SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Ashton Gregory and ETSU’s Katie Muey have been named Southern Conference Volleyball Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, while Western Carolina’s Jo-Leigh Vervelde earned Freshman honors for games of October 28 – November 1. The selections are made by the conference office.
Offensive Player of the Week: Ashton Gregory, Furman, Sophomore, Middle Blocker, Yadkinville, N.C.
Ashton Gregory put together more impressive numbers in two Furman wins last week, totaling 28 kills and a .641 hitting percentage. The sophomore middle blocker averaged 4.67 kills per set over six frames, while also recording 12 blocks for average of 2.00 per set. Gregory put down 12 kills in the Paladins’ sweep of Wofford on Wednesday night and added eight blocks. She then followed up with a team-high 16 kills and a .625 hitting percentage in a sweep of UNCG on Saturday. The native of Yadkinville, N.C. is second in the SoCon in hitting percentage (.361), fifth in kills per set (3.30) and first in blocks per set (1.29), the only player in the conference to rank in the top five of each. Gregory claims the weekly honor for the third time this season.
Other Nominees: Megan Sowell (The Citadel), Meredith Hardy (ETSU), Caroline Carlton (Mercer), Briana Reid (Chattanooga), Jo-Leigh Vervelde (Western Carolina)
Defensive Player of the Week: Katie Muey, ETSU, Senior, Libero, Alexandria, Ind.
Katie Muey continued her strong play this season with 41 digs over two matches last week, an average of 5.12 digs per set. The veteran libero racked up 17 digs against UNCG last Friday and 24 digs in a five-set win over Chattanooga on Saturday. In the win, Muey became ETSU’s career leader in digs with 1,701. She currently leads the conference in overall digs per set with a mark of 5.16. It is the third weekly honor this season for the native of Alexandria, Ind.
Other Nominees: Lauren Hurt (The Citadel), Meg DeMaar (Furman), Tori Penrod (Mercer), Lauren Gainer (Chattanooga), Chelsi Carter (Samford), Elyssa Mulheron (Western Carolina)
Freshman of the Week: Jo-Leigh Vervelde, Western Carolina, Setter, Oostburg, Wis.
Jo-Leigh Vervelde compiled the first triple-double in the SoCon this season in the Catamounts’ 3-1 win over Chattanooga on Friday night. The rookie setter totaled 10 kills, 15 digs and 30 assists and hit .444 in the victory. It was the first triple-double by a SoCon player since Samford’s Stephanie Palmer recorded one on November 22, 2013 against Western Carolina. Vervelde added three blocks and a service ace in her standout performance. The native of Oostburg, Wis. ranks ninth in the SoCon in conference games with 5.15 assists per set in the two-setter system. It is the first weekly honor for Vervelde.
Other Nominees: Moriah Smith (The Citadel), Rylee Milhorn (ETSU), Meg DeMaar (Furman), Claire Walizcek (Mercer), T.J. Russell (Samford), Lauren Greenspoon (Chattanooga), Danni Densford (Wofford)