SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference named the volleyball players of the week for the matches played the week of September 13. Chattanooga's Courtney Barnes was named Offensive Player of the Week, while College of Charleston's Paige Johnson earned the Defensive Player of the Week award. The Freshman of the Week went to The Citadel's Erin Bucherl. The players of the week are voted on by the league office.
Barnes, a senior middle blocker from Franklin, Tenn., compiled a .408 attacking percentage along with 69 kills and 18 blocks for the Lady Mocs in the UNF Invitational. She was named to the all-tournament team, which was her third honor this season as she has taken all-tournament in each of previous events so far this season. In a 3-1 win over Troy, Barnes recorded a career-high 22 kills, while hitting .645. She also registered six blocks against the Trojans. In a five-set victory against Illinois-Chicago, Barnes set a career-high with five service aces along with a season-high in digs with seven.
Paige Johnson, a senior libero, was selected to the College of Charleston Classic All-Tournament team this past weekend. The Sleepy Hollow, Ill., native had a total of 65 digs in 12 sets for an average of 5.42 digs per set. Against Oregon State, Johnson tied her career high with 30 digs, which came within one of cracking the top-10 list in the school record book. Johnson helped the Cougars to wins over Presbyterian and Cincinnati last week.
The SoCon's Freshman of the Week award went to Erin Bucherl from The Citadel. Burcherl piloted The Citadel with 74 assists and 36 digs, both team highs, in four matches over the past week. The setter from Indianapolis, Ind., had her biggest match against USC Upstate when she established a new career-high with 20 digs. She also dished out match and career-highs with 30 assists against the Spartans. The only freshman on The Citadel's squad, Bucherl doled out 74 assists in 112 total attempts, finishing with a set percentage of .661 on the week and leading the Bulldogs to victories over Savannah State, USC Upstate and Norfolk State.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State's Anna Wagner, College of Charleston's Whitney Russell, The Citadel's Cassie Uribe, Davidson's Sarabeth Peele, Elon's Sarah Schermerhorn, Furman's Chandler Ambrester, Georgia Southern's Bethany Sanford, UNCG's Caley Redden, Samford's Casey Garvey, Western Carolina's Carrie Minogue and Wofford's Amanda Liguori.
Nominated for Defensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State's Courtney Rhein, The Citadel's Kaona Mercer, Davidson's Jorden Benedict, Elon's Ali Deatsch, Furman's Elle Ross, Samford's Alexis Bauer, Chattanooga's Paula Passmore, Western Carolina's Carrie Minogue and Wofford's Arden Anderson.
Nominated for Freshmen of the Week were College of Charleston's Madelyn McGinnis, Davidson's Caroline Brown, Furman's Sarah McCarthy, Georgia Southern's Enjoli Johnson, UNCG's Kellie Orewiler, Samford's Katie Murphy, Chattanooga's Jennifer Kuroski, Western Carolina's Kelcie Randazzo and Wofford's Amanda Liguori.
2010 Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 - Whitney Russell, College of Charleston
Week 2 - Hillary Fountain, Samford
Week 3 - Courtney Barnes, Chattanooga
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
2010 Volleyball Freshmen of the Week
Week 1 - Katie Murphy, Samford
Week 2 - Sarah McCarthy, Furman
Week 3 - Erin Bucherl, The Citadel