 31 assists in a five-set battle against Roanoke on September 9th.

Rookie of the Year | Ella Brameus
2022 Synopsis: Impact first-year performer for the Spirits, ranking in the Top-5 in service aces (53-1st), digs (398-1st), total attacks (549-4th) and kills (161-5th). Brameus tied Hannah Delcamp (2016) for second-most single-season service aces in program history. The Chicago, Illinois, native was responsible for the fifth-most single-season digs (398) in program history. Put together four 20-dig outings in 2022, including a pair of 23-dig outings against both Huntington (Sept. 17) and Meredith (Nov. 1), which established her single-match season-high. Led the back row for the Spirits defensively with 22 digs at Brevard on October 4th and was instrumental defensively with 21 digs in a four-set clash against USA South Conference foe Methodist on September 24th. Also emerged the with 161 kills, driving home a single-match season-high 10 kills in a four-set clash with Meredith on October 29th. Had at least seven kills in 11 matches over the course of the season.

Spirit Award | Macy Nelson
2022 Synopsis: A high-level defender who anchored the Salem back row with the third-most digs (340) on the unit at a clip of 3.47 digs/set, which was tops on the team. Nelson's the 340 digs marked the 10th-most in a single-season in program history. She reached double-digit digs in 21 matches over the course of the season, reaching the 20-dig mark on two occasions. Her best single-match dig outing came in the first round of the USA South Conference Tournament, where she came through with 24 digs in five sets against Meredith on November 1st. Her previous single-match season-high in 2022 came against William Peace, where she came through with 22 digs. Nelson was also responsible for 10 service aces along the way.

Most Valuable Player | Aspen Bradley
2022 Synopsis: Bradley was a high-impact, first-year performer for Salem, who was among the Top-5 statistical leaders in kills (351-1st), kills/set (3.03-1st), total attacks (784-2nd), attack percentage (.321-2nd), solo blocks (23-2nd), assisted blocks (28-2nd), total blocks (51-2nd) and blocks/set (0.44-2nd). By the close of her inaugural season, Bradley established the program and first-year record for most kills in a single-season (351). She also paired with teammate Valeria Rosa Lopez to become the second set of teammates in program history with 300 kills in a single season. Bradley became the fifth different Salem player to earn Second Team All-Conference honors from the USA South, along with Taylor Moulton (4x), Kylie Taffer, Maggie Hawks and Kathryn O'Connell.

Salem College Department of Athletic Awards

Jess Byrd Scholar-Athlete Award | Jordan Tomberlin, Soccer
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.

Jordan Tomberlin, a two-year captain for the Salem soccer team, completed her career by competing in 41 matches, making 23 starts along the way. She logged the fourth-most minutes (2747:48) in net in program history. Her prowess between the pipes ranked her second in program history in saves (194), a mark that is topped by only Hannah Wagner, who came through with 279. Tomberlin was recognized as the 2021-22 Student Athlete of the Year at Salem. The Merritt Island, Florida, native won four matches in 2022, equaling her single-season career-high that she set in 2019, giving her 11 in her career, which places her fifth in all-time goalkeeper wins in Salem history. She also leaves tied for the fifth-most shutouts (five) in Salem history, alongside Jessi Carter (2011-12). Tomberlin, honored as a Distinguished Student Athlete in 2020-21, ended her collegiate career with four USA South Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, including three in the 2022 campaign.

Nan Tilley Athletic Department Service Award | Madeline Brown, Softball
The Nan Tilley Athletic Department Service Award is presented to an individual for exemplary service, selfless dedication, and commitment to the department's philosophy and mission.

Brown has been a staple in the Salem softball lineup, returning from a season-ending shoulder injury at the close of the 2022 campaign. The Thomson, Ga., native leads Salem softball in eight major statistical categories, including at-bats (72), hits (26), runs (16), doubles (seven), walks (11), batting average (.347), on-base percentage (.433) and slugging percentage (.507).

In 30 contests, Brown has five two-hit outings and scored two runs in three games in 2023. In March, Brown had a career-long 10-game hitting streak, which spanned from March 19th through April 5th. In that stretch she had four two-hit performances against Ferrum (March 19), Livingstone (March 20, 2x), Brevard (March 26) and N.C. Wesleyan (April 2).

Brown also connected on her first career home run in 2023, slamming a solo blast in a clash with Eastern Mennonite on March 5th at the Grand Slam Triangle Classic in Raleigh, N.C.

Along with her softball commitments, Brown also worked with the Salem Department of Athletic Communications where she was active in promoting and marketing the Salem program. Additionally, she is active with Salem Chi Alpha, a Christian ministry program. Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship is a spirit-empowered, multi-ethnic community of prayer, worship, fellowship, discipleship, and mission equipping students to fulfill their purpose in God's global plan. Brown is involved with the weekly Bible Study and prayer meetings at Salem College.

Anne Woodward Student-Athlete of the Year | Aspen Bradley, Volleyball
The Anne Woodward Student-Athlete of the Year award is presented to the Salem College student-athlete who has achieved team and individual greatness during the 2021-2022 year.

Bradley was a high-impact, first-year performer for Salem, who was among the Top-5 statistical leaders in kills (351-1st), kills/set (3.03-1st), total attacks (784-2nd), attack percentage (.321-2nd), solo blocks (23-2nd), assisted blocks (28-2nd), total blocks (51-2nd) and blocks/set (0.44-2nd). By the close of her inaugural season, Bradley established the program and first-year record for most kills in a single-season (351). Bradley became the fifth different Salem player to earn Second Team All-Conference honors from the USA South, along with Taylor Moulton (4x), Kylie Taffer, Maggie Hawks and Kathryn O'Connell.

Bradley played a critical role in helping Salem volleyball, which finished 1-23 in the 2021 campaign, to the best turnaround in program and USA South Conference history by finishing 21-10 in 2022. After being picked to finish ninth in the preseason polls, Salem finished 12-6 in league action—which resulted in the most conference wins in program history—and established the single-season mark for the best turnaround in league history along the way.

Scholar Athlete of the Year | Jordan Tomberlin, Soccer
The Scholar Athlete of the Year Award is awarded to the sophomore, junior, or senior letter-winner with the highest cumulative grade point average who has attended Salem for a minimum of two full-time semesters.