SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference named the volleyball players of the week for the matches played the week of October 11. Davidson's Sarabeth Peele was named Offensive Player of the Week, while UNCG's Kayren Finney was selected as Defensive Player of the Week. The Freshman of the Week honors went to Samford's Katie Murphy. The players of the week are voted on by the league office.
Peele, a senior from San Antonio, Texas, received the honor for the second consecutive week. The outside hitter had another strong week as she posted 56 kills to lead Davidson to a 2-1 week. She topped the 20-kill mark twice, finishing with 23 in a win over Gardner-Webb and 20 in the sweep against The Citadel. Peele averaged 4.67 kills per set in the three matches over the week. She also averaged 2.17 digs per set, which helped her to a pair of double-doubles for the week with 13 digs against Gardner-Webb and 12 digs against The Citadel.
Finney, a middle blocker from Danville, Va., extended her Southern Conference blocks lead this weekend as she totaled 17 blocks for an impressive 1.89 blocks per set. Her performance moved her season average from 1.41 blocks per set to 1.48 blocks per set. Her previous average was good for 11th nationally. On Saturday, Finney tied her career-high with 10 blocks against Wofford. The senior also posted a season-high 14 kills in the match against the Terriers for her first double-double since 2008. For the weekend, Finney averaged 11 kills and 8.5 blocks per match. This is the second time this season that Finney was selected as Defensive Player of the Week, as she earned the honors in the first week of the season.
The SoCon's Freshman of the Week award went to Katie Murphy of Samford for the second time this season. The Sterling Heights, Mich., native, who won the award in week one, posted five blocks and 10 kills in a sweep over Chattanooga on Wednesday. The middle blocker had nine kills and hit .571 while tally four blocks in the Bulldogs sweep over Western Carolina. In Samford's third game of the week, Murphy recorded seven kills and six block assists against Appalachian State.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State's Anna Wagner, College of Charleston's Cole Dawley, Elon's Sarah Schermerhorn, Furman's Natalie Braun, Georgia Southern's Parker Small, UNCG's Ariel Newman, Samford's Elizabeth Neisler, Chattanooga's Courtney Barnes and Western Carolina's Paloma Alvarez.
Nominated for Defensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State's Caroline Sedon, College of Charleston's Elyse Chubb, Davidson's Jennifer Chamblee, Elon's Lizzie West, Furman's Elle Ross, Georgia Southern's Ashley Roe, Samford's Alexis Bauer, Chattanooga's Paula Passmore and Western Carolina's Morgan Cochran.
Nominated for Freshman of the Week were College of Charleston's Madelyn McGinnis, Furman's Elle Ross, UNCG's Kellie Orewiler and Western Carolina's Morgan Cochran.
2010 Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 - Whitney Russell, College of Charleston
Week 2 - Hillary Fountain, Samford
Week 3 - Courtney Barnes, Chattanooga
Week 4 - Kelly Kirby, Furman
Week 5 - Parker Small, Georgia Southern
Week 6 - Sarabeth Peele, Davidson
Week 7 - Sarabeth Peele, Davidson
2010 Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 - Kayren Finney, UNCG
Week 2 - Alison Blasingame, Appalachian State
Week 3 - Paige Johnson, College of Charleston
Week 4 - Paula Passmore, Chattanooga
Week 5 - Ashley Roe, Georgia Southern
Week 6 - Kelly Kirby, Furman
Week 7 - Kayren Finney, UNCG
2010 Volleyball Freshmen of the Week
Week 1 - Katie Murphy, Samford
Week 2 - Sarah McCarthy, Furman
Week 3 - Erin Bucherl, The Citadel
Week 4 - Kellie Orewiler, UNCG
Week 5 - Jennifer Kuroski, Chattanooga
Week 6 - Cali Estes, Elon
Week 7 - Katie Murphy, Samford