SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference named the volleyball players of the week for the matches played the week of September 20. Furman's Kelly Kirby was named Offensive Player of the Week, while Chattanooga's Paula Passmore earned the Defensive Player of the Week award. The Freshman of the Week honors went to UNCG's Kellie Orewiler. The players of the week are voted on by the league office.
Kirby, a junior from of Simpsonville, S.C., posted a .509 average during the Georgetown Classic last weekend. Kirby, who was named MVP of the tournament, helped lead the Paladins to sweeps over East Carolina and Binghamton and a five-set win over host Georgetown. The setter hit a .778 average against East Carolina with eight kills, eight assists, three service aces and nine digs. Against Binghamton, Kirby hit .625 with five kills, three service aces, five assists and three digs, and hit .425 with 20 kills and 12 digs in the come-from-behind win over the Hoyas.
Passmore, a sophomore libero from Merritt Island, Fla., recorded a 5.82 digs per set average during the Chattanooga Invitational. Passmore hit the elusive 30-dig mark for the third time this season with 30 in the five-set thriller against Central Florida. Passmore was the match leader in two-of-three contests during the weekend. She helped the Lady Mocs to a 1-2 record with a victory over Central Florida.
The SoCon's Freshman of the Week award went to Kellie Orewiler from UNCG. Orewiler, a Mansfield, Ohio native, was named Libero of the Tournament this past weekend for her play at the Spartan Spiketacular. She amassed a team-high 40 digs over the week for an average of 3.33 digs per set. She was second on the team with seven service aces for a team-leading 0.58 aces per set average. Orewiler helped lead the Spartans to a 4-0 record with wins over North Carolina A&T, Morgan State, Norfolk State and Gardner-Webb.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State's Maggie Seeds, College of Charleston's Elyse Chubb, The Citadel's Tatum Jestila, Elon's Caroline Lemke, Georgia Southern's Kate Van Dyke, UNCG's Ariel Newman, Samford's Hillary Fountain, Chattanooga's Ellie Kuhn, Western Carolina's Paloma Alvarez and Wofford's Catelyn Amende.
Nominated for Defensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State's Caroline Sedon, College of Charleston's Sarah Havel, The Citadel's Jessica Maas, Elon's Ali Deatsch, Furman's Natalie Braun, Georgia Southern's Parker Small, UNCG's Caley Redden, Samford's Allie Bettinger, Western Carolina's Morgan Cochran and Wofford's Catelyn Amende.
Nominated for Freshmen of the Week were College of Charleston's Madelyn McGinnis, The Citadel's Erin Bucherl, Furman's Sarah McCarthy, Georgia Southern's Enjoli Johnson, Samford's Katie Murphy, Chattanooga's Tess Kosycarz, Western Carolina's Morgan Cochran 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
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
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