SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Annie Bierman and ETSU’s Katie Muey have been named Southern Conference Volleyball Offensive and Defense Player of the Week, respectively, while UNCG’s Ashley Muench earned Freshman honors for games of October 7-12. The selections are made by the conference office.
Offensive Player of the Week: Annie Bierman, Furman, Sophomore, Outside Hitter, Hamilton, Ohio
Annie Bierman recorded 12 kills on 20 attempts and just one error for a .550 hitting percentage in the Paladins 3-0 win over ETSU on Friday. The sophomore averaged 4.00 kills per set in the Furman’s only match of the week. The native of Hamilton, Ohio came up just shy of a double-double for the match as she added nine digs. Bierman, who was named to the SoCon All-Freshman team last season, earns the weekly honor for the first time in her career. She is the third different Furman player to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors in as many weeks.
Other Nominees: Megan Sowell (The Citadel), Meredith Hardy (ETSU), Molly Locke (Mercer), Allie Davenport (Chattanooga), Kelsey Sidney (UNCG), Michaela Reesor (Samford), Jordan Timmermann (Western Carolina)
Defensive Player of the Week: Katie Muey, ETSU, Senior, Libero, Alexandria, Ind.
Katie Muey recorded 80 digs and averaged 6.67 digs per set in three matches for ETSU last week. The senior libero takes the weekly award for the second straight week. Muey outdid herself this week, totaling a career-high 40 digs, most in the SoCon this season, in a five-set match at Western Carolina on Saturday. The 40 digs were the fifth-most nationally in a five-set match this season and were just three shy of the ETSU single-match record. Muey also had 12 digs against Furman on Friday after having 28 against Middle Tennessee State earlier in the week. The native of Alexandria, Ind. leads the league in digs per set this season with a mark of 5.30.
Other Nominees: Amanda Rudnik (The Citadel), Ashton Gregory (Furman), Katherine Santiago (UNCG), Chelsi Carter (Samford), Lauren Gainer (Chattanooga), Addy George (Western Carolina)
Freshman of the Week: Ashley Muench, UNCG, Outside Hitter, Hurdle Mills, N.C.
Ashley Muench recorded 31 kills over three matches while hitting .247 for UNCG this week. The rookie from Hurdle Mills, N.C. averaged 3.10 kills per set to claim her second Freshman of the Week honor this season. Muench tallied a career-high 14 kills along with five digs and a block against Samford. She also put down eight kills with a .316 hitting percentage in the Spartans’ 3-0 win over former SoCon opponent Elon. Muench ranks third among all freshmen in kills per set this season.
Other Nominees: Moriah Smith (The Citadel), Meg DeMaar (Furman), T.J. Russell (Samford), Eden Murray (Chattanooga), Jo-Leigh Vervelde (Western Carolina), Molly Mayo (Wofford)