Four NSU athletes recognized as Sunshine State Conference Players of the Week

NSU achieved a milestone as four student-athletes earned the Sunshine State Conference Players of the Week honors simultaneously for the week of Sept. 18-24. Madison Cook (women’s volleyball), Nadia Lindner (women’s volleyball), Bella Scott (women’s cross country) and Adrien Zambaux (men’s cross country) stood out across their respective sports.

Madison Cook, senior nursing major, began playing volleyball at the age of 8, developing a deep passion for the sport. For Cook, volleyball goes beyond the court. It serves as an escape and a source of happiness amid life’s stresses. Cook’s commitment to excellence is shown throughout her rigorous training regimen, which includes early morning gym sessions and extra reps before practice. This regimen keeps Cook grounded and helps lead to on-court success.

“Volleyball really provides an outlet for me for anything that goes on in life,” Cook said.

Bella Scott, sophomore biology major, found her love for running in high school. Each race was an opportunity to have fun and test her own limits. During a cross country meet at Saint Thomas University on Sept. 23, Scott overcame the challenge of a sandy course. Scott’s commitment to the team’s success contributed to a first-place finish, ultimately earning her Player of the Week honors.

“It’s just fun to see my own progression and test my own limits,” Scott said.

Adrien Zambaux, senior entrepreneurship major with minors in international business and finance, faced setbacks when he was sick and unable to train for 10 days.

But he entered the race with determination. Zambaux’s mental preparation involved getting into the right mindset during the days leading up to the race, along with ensuring both his body and mind were ready for the challenge. Zambaux’s mental formula propelled him to receive Sunshine State Conference recognition.

“I still had everything that it took to be an athlete, even after being out,” Zambaux said.

Nadia Lindner was recognized as the Offensive Player of the Week for the third time in her career. Her performance secured victories for the Sharks in the recent matchups against Palm Beach Atlantic and Embry-Riddle.

Scott describes the cross-country team as “our own little family.” Zambaux explains that the daily communication and bonding within the team creates an environment where members help each other improve.

“We bond in and out of practice, so that way we improve, help each other improve, no matter if we’re having an easy day or a hard day,” Zambaux said.

Cook acknowledges that her success as a setter is linked to the quality of passes from her teammates and the effectiveness of the hitters. This reinforces her idea that success is not only individual but also collective.

“It’s not possible for me to get that recognition without the people on my team. It is really nice to be recognized, but it’s a team effort,” Cook said.