HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- Georgia Southwestern State University men's soccer standout Silvio Polly was named the 2017-18 Peach Belt Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Tuesday evening at the league's annual awards dinner. The Scholar-Athlete award is the highest individual honor given by the PBC to a student-athlete during the year and is selected by the league's Faculty Athletic Representatives.

A native of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Polly graduated this spring from Georgia Southwestern with a degree in exercise science and wellness and a 3.90 GPA. Named the GSW Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, he also received the Dr. Richard Litwhiler Award for Exercise Science and Wellness. A three-time PBC Presidential Honor Roll member, including twice as a Gold Scholar, he was also named to the GSW President's List and is a member of the GSW Honors Society.

On the pitch, Polly is the first GSW men's soccer player to be a two-time All-Conference selection. He appeared in all 16 matches this season and started 15 contests for the Hurricanes while leading the team with eight goals, including game-winning scores against Milligan College and Concordia College (Ala.). Polly accounted for 36 percent of the Hurricanes scoring in 2017. His eight goals tied for fifth in the conference and 19 points also ranked fifth this season. He is the program's all-time career leading scorer with 23 goals and the all-time points leader with 56.

Polly becomes the third Hurricane to be named the PBC male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the second in a row, joining Nick Ward who won in 2017.

 Pictured above (from L to R): GSW Athletic Director Mike Leeder, Silvio Polly, GSW President Dr. Neal Weaver