Tusculum University receiver Joe Robustelli and setter Madison Adkins have been named Applebee’s Student-Athletes of the Month for October.
Robustelli, a senior from Sarasota, Florida, recorded 11 receptions for 330 receiving yards and five touchdowns in his three games in October. The Pioneers went 3-1 during the month with SAC wins over Carson-Newman, UVA Wise, and Erskine.
Robustelli opened the month with five catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns in TU’s 27-21 victory at Carson-Newman for the Pioneers first win in Jefferson City in 89 years. He followed with 114 receiving yards on just two receptions including a 73-yarder in a 35-7 Homecoming win over UVA Wise. He closed out the month with a 127-yard performance on four grabs with two touchdowns including a 68-yarder at Emory & Henry.
On the season, Robustelli has made 20 receptions for 475 yards (9th in SAC) and six touchdowns (4th in SAC / 36th in NCAA II). His 23.75 yards per catch average is currently the fifth-best in a TU single-season (minimum of 10 receptions). The Pioneers are 5-4 overall and 5-2 in the conference which is currently second in the SAC Mountain Division.
Adkins, a junior from Olive Hill, Kentucky, helped the Pioneers to a 7-1 record all within South Atlantic Conference play. She played in all eight matches where she dished out 10.40 assists per set and recorded 0.88 blocks per set. She also averaged 2.00 digs and 0.88 blocks per set.
Adkins recorded 24 or more assists in all eight of her appearances including 41 assists at Wingate. She notched 39 assists in a 3-0 home sweep over Carson-Newman to go along with nine digs and four blocks. She also had 37 assists in a 3-0 sweep at UVA-Wise and tallied 31 assists in a 3-0 home sweep over Limestone.
For October, Adkins totaled 16 kills, 260 assists, 10 service aces, 50 digs and 22 blocks.
She is averaging 8.21 assists (5th in SAC), 2.14 digs, 0.44 blocks, and 0.49 service aces (4th in SAC) per set while leading the Pioneers to a 16-6 overall record including 12-3 in South Atlantic Conference play which has TU listed fourth in the league standings.
The Tusculum Student-Athlete of the Month Award is sponsored by Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar of Greeneville. The Applebee’s Student-Athlete of the Month Award honors one male and one female student-athlete each month from an in-season sport during the 2023-24 academic year, recognizing their hard work, effort, and performance.
