General 1/2/2024 2:30:00 PM United East Athletes of the Week - January 2, 2024 LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for January 2, 2024. This includes Athletes of the Week for both the Skye and Volt Divisions in Men’s and Women’s Basketball. This week’s selections included contests from Monday, December 18 through Sunday, January 1. A total of 6 student-athletes were recognized for their performances. Men’s Basketball Offensive & Defensive Player of the Week - Skye Division Denelle Holly / So / Rosemont College / Philadelphia, Pa. / Martin Luther King HS Holly had 29 total points over his two games during the holiday season; including 22 in a close loss at Cabrini. In the exhibition against Division I LaSalle University, Holly had 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Against Cabrini, Holly had 7 rebounds and 2 steals as the Ravens concluded their city rivalry with the Cavaliers. Holly currently is 23rd in the United East averaging 13.5 points per game, 22nd in rebounding with 5.5 rebounds per game, 14th in assists with 3.3 assists per game and 9th in steals with 1.9 steals per game. Offensive Player of the Week - Volt Division Grant Sareyka / Sr / Lancaster Bible College / Swedesboro, N.J. / The Christian Academy Sareyka recorded his second 40-point game and added five steals in a 95-75 win at Pitt-Greensburg on Sunday. This is his sixth game with 20 or more points and his third game with 30 or more points. Sareyka is averaging a team high 20.3 points per game all while shooting 48-percent from the field and 43-percent from the three-point line. Sareyka currently leads the United East in total points scored (264) while averaging 20.3 points per game (4th) and is currently Top 10 in Field Goal Percentage (9th; .481) and 3-Pt Field Goals per Game (7th; 2.2). This is the second Player of the Week award for Sareyka who previously won for the week of November 13, 2023. Defensive Player of the Week - Volt Division Jake Schalki / Sr / Penn State Abington / Horsham, Pa. / Hatboro-Horsham HS In a three-game span, Schalki averaged a double-double with 16.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, extending his double-doubles streak to eight straight games. He scored a career-high 24 points at Montclair State University while grabbing 10 rebounds. On day one of the Cyclone Holiday Classic he finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds; one shy of his career-high against William Paterson University. He capped the 2023 calendar year with a 14-point and 11-rebound performance against Centenary University. Schalki currently leads the United East averaging 11.3 rebounds per game and is 11th in the United East averaging 17.2 points per game. This is the second Player of the Week award for Schalki this season who previously won for the week of December 4, 2023. Women’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week - Skye Division Lakay Holloway / So / Rosemont College / Upper Darby, Pa. / Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School In the only contest of the holiday break for Rosemont, Holloway had 19 points in 28 minutes as the Ravens faced off against Marywood. Holloway went 2-6 from behind the arc and 3-5 from the line while grabbing 4 boards and handing out 3 assists. Defensive Player of the Week - Skye Division Amani Watts / FY / Notre Dame of Maryland University / Severn, Md. / Old Mill HS Watts had an outstanding defensive performance in NDMU’s win over Hood College. Watts finished with seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks. In the final seconds of the game, Hood had a 3-point shot to tie the game, but Watts hustled to the perimeter to block the shot and secure the victory. In addition Watts scored 17 points and dished four assists. At the beginning of 2024, Watts is 4th in the United East averaging 18.0 points per game, 2nd with a 11.9 rebounds per game average, and 2nd in Field Goal Percentage (.507). This is the third Player of the Week honor for Watts this season who previously won for the weeks of December 4, 2023 and December 11, 2023. Offensive & Defensive Player of the Week - Volt Division Cassidy Perry / Sr / Gallaudet University / Frederick, Md. / Maryland School for the Deaf Perry was Gallaudet’s force in the post during the Music City Classic (Dec. 19-20) at Welch College, just outside of Nashville. Perry helped GU post a 1-1 record. The senior forward finished the Classic with 32 points, 28 rebounds, six blocks, three steals and two assists. Perry went 10-for-10 from the free throw line. In a 64-59 win over North Park (Dec. 19), Perry finished with a double-double with 20 points, 13 rebounds (7 on the defensive end). The next day, Perry rallied another double-double in a loss against Central (IA) with 12 points, 15 rebounds (13 on the defensive end), and five blocks in 30 minutes played. This is the 13th Player of the Week honor on the basketball court for Perry who was a First Team All-Conference honoree in 2021-22 and 2022-23, in addition to Rookie of the Year and Second Team honors in 2019-20. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram - gounitedeast | Twitter - @GoUnitedEast * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. 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