MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Three Southern States Athletic Conference student-athletes earned NAIA Player of the Week honors, with UT Southern’s Millie Rayner being named NAIA Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, Faulkner’s Bernardo Juca being named NAIA Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week and Faulkner’s Andre Ferreira being named NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the national office announced.
 
These awards are based on performance for the week of Sept. 14-20.
 
Millie Rayner (UT Southern – SO – FWD/DEF – High Halstow, England)

• Rayner totaled 26 points on 11 goals and four assists in a 2-0 conference week for the Firehawks
• Her week was highlighted by a seven-goal, three-assist effort v. Wesleyan

 
Bernardo Juca (Faulkner – FR – W – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

• Juca scored three goals in a big 2-0 week as the Eagles beat RV Xavier and fifth-ranked William Carey
• He scored the game-winner in both contests, including accounting for both goals in a 2-0 win against the Crusaders, giving Faulkner a win against the highest-ranked opponent in program history

 
Andre Ferreira (Faulkner – SR – GK – Maia, Portugal)

• This is his second-career weekly NAIA honor
• The senior totaled 10 saves and delivered shutouts against RV Xavier and fifth-ranked William Carey
• The week was highlighted by an eight-save shutout against the No. 5 Crusaders

 
2026-27 Winners
Tibo Jacobs, Life: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
 
2025-26 Winners
Victoria Vieten, William Carey: NAIA Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Darius Barge, Life: NAIA Men’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Jayden Sawyer, William Carey: NAIA Softball Pitcher of the Week
Avery Harrell, Mobile: NAIA Softball Pitcher of the Week
Jayden Sawyer, William Carey: NAIA Softball Pitcher of the Week
Taamtond Nivasananda, William Carey: NAIA Women’s Golfer of the Week
Omarion Smith, Dalton State: NAIA Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Emeline Delaville, Life: NAIA Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Makeem Roberts, William Carey: NAIA Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Ashley Dickey, UT Southern: NAIA Women’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Barnabas Aggerh, William Carey: NAIA Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Avery Abram, William Carey: NAIA Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week
Andrew Gilipps, Xavier: NAIA Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week
Deniya Thornton, Loyola: NAIA Women’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week
Gil Gonzalez, Brewton-Parker Christian: NAIA Men’s Basketball Defensive Player of the Week
Kameron Johnson, Loyola: NAIA Men’s Basketball Offensive Player of the Week
Andre Ferreira, Faulkner: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Jamie Barry, William Carey: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Ben McFadden, Dalton State: NAIA Men’s Golfer of the Week
Sara Burger, Dalton State: NAIA Women’s Golfer of the Week
Sacha Millward, Life: NAIA Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Louis Hester, UT Southern: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Sara Burger, Dalton State: NAIA Women’s Golfer of the Week
Lauren Entremont, William Carey: NAIA Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week
Jamie Barry, William Carey: NAIA Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week