SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford outside hitter Erin Bognar has been named the Southern Conference offensive player of the week, while Mercer libero Tori Penrod is the defensive player of the week for matches played Oct. 31 through Nov. 6, the conference office announced Monday.
Bognar garnered her third straight player of the week honor, as she compiled 45 kills and achieved an efficient .314 hitting percentage in road matches at first-place ETSU and Furman last week. The St. Louis, Mo., native finished her week with 105 swings and only committed a total of 12 attack errors. Bognar also averaged 6.43 kills per set and 0.57 blocks per set in the Bulldogs’ pair of matches last week. Against first-place ETSU on Friday, Bognar led the Bulldogs in kills (11), block assists (2.0) and points (12.0). The senior outside hitter continued her stellar play on Saturday at Furman as she tallied a double-double and a career-high 34 kills, along with 11 digs and an impressive .414 hitting percentage. Her 34 kills are the most in a conference matchup and the most in a four-set match this season among SoCon hitters.
Penrod averaged 6.14 digs per set in three matches played last week and helped the Bears snap a four-match losing streak with back-to-back victories at Furman and UNCG. The senior libero recorded at least 25 digs in all three matches, including a career high of 36 in a five-set win at Furman on Friday. Her 36-dig performance at Furman is the most by any player in a conference matchup this season and is tied for this season’s single-match high, set by UNCG’s Christina Gregory against Elon. Penrod continued to lead the Bears’ defense on Saturday at UNCG, as she claimed a match-high 25 digs in Mercer’s four-set win, which halted a seven-match win streak for the Spartans.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Carla Bruce (The Citadel), Briana Allmon (ETSU), Taina Joseph (Furman), Morgan MacGilvary (Mercer), Ashley Muench (UNCG), Abigail Veit (Western Carolina) and Catie Cronister (Wofford).
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Sarah Dobrich (The Citadel), Braedyn Tutton (ETSU), Jordan McNeill (Furman), Christina Gregory (UNCG), Grace Tiesman (Samford), Aleah Keaton (Western Carolina) and Madeline Savage (Wofford).
2016 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 29 Rylee Milhorn, Jr., OH, ETSU
Sept. 5 Moriah Smith, Jr., OH, The Citadel
Sept. 12 Jessica Brezwyn, Sr., OH, UNCG
Sept. 19 Erin Bognar, Sr., OH, Samford
Sept. 26 Annie Bierman, Sr., OH, Furman
Oct. 3 Kristy Wieser, Sr., MB/RS, Chattanooga
Oct. 10 Briana Allmon, Sr., OH, ETSU
Oct. 17 Briana Allmon, Sr., OH, ETSU
Oct. 24 Erin Bognar, Sr., OH, Samford
Oct. 31 Erin Bognar, Sr., OH, Samford
Nov. 7 Erin Bognar, Sr., OH, Samford
2016 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 29 Meg DeMaar, Jr., L/DS, Furman
Sept. 5 Kaela Massey, Fr., MB, ETSU
Sept. 12 Meagan Sanchez, Fr. L/DS, Western Carolina
Sept. 19 Tori Penrod, Sr., L/DS, Mercer
Sept. 26 Jordan McNeill, So., L/DS, Furman
Oct. 3 Christina Gregory, So., L/DS, UNCG
Oct. 10 Emily Plumlee, So., MB, Chattanooga
Oct. 17 Christina Gregory, So., L/DS, UNCG
Oct. 24 Ashley Muench, Jr., OH, UNCG
Oct. 31 Christina Gregory, So., L/DS, UNCG
Nov. 7 Tori Penrod, Sr., L/DS, Mercer
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