SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford’s Taylor Baird and Bella Santoro have been named SoCon Offensive and Freshman Volleyball Player of the Week, respectively, while Western Carolina’s Elyssa Mulheron earned the Defensive Player of the Week honor for games of September 9-13. The selections are made by the conference office.
Offensive Player of the Week: Taylor Baird, Wofford, Senior, Right Side Hitter, Blythewood, S.C.
Taylor Baird recorded 54 kills, averaged 4.50 kills per set and hit .330 in three matches at the Clemson Classic last weekend. The senior totaled a season-high 25 kills in a four-set match against Tennessee State, just two shy of her career high, and recorded a .409 hitting percentage for the match. The native of Blythewood, S.C. added 21 kills in the Terriers’ five-set win over William & Mary on Sunday. Baird, who currently leads the conference with 4.19 kills per set, receives the honor for the second time in three weeks after being named the Offensive Player of the Week back on September 2.
Other Nominees: Moriah Smith (The Citadel), Ivey Rice (ETSU), Ashton Gregory (Furman), Vicky Harley (UNCG), Kristy Wieser (Chattanooga), Caitlin Piechota (Western Carolina)
Defensive Player of the Week: Elyssa Mulheron, Western Carolina, Junior, Libero, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Elyssa Mulheron led the Catamounts with 74 digs and an average of 4.93 digs per set in four matches last week. The junior libero recorded 24 digs in a five-set win against Charlotte on Tuesday and 21 digs against UT Martin on Saturday at the Skyhawk Invitational. Mulheron, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., receives the honor for the first time in her career. She currently ranks third in the conference in digs per set with a 4.73 mark.
Other Nominees: Amanda Rudnik (The Citadel), Meredith Hardy (ETSU), Meg DeMaar (Furman), Katherine Santiago (UNCG), Nicole Sumida (Chattanooga), Jessica Graham (Wofford)
Freshman of the Week: Bella Santoro, Wofford, Outside Hitter, Greer, S.C.
Bella Santoro put down 52 kills and averaged 4.33 kills per set in three matches at the Clemson Classic last weekend. The rookie outside hitter recorded a season-high 23 kills along with 17 digs in the Terriers’ five-set win against William & Mary for her third double-double of the year. Santoro also totaled 17 kills against ACC-foe Clemson to lead all players and had 12 kills against Tennessee State. The native of nearby Greer, S.C. leads all SoCon freshmen with a mark of 3.56 kills per set.
Other Nominees: Bailey Kernodle (The Citadel), Meg DeMaar (Furman), Lauren Greenspoon (Chattanooga), Jo-Leigh Vervelde (Western Carolina)