Johnson, Martin Share Spotlight During October

TOWSON, Md. — One of the top setters in the history of the volleyball program and a freshman midfielder who supplied the goals in a pair of 1-0 victories for the men's soccer team over Landmark Conference opponents were chosen as Goucher's Male and Female Gophers of the Month for October.

Sarah Johnson (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood), one of four seniors on the volleyball program's 2015 roster, earned the honor on the women's side after surpassing the milestone of 3,000 career assists in the 125th and final match of her career on Oct. 29 when she was credited with 26 assists in a 3-0 (25-6, 25-8, 25-12) triumph over Trinity Washington. Only one player in program history finished with more assists than Johnson's final total of 3,015.

Johnson averaged 7.63 assists per set in the 12 matches the Gophers played in October. During one four-match stretch in which head coach Kelli Wilkinson's squad went 3-1, the senior setter registered 39 assists in back-to-back matches against Lancaster Bible and Keystone, 38 against Albright and 32 against Penn St.-Mont Alto.

Over the course of her four seasons, Johnson also compiled 186 kills, 962 digs, 80 blocks and 129 service aces.

"I am so incredibly proud of Sarah for her amazing accomplishment over these past four years," commented Wilkinson. "She is the epitome of the term 'student-athlete' and has been such an incredible leader both on and off the court for Goucher College. She will be hard to replace."

Ellis Martin (Verona, N.J./Verona) was selected Gopher Male Athlete of the Month. He tallied the first goal of his collegiate career in the 68th minute against Scranton on Oct. 10, helping his team earn its first Landmark Conference win of the season, a 1-0 triumph over the Royals.

The only freshman on the team to contribute more than one goal this season, Martin also accounted for the goal in the 60th minute that allowed Goucher to pin a 1-0 setback on Drew on Oct. 17.

The last player to score the only goal in a pair of 1-0 wins by the Gophers in the same season was Elijah Lais in 2011.

"Ellis really grew into his own this past month," according to head coach Bryan Laut. "He established himself as a key member of our team in the center of the midfield and scored the game-winning goals in our two big victories over Scranton and Drew. He kept getting better as the month went on and we are excited about his continued growth as a player."

The selections of Johnson and Martin as October's Gophers of the Month, announced today, were made by the school's sports information staff, in consultation with coaches and other athletic administrators. Also considered on the women's side were Carey Hundley (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge), a rider on the equestrian team, and Alexis Regopoulos (Fitchburg, Mass./North Middlesex Regional) from the women's swimming team; Martin was selected over teammate Scott Mt. Pleasant (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa).