SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG’s Ashley Muench and ETSU’s Braedyn Tutton have been named Southern Conference volleyball offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for matches played Oct. 9-15, the conference office announced Monday. This is the first weekly award of the season for both Muench and Tutton.
Muench, an outside hitter, recorded double-doubles in both matches this past week as the Spartans picked up wins over Western Carolina and The Citadel. Muench started the week with 15 kills on 39 attacks at Western Carolina, finishing the game with 18 digs and one block assist. The Hurdle Mills, North Carolina, native then tallied 14 kills on 30 attacks with no errors against The Citadel on Friday. Muench recorded a .467 hitting percentage in the match, her second-highest in a SoCon match and highest since 2014. Muench also tallied 11 digs and six total blocks in the match. The senior finished the weekend with 29 kills and 29 digs, averaging 4.83 kills and digs per set, and has recorded double-digit kills in six straight matches. Muench ranks fifth in the conference with 3.87 kills pet set and seventh with a .270 hitting percentage.
Tutton, a middle blocker, finished the week with 18 total blocks as ETSU picked up wins at Chattanooga and Wofford. In the first match of the week, Tutton recorded eight bocks including three solo and five block assists as the Bucs finished with a season-high 18 blocks in the match. Against Wofford, the junior finished with 10 total blocks, a career high. Tutton averaged 2.00 blocks per set and chipped in 13 kills in the two wins, placing her in first place in the conference with 1.14 blocks per set.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: AJ Lux (ETSU), Christen Sikora (Furman), Claire Waliczek (Mercer), Corinne Meglic (Samford), Gabby Gray (Western Carolina) and Riley Coonan (Wofford).
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Danielle Faust (Mercer), Ashley Muench (UNCG), Grace Tiesman (Samford), Katie O’Connor (Western Carolina) and Taylor Gill (Wofford).
2017 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 28 Ally Ford, R-So., OH, Chattanooga
Sept. 4 Catie Cronister, So., OH, Wofford
Sept. 11 Paige Alsten, Jr., MB, Mercer
Sept. 18 Taylor Anderton, Jr., S, Samford
Sept. 25 Rylee Milhorn, Sr., OH, ETSU
Oct. 2 Nicole Mack, So., OH, Furman
Oct. 9 Catie Cronister, So., OH, Wofford
Oct. 16 Ashley Muench, Sr., OH, UNCG
2017 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 28 Megan Kaufman, Fr., DS/L, Chattanooga
Sept. 4 Christina Gregory, Jr., DS/L, UNCG
Sept. 11 Meg DeMaar, Sr., L, Furman
Sept. 18 Taylor Gill, Jr., L, Wofford
Sept. 25 Megan Kaufman, Fr., DS/L, Chattanooga
Oct. 2 Christina Gregory, Jr., DS/L, UNCG
Oct. 9 Meg DeMaar, Sr., L, Furman
Oct. 16 Braedyn Tutton, Jr., MB, ETSU