SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference named the volleyball players of the week for the matches played the week of October 4. Davidson's Sarabeth Peele was named Offensive Player of the Week, while Furman's Kelly Kirby was selected as Defensive Player of the Week. The Freshman of the Week honors went to Elon's Cali Estes. The players of the week are voted on by the league office.
Peele, a senior from San Antonio, Texas, led the Wildcats to a 2-0 week with back-to-back 21 kill performances against Wofford and Samford. The Wildcats are off to their first 2-0 start in conference play since 1999 after defeating Samford 3-2 for the first time in the young series history. Peele topped the 21-kill mark for the first time this season in a 3-1 win over Wofford on Tuesday evening, and then equaled that performance on Saturday afternoon against the Bulldogs.
Kirby, a junior setter and right side hitter, led Furman with 18 digs in a 3-2 win against defending Southern Conference tournament champions College of Charleston. The Simpsonville, S.C., native also recorded nine digs in the Paladins' sweep of The Citadel on Friday evening. Kirby currently ranks third among Furman players this season with 139 digs. She also ranks second on the team with 181 assists and third in kills with 119. Kirby was selected as the SoCon's Offensive Player of the Week in week 4.
The SoCon's Freshman of the Week award went to Cali Estes. The Carmel, Ind., native helped Elon to two wins this past week with a total of 54 assists, 13 kills and 7 total blocks. In Elon's 3-1 win over Western Carolina, the setter and right side hitter recorded a personal-best 27 assists.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State's Kelly Rhein, College of Charleston's Sarah Havel, The Citadel's Tatum Jestila, Elon's Allison Johnson, Furman's Alexis Shaffer, Georgia Southern's Parker Small, UNCG's Ariel Newman, Samford's Elizabeth Neisler, Western Carolina's Amanda Chaparro and Wofford's Stacy Byrd.
Nominated for Defensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State's Caroline Sedon, College of Cole Dawley, The Citadel's Amanda Beal, Davidson's Jennifer Chamblee, Elon's Caroline Lemke, Georgia Southern's Ashley Roe, UNCG's Kayren Finney, Western Carolina's Morgan Cochran and Wofford's Arden Anderson.
Nominated for Freshman of the Week were College of Charleston's Madelyn McGinnis, The Citadel's Erin Bucherl, Furman's Sarah McCarthy, Georgia Southern's Nicole Jeschelnik, UNCG's Kellie Orewiler, Chattanooga's Tess Kosycarz, Western Carolina's Leah Best and Wofford's Bekah Dorsey.
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
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
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