YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Congratulations to Lyza Thigpen of Young Harris College women's volleyball and Noah Pawirodirjo of YHC men's tennis on earning Mountain Lion of the Week honors. 

The Young Harris men's tennis team has been picking up the play recently, outside of their championship season. From Saturday (Sept. 28) through Tuesday (Oct. 1), the Mountain Lions tennis squads competed at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regionals in Sumter, South Carolina at the Palmetto Tennis Center. The men's tennis team has looked impressive so far, with returners and newcomers showing up big on the court. 

Noah Pawirodirjo competed in the round of 128 to begin the tournament and would make it all the way to the round of sixteen in one of his first appearances in Young Harris tennis garb.  

In the round of 128, Pawirodirjo took care of Rodrigo Perez Crispo from Georgia College in straight sets (6-4 and 6-2) to advance to the round of 64. Noah's next opponent was Samer Al Tori from Columbus State and again took down his opponent in just two sets (6-3 and 6-1).  

On Sunday (Sept. 29), Pawirodirjo found himself in the round of 32, where he would face North Greenville's Juho Kantola; again, Noah took down the player across from him in straight sets (6-3 and 6-3). Pawirodirjo advanced to the round of 16, where he battled against Aniss Rafiq of Flagler College; Rafiq would finally be the one to take down Pawirodirjo (6-3 and 6-1).  

Noah Pawirodirjo also competed in doubles, with partner Mason Harmon. The duo won their opening match 9-8, [8-6] and advanced to the round of 16 after a walkover. In the round of 16, Pawirodirjo and Harmon took on Robing Elden and Pedro Liborio of UNG. The doubles alignment from UNG would eventually take down Pawirodirjo and crew from Young Harris. 

Overall, Noah Pawirodirjo had an incredibly successful ITA Regionals showing, where he made it to the round of 16 in singles and doubles; Noah's performance over the span of the three-day tournament earned him Mountain Lion of the Week honors. 

Lyza Thigpen and the Mountain Lions women's volleyball team picked up their first two wins of the season on back-to-back days; against Conference Carolinas opponents Barton College (Oct. 4) and Chowan University (Oct. 5). The two wins marked the first time in Young Harris College volleyball program history that the Mountain Lions won their weekend home matches on back-to-back days. The Mountain Lions needed a win more than ever, and the players led by head coach Jenny Michael won both matches.  

Lyza Thigpen was one of the key reasons to how the Mountain Lions were able to win back-to-back matches against conference opponents. In the Friday (Oct. 4) match against Barton College, Lyza played in all four sets for the Mountain Lions and put up great offensive numbers. Thigpen recorded 40 assists, 21 total attacks, three service aces, 16 digs, and 4.5 points. Young Harris took down the Barton Bulldogs, three sets to one, for their first win of the season.  

The Mountain Lions were not content with just the one win over their weekend matches, and Chowan University stood in their way. The match against the Hawks started out smoothly for the Mountain Lions, as they won their first two sets. Chowan would not surrender and tied things up at two sets a-piece. In the final set, the Mountain Lions would strike last for the 15th point, on a kill by Shelby Mullins and an assist by Lyza Thigpen to seal the deal for the Mountain Lions second win in as many days. 

In their second straight win over Chowan, Thigpen played in all five sets and once again put up an impressive offensive stat-line. Battling the Hawks, Lyza recorded 39 assists, 15 digs, 12 total attacks, two service aces, two kills, one solo block, and five points.  

During the two-game stretch, Lyza Thigpen's numbers jump off the chart, as she posted a stat line of: nine sets played, 79 assists, 33 total attacks, 31 digs, five service aces, two kills, one solo block, and 9.5 points. This impressive performance by Lyza, mixed in with the team's first two wins of the season, earned Thigpen Mountain Lion of the Week honors.