SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Citadel’s Moriah Smith and ETSU’s Marija Popovic have been named Southern Conference volleyball offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for matches played Oct. 16-22, the conference office announced Monday. This is the first weekly award of the season for both Smith and Popovic.
Smith, an outside hitter, helped The Citadel pick up its first win in program history over Mercer on Friday night, recording a match-high 20 kills in the five-set thriller. The senior also secured a double-double in the contest with 14 digs and chipped in three total blocks. On Saturday, Smith tallied nine kills, 14 digs and two total blocks as the Bulldogs fell 3-1 to Samford. Smith finished the week with 29 kills and 28 digs, averaging 3.22 kills per set, 3.11 digs per set and 0.56 blocks per set. The Durham, North Carolina, native now has 1,265 kills in her four-year career, ranking her second among active players in the conference. Smith also ranks fourth among active SoCon members with 1,159 digs in her career.
Popovic, a libero, recorded 68 digs over the weekend as the Bucs went 1-1, improving to 11-10 overall and 7-3 in conference play. In the first match of the week, Popovic tallied 34 digs and six assists as ETSU downed UNCG in five sets. The freshman then added another 34 digs in a five-set loss to Western Carolina, chipping in five assists in the match. The 34 digs mark a new career high for the freshman. Popovic, who played in all 10 sets, averaged 6.80 digs per set and 1.10 assists per set. The Belgrade, Serbia, native is averaging 4.47 digs per set this season, which ranks fourth in the conference and 93rd in all of Division I.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Braedyn Tutton (ETSU), Paige Alsten (Mercer), Holly Behreds (UNCG), Kelsi Hobbs (Samford), Dani Szczepanski (Chattanooga), Gabby Gray (Western Carolina) and Colleen Reilly (Wofford).
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Christina Gregory (UNCG), Grace Tiesman (Samford), Megan Kaufman (Chattanooga), Meagan Sanchez (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
Oct. 23 Moriah Smith, Sr., OH, The Citadel
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
Oct. 23 Marija Popovic, Fr., Libero, ETSU