SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Georgia Southern’s Moriah Bellissimo, Elon’s Ali Deatsch, and Furman’s Jo Wilks have been named the SoCon Offensive, Defensive and Freshman Volleyball Players of the Week, respectively, for November 12. The selections are made by the conference office.
Bellissimo, a senior outside hitter, hit .380 and averaged 3.82 kills and 3.00 digs per set in a 3-0 week for the Eagles that clinched the SoCon South Division regular-season title. The Blackstone, Va., native collected 42 kills, 33 digs, five blocks and five service aces for the week. She posted 16 kills and 17 digs against Davidson, 11 kills and six digs against Furman and 15 kills and 10 digs against Wofford. Bellissimo has 10 double-doubles this season, including two last week.
Deatsch, a senior defensive specialist, was named Defensive Player of the Week, her second honor of the season. Deatsch led the defensive effort in Elon’s two wins last week with 47 digs in seven sets to average 6.71 digs per set. At UNCG, the senior finished with 20 digs for five per set and two aces. The Elmhurst, Ill., native took the four-hour physics portion of the GRE on Saturday morning on the campus of College of Charleston, before recording 34 digs, an impressive 11.3 per set, in the team’s sweep of The Citadel.
Furman’s Jo Wilks was named the SoCon Freshman of the Week, her sixth honor of the season. The setter from Union Grove, Wis., recorded 77 assists, 12.8 per set, and 15 digs in a 1-1 week for the Paladins. Wilks had 34 assists, six digs, and three kills in Furman’s 3-0 loos at Georgia Southern, then followed up with a 43 assist, nine dig, one ace and three kill performance in the Paladin’s win at Davidson. Wilks leads Furman with 1371 assists on the season, 12.24 assists per set. Wilks is ranked 4th nationally with 12.21 assists per set in the latest NCAA statistics, released last week.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State’s Dalton Tolliver, College of Charleston’s Darcy Dorton, The Citadel’s Ise D’Angelo, Davidson’s Tindall Sewell, Elon’s Ana Nicksic, Furman’s Cristina Dorismond, Samford’s Chelsi Carter, Chattanooga’s Bridget Camacho, and Western Carolina’s Jordan Timmermann.
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week were Appalachian State’s Courtney Rhein, College of Charleston’s Emily Shelton, The Citadel’s Erin Bucherl, Davidson’s Molly Crenshaw, Furman’s Elle Ross, Georgia Southern’s Alex Beecher, Samford’s Alexis Bauer, Chattanooga’s Paula Passmore, and Western Carolina’s Morgan Cochran.
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week were Appalachian State’s Emily Corrigan, College of Charleston’s Kari Fidelholtz, The Citadel’s Bailey Kernodle, Elon's Ana Nicksic, Georgia Southern’s Alexandra Beecher, Chattanooga’s Sarah Batterton, and Western Carolina’s Tina Nazario.
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
Week 8 – Meredith Paskert, Georgia Southern
Week 9 – Olivia Humphries, UNCG
Week 10 – Michaela Reesor, Samford
Week 11 – Casey Garvey, Samford
Week 12 – Moriah Bellissimo, Georgia Southern
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
Week 8 – Celia Rose Eddy, Elon
Week 9 – Paula Passmore, Chattanooga
Week 10 – Alexandra Beecher, Georgia Southern
Week 11 – Alexandra Beecher, Georgia Southern
Week 12 – Ali Deatsch, Elon
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
Week 8 – Julimar Alvarado, Chattanooga
Week 9 – Briana Reid, Chattanooga
Week 10 – Jo Wilks, Furman
Week 11 – Briana Reid, Chattanooga
Week 12 – Jo Wilks, Furman