SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Chandler Ambrester, Western Carolina’s Morgan Cochran, and Furman’s Jo Wilks have been named the SoCon Offensive, Defensive and Freshman Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for October 8.  The selections are made by the conference office. 

Ambrester, a senior outside hitter, was named Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Paladins to a 3-0 week in conference play. The Pine Mountain, Ga. native recorded 44 kills and only 10 errors to average 4.40 kills per set last week (.330 attack percentage). She recorded double-digit kills in all three matches for the Paladins last week, including a 15 kill/18 dig performance in Furman’s 3-1 win at College of Charleston, which snapped the Cougars’ 21-match home SoCon win streak. Ambrester leads Furman with 274 kills and 4.03 kills per set.

Cochran, a junior libero, recorded 58 digs in eight sets last week for the Catamounts. She led WCU with over 20 digs in every match last weekend, including matching her career-high of 35 digs against rival Appalachian State. The Lakeland, Fla. native averaged 7.67 digs per set and moved into sixth place in WCU history in career-digs with 1,277.

Furman’s Jo Wilks was named the SoCon Freshman of the Week for the fourth time this season. The setter from Union Grove, Wis. recorded more than 40 assists in each of Furman’s three games last week (133 total). Wilks totaled 50 assists and 10 digs in Furman’s 3-1 win at College of Charleston on Sunday for her seventh double-double of the season. She averaged 13.3 assists per set last week and averages 12.23 assists per set on the season.

Nominated for Offensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State’s Lindsey Sauls, The Citadel’s Lauren Hurt, College of Charleston’s Darcy Dorton, Davidson’s Caroline Brown, Elon’s Megan Gravley, Furman’s Chandler Ambrester, Georgia Southern’s Meredith Paskert, UNCG’s Olivia Humphries and Morgan Freeman, Samford’s Lauren Hutchinson, Chattanooga’s Bridget Camacho, Western Carolina’s Jordan Timmerman, and Wofford’s Arden Anderson.

Nominated for Defensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State’s Courtney Rhein, The Citadel’s Jessica Maxwell, College of Charleston’s Emily Shelton, Davidson’s Molly Crenshaw, Elon’s Celia Rose Eddy, Furman’s Caroline Adams, Georgia Southern’s Crysten Curry, UNCG’s Kellie Orewiler, Samford’s Chelsi Carter, Chattanooga’s Paula Passmore, Western Carolina’s Morgan Cochran, and Wofford’s Reagan Styles.

Nominated for Freshman of the Week were College of Charleston’s Melissa Morello, The Citadel’s Rachael Keefer, Elon’s Ana Nicksic, Furman’s Jo Wilks, Georgia Southern’s Crysten Curry, UNCG’s Lauren Betlach, Chattanooga’s Sarah Batterton, and Western Carolina’s Nicole Ford.

 

2012 Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week

Week 1 – Darcy Dorton, College of Charleston

Week 2 – Kris Harris, Elon

Week 3 – Natalie Braun, Furman

Week 4 – Lauren Hutchinson, Samford

Week 5 – Lauren Hutchinson, Samford

Week 6 – Taeler Davis, College of Charleston

Week 7 – Chandler Ambrester, Furman

 

2012 Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week

Week 1 – Paula Passmore, Chattanooga

Week 2 – Alexandra Beecher, Georgia Southern

Week 3 – Alexis Bauer, Samford

Week 4 – Emily Shelton, College of Charleston

Week 5 – Paula Passmore, Chattanooga

Week 6 – Ali Deatsch, Elon

Week 7 – Morgan Cochran, Western Carolina

 

2012 Volleyball Freshmen of the Week

Week 1 – Jo Wilks, Furman

Week 2 – Jo Wilks, Furman

Week 3 – Jo Wilks, Furman

Week 4 – Alexandra Beecher, Georgia Southern

Week 5 – Melissa Morello, College of Charleston

Week 6 – Lauren Betlach, UNCG

Week 7 – Jo Wilks, Furman