Vote for The Charlotte Observer girls’ athlete of the week: March 22

Below are the nominees for The Charlotte Observer girls’ high school athlete of the week.

The poll closes Friday.

You may vote as often as you like.

Note: Poll results may not always be shown.

This week’s nominees

Ally Benken, Ardrey Kell lacrosse: The Knights’ junior scored five goals in a 20-11 loss at Catawba Ridge on March 11.

Benken also scored two goals, had three assists and two caused turnovers in a 13-4 win over Butler on March 14.

Benken has 10 goals and had four assists for Ardrey Kell (2-3) this season.

Addison Benton, Queens Grant softball: The Stallions’ sophomore went 2-for-2 with a home run, five RBIs and three runs scored in a 17-1 win over Monroe on March 11.

The next day, Benton hit two more home runs, going 3-for-4 at the plate with five RBIs and two runs scored in a 19-0 victory at Corvian Charter.

Benton finished off the week by going 3 for 3 at the plate with a double, a triple and a run scored in a 16-1 win over Corvian Charter on March 14.

Benton is batting .625 with three home runs and 18 RBIs for Queens Grant (8-0) this season.

Vivian Billiard, Lake Norman softball: The Wildcats’ junior went 1 for 2 with a home run, a RBI, while striking three batters in 2.1 innings on the mound in a 9-1 loss at Mooresville on March 11.

Billiard also went 3-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and six RBIs in a 14-13 win at South Rowan on March 13.

Billiard is batting .600 with four home runs and 17 RBIs, while going 1-0 on the mound with 27 strikeouts in 20.1 innings of work for Lake Norman (5-1) this season.

Quinn Clark Lake Norman Charter softball: The Knights’ sophomore nearly three a perfect game facing the minimum 15 batters in five innings, while striking out nine hitters in a 13-0 win over Jay M. Robinson March 14. Clark also had an RBI-double at the plate in the victory.

Clark was 0 for 4 at the plate with a RBI in a 14-4 victory over Carson on March 12.

Clark is 1-0 on the mound with 11 strikeouts in 9.1 innings of work, while boasting 1.50 earned-run average for Lake Norman Charter (2-3) this season.

Caitlin Kasten, Covenant Day track: The Lions’ freshman ran her personal-best time of 4:57.56 to win the 1,600-meter run at the Marvin Ridge Invitational on March 16.

Kasten, who beat her previous personal-record by 13 seconds, has the fastest time in the state among NCISAA runners and the second fastest in the state amongst all classifications this outdoor season.

Nicole Kleyner, Sun Valley Soccer: The Spartans’ sophomore had three goals and one assist in a 6-3 win over Independence March 11.

The next day, Kleyner had three more goals and three assists in a 9-1 victory over Palisades.

Kleyner finished off the week with another hat trick (three goals) in a 5-2 win over Hopewell on March 14.

Kleyner has 22 goals and 12 assists for Sun Valley (8-0) this season.

Marguerite McPhillips, Charlotte Catholic soccer: The Cougars’ sophomore scored two goals and had two assists in a 5-1 win over T.C. Roberson on March 11.

McPhillips also scored two goals in a 9-0 win over Garinger on March 14.

McPhillips has six goals and four assists for Charlotte Catholic (4-2-1) this season.

Ava Merli, Independence soccer: The Patriots’ junior center back “played outstanding defense,” according Independence soccer coach Tyler Gibson, in 3-2 win over West Cabarrus March 12 and during a 2-0 loss to Providence on March 14.

Kayla Ross, Hough lacrosse: The Huskies’ senior midfielder scored four goals, had three groundballs and three caused turnovers in a 14-3 win over Community School of Davidson on March 13.

Campbell Schaen, Mooresville softball: The Blue Devils’ senior earned three wins on the mound this week, with 31 strikeouts in 17 innings of work.

Schaen helped Mooresville beat Lake Norman, 9-1 (March 11), defeated Cox Mill, 11-0 (March 13), and beat Hickory Ridge, 15-4 (March 15).

Schaen also hit .500 at the plate with six RBIs for Mooresville (5-0) last week.

Ani Shuman, Concord softball: The Spiders’ freshman went 3 for 4 at the plate with a single, a double and a triple in a 16-6 win over Concord Academy on March 12.

Shuman also went 1 for 2 with a two-run, home run and a walk in a 7-3 loss at South Rowan on March 14.

Shuman is hitting .600 with one home run, two doubles and eight RBI for Concord (2-2) this season.

Lila Smith, South Mecklenburg track: The Sabres’ sophomore ran a personal-best 59.29 to win the 400 at the Raptor Showcase at Mountain Island Charter High on March 14.

Smith’s time was also the 10th fastest time run in the state this outdoor season.

** Information published today includes statistics through March 16.

If you want to nominate an athlete: Athletes of the week highlights high school players with outstanding performances. The goal is to recognize all athletes in all sports, both the most accomplished and the underrated or underappreciated players. If you want to suggest someone to be included in the athletes of the week column, send email to Jay Edwards at edwardswork23@gmail.com. Please include the athletes’ name, school, class and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information.

How to vote

To vote in the poll, you must type “yes” into the box below BEFORE the poll will show. After you type yes and hit return, the poll will appear. To vote again, simply refresh the page. You may vote as often as you like.

If you cannot see the box on mobile, click here.