BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following a week of action on the pitch, the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced the weekly awards from matches played between Aug. 27 through Aug. 30. Grambling State’s Nyla Dore-Anderson earned Offensive Player of the Week followed by Southern garnering two award winners with Keisha Blaaw securing Defensive Player of the Week alongside Sydney Whitten grabbing Goalkeeper of the Week. Alabama State’s Tamami Nishio rounds out Newcomer of the Week.
 
SWAC Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week: Nyla Dore-Anderson, Grambling State
The Sophomore Forward from Brampton, Ontario started and appeared in two matches played where she finished with three goals on the week, six points, four shots, three on goal, and helping the Lady Tigers secure a win over Louisiana-Monroe. Dore-Anderson added a brace performance, scoring both goals in the 2-0 win over University of Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday, August 27 with a .667 shot on goal percentage. The win tallied Grambling’s first of the season. Following her Thursday performance, Nyla Dore-Anderson scored the lone goal for Grambling in the match against Oklahoma State continuing her hot offensive week. Nyla Dore-Anderson leads Grambling State with three goals and six points while being tied second in the SWAC for goals scored.
 
SWAC Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week: Keisha Blaauw, Southern
The Sophomore Defender from Brisbane, Australia played 73 minutes in the match against SMU and added 45 minutes in the win against Spring Hill College, anchoring the backline. Blaauw helped the Lady Jaguars hold Spring Hill to one goal while adding contributions on the offensive side with her first career assist at the 35^th minute. With the help of Keisha Blaauw, Southern notched their first win over Spring Hill and now adds her first weekly honor of the season.
 
SWAC Women’s Soccer Goalkeeper of the Week: Sydney Whitten, Southern
The Senior Goalkeeper from Richmond, Texas appeared and started in both matches played on the week by Southern, going 1-1 in goal. Whitten tallied four saves against SMU and corralled two saves against Spring Hill College while adding a .667 save percentage versus Spring Hill. Whitten’s win in goal added her first on the season while totaling 11 saves on the season with a .550 save percentage, where she is ranked #6 in the SWAC in the save percentage column. Sydney Whitten is one of six keepers in the Southwestern Athletic Conference with double-digit saves and now adds her first weekly honor of the season.
 
SWAC Women’s Soccer Newcomer of the Week: Tamami Nishio, Alabama State
The Freshman from Takamatsu, Japan appeared in both matches while starting in one as Nishio’s highlight of the week was a brace performance against Arkansas State, helping Alabama State draw with the Lady Red Wolves. Tamami Nishio added a 1.000 shot percentage along with 1.000 shot on goal percentage with both goals being highlight worthy. Following her performance against Arkansas State, Tamami Nishio moves to the No. 6 spot in goals scored in the SWAC while leading the Lady Hornets in the category.

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.