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 Sept. 12-18, the conference office announced Monday.

Bognar led the Bulldog offense last week, averaging 4.56 kills per set while hitting .261 at the UTA Invitational in Arlington, Texas. There, she recorded three straight double-doubles against UT Arlington, UTEP and New Mexico. In the Bulldogs’ five-set loss to UT Arlington on Friday, Bognar turned in a 20-20 performance, totaling 20 kills on 59 attacks and 21 digs. In Friday’s nightcap against UTEP, the St. Louis, Mo., native tallied 19 kills on 51 attacks and 10 digs. Bognar tallied her sixth double-double of the season in the Bulldogs’ five-set win over New Mexico as she totaled 25 kills on 56 attempts and 13 digs.

Penrod paced the Bears’ defense at the Mercer Invite this past weekend, leading Mercer to three straight wins over Fairleigh Dickinson, Towson and USC Upstate. Penrod averaged 5.23 digs per set on the week, while finishing with no fewer than 20 digs in each match. Her peak performance came against USC Upstate on Saturday as she recorded her second-best digs total of the season with 27. Penrod currently ranks second among SoCon players in digs per set with 5.13, which is on pace for a career high.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Meagan Sowell (The Citadel), AJ Lux (ETSU), Paige Alsten (Mercer), Ashley Muench (UNCG), Madison Bergren (Chattanooga) and Catie Cronister (Wofford).

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Sarah Dobrich (The Citadel), Hailey Aguilar (ETSU), Christina Gregory (UNCG), Grace Tiesman (Samford), Rachel Petkosh (Chattanooga) and Colleen Reilly (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

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

-www.SoConSports.com-