The Peach Belt Conference has released Players of the Week from the opening weekend of men's soccer, women's soccer and volleyball. Georgia Southwestern's Theo Hoang, North Georgia's Max Garnett and Clayton State's Kalle Kuisma take home the men's soccer honors. Clayton State's Jael Bruhlmeier and Lander's Kylie Wilson and Leah Hayes Coen secure the women's soccer honors. Lander's Sam Alwardt alongisde USCA's Alli Bishop and Madison Fox claim the volleyball honors. 

MEN’S SOCCER
Player of the Week
Theo Hoang, Georgia Southwestern
Senior, Forward

• Scored two goals in each game on the opening weekend of the season
• Has GSW's last four goals as he scored the final two in the season opener and then added the Hurricanes two goals at Embry-Riddle 
• Scored the third and fourth goal in the 4-0 victory over Andrew College to open the season
• Scored two goals in the loss to Embry-Riddle, the first one tying the game at 1-1 before adding a second to bring the score to 3-2 in the final minutes
• Hoang leads the PBC by two goals after opening weekend and also holds the top spot in total points 

Defensive Player of the Week
Max Garnett, North Georgia 
Graduate, Defender

• Helped the Nighthawks to a 2-0 week, with wins over Christian Brothers and Barry
• Scored a goal and added two assists in the 4-1 victory over Christian Brothers
• Held Christian Brothers to just five shots in the victory
• Allowed just four shots in the 2-0 victory over Barry
• Garnett’s goal came from right in front of the halfway line, at least 50 yards from goal

Goalkeeper of the Week
Kalle Kuisma, Clayton State
Sophomore, Goalkeeper

• Allowed just one goal on 26 shots, making 9 saves across two games on the opening weekend of the season 
• Secured his first shutout of the season in the opening game with a 3-0 victory over Christian Brothers, making a pair of saves
• Faced 19 shots, and made 7 saves in the 3-1 victory over Barry

 
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Player of the Week
Jael Bruhlmeier, Clayton State
Junior, Forward

• Helped Clayton State open the season with a victory vs Emmanuel 
• Scored a second-half hattrick, for a total of 6 points in the 4-0 victory
• Bruhlmeier is the first Laker since 2024 to record a hattrick

Defensive Player of the Week
Kylie Wilson, Lander
Junior, Defender

• Led the Lander defense to two shutout victories to open the 2026 season
• Wilson scored the first goal of the match and anchored Lander's defense in a dominant 4-0 win at Tusculum on Saturday. 
• She also guided the defense in a 1-0 home win over Anderson to open the season Thursday. Wilson played all 180 minutes.
• In total, Wilson and the Lander defensive unit allowed just five shots on goal across the two matches (one versus Anderson and four versus Tusculum).

Goalkeeper of the Week
Leah Hayes Coen, Lander
Senior, Goalkeeper

• Helped Lander to a 2-0 start to the season with two victories
• Hayes Coen played 90 minutes and made one save to keep a clean sheet in Lander's season-opening home win over Anderson on Thursday. 
• She followed that up with three saves in 84 minutes at Tusculum in a 4-0 win Saturday

VOLLEYBALL
Player of the Week
Alli Bishop, USCA
Senior, Right Side Hitter

• Tallied 39 kills with 28 digs and a .314 hitting % across three games
• Opened the week with a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs to go along with three blocks in the win over Valdosta State
• Garnered a career-high 15 kills to go along with eight digs in the sweep of Saint Leo
• Tallied a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs to go along with four blocks in the victory over Francis Marion 

Defensive Player of the Week
Sam Alwardt, Lander
Junior, Libero

• Totaled 41 digs, 12 assists and six service aces across 10 sets in Lander's opening three matches of the season 
• Opened the season with 17 digs, seven assists and a season-high four aces in Lander's 3-1 win over Converse 
• Added 20 digs and 2 assists vs Wingate, averaging 6.67 digs per set

Setter of the Week
Madison Fox, USCA
Sophomore, Setter

• Dished out 47 assists and 31 digs on the opening weekend averaging 4.70 assists per set and 3.10 digs per set with two double-doubles
• Accounted for 17 assists, seven digs and a kill in the win over Valdosta State
• Garnered a double-double with 12 assists and 12 digs to go along with two kills in the sweep of Saint Leo
• Tallied a double-double with 18 assists and 12 digs in the victory over Francis Marion