SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Ashton Gregory and UNCG’s Katherine Santiago have been named Southern Conference Volleyball Offensive and Defense Player of the Week, respectively, while fellow Spartan Ashley Muench earned Freshman honors for games of September 22-27. The selections are made by the conference office.
Offensive Player of the Week: Ashton Gregory, Furman, Sophomore, Middle Blocker, Yadkinville, N.C.
Ashton Gregory led the Paladins to a pair of conference wins last week with 23 kills and a .395 hitting percentage. The sophomore middle blocker recorded 17 kills, a season-high .483 hitting percentage and five blocks in the Paladins 3-1 over Western Carolina on Saturday. The native of Yadkinville, N.C. also contributed six kills and seven digs in a sweep of ETSU on Tuesday. Gregory, the SoCon Freshman of the Year last season, earns the honor for the first time in her career. She currently ranks in the top 10 in the SoCon in hitting percentage, kills per set and blocks per set.
Other Nominees: Dominique Williams (The Citadel), Molly Locke (Mercer), Jessica Brezwyn (UNCG), Emily Meitz (Samford), Caitlin Piechota (Western Carolina), Taylor Baird (Wofford)
Defensive Player of the Week: Katherine Santiago, UNCG, Junior, Libero, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Katherine Santiago recorded 42 digs over two matches, both wins, for an average of 6.00 digs per set. The libero from San Juan, Puerto Rico totaled 25 digs in a four-set win over Mercer on Saturday. She also tallied 17 digs in the Spartans sweep of Western Carolina on Friday night. The junior currently leads the SoCon in digs per set at a mark of 5.02. Santiago receives the honor for the second time this season.
Other Nominees: Amanda Rudnik (The Citadel), Meredith Hardy (ETSU), Meg DeMaar (Furman), Tori Penrod (Mercer), Chelsi Carter (Samford), Elyssa Mulheron (Western Carolina), Jessica Graham (Wofford)
Freshman of the Week: Ashley Muench, UNCG, Outside Hitter, Hurdle Mills, N.C.
Ashley Muench put down 24 kills, average 3.43 kills per set and hit .413 in two conference wins for the Spartans last week. The rookie outside hitter had a career-best 13 kills in 17 attempts and just one error against Western Carolina to record a stellar .706 hitting percentage for the match. The native of Hurdle Mills, N.C. followed that performance with 11 kills, six digs and two blocks in UNCG’s four-set win over Mercer on Saturday. After one week of conference games, Muench ranks fourth in hitting percentage in conference games with the .413 mark.
Other Nominees: Moriah Smith (The Citadel), Meg DeMaar (Furman), Claire Walizcek (Mercer), T.J. Russell (Samford), Jo-Leigh Vervelde (Western Carolina), Danni Densford (Wofford)