SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Moriah Smith of The Citadel has been named the SoCon offensive player of the week, while ETSU middle blocker Kaela Massey is the defensive player of the week for matches played Aug. 29-Sept. 4, the conference office announced Monday.

Smith averaged 5.00 kills per set, while hitting .255 on the weekend against Savannah State, Jacksonville State, Charleston Southern and Georgia Southern at the Bash in the ‘Boro tournament in Statesboro, Ga. The Durham, N.C., native also chipped in six service aces as well as 50 digs to average 3.12 per set at the outside hitter position. Smith saw double-digit kills in all four games, but her best performances came in the Bulldogs’ last two matches of the tournament against Charleston Southern and Georgia Southern, recording 20-plus kills in both matches. In The Citadel’s five-set win over the Bucs, Smith claimed a 20-20 performance, totaling 29 kills on 74 attempts as well as 21 digs. She also recorded six kills in the fifth set against CSU, including the match-winning kill. Against Georgia Southern, Smith notched 23 kills on 65 attempts along with 15 digs in the Bulldogs’ 3-2 loss to the Eagles.

Massey led a Bucs defense that has only surrendered one set through on the season to aid ETSU claim its sixth consecutive win. The freshman middle blocker totaled 16.0 blocks to average 1.60 per set at the Liberty Invitational in Lynchburg, Va. In the Bucs’ sweep over Hampton, Massey turned in four blocks, including one solo block. Her most impressive performance came against USC Upstate on Saturday as she collected seven blocks and a career-high 11 kills against the Spartans. In the Bucs’ 3-0 win over Liberty, the Brentwood, Tenn., native collected five blocks to hold the Lady Flames to a hitting percentage of .280.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: AJ Lux (ETSU), Taina Joseph (Furman), Jasmine Jones (UNCG), Kate Neisler (Samford), Allie Davenport (Chattanooga) and Lorissa King (Wofford).

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Samantha Epsy (The Citadel), Paige Alsten (Mercer), Christina Gregory (UNCG), Grace Tiesman (Samford), Dani Szcepanski (Chattanooga) 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

2016 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 29 Meg DeMaar, Jr., L/DS, Furman
Sept. 5 Kaela Massey, Fr., MB, ETSU

-www.SoConSports.com-