SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Kaela Massey and Marija Popovic have been named the Southern Conference offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for matches played Oct. 22-28, the conference office announced Monday.
Massey, a middle blocker, hit .327 with 24 kills, 41 digs and nine blocks as the Bucs picked up two conference road wins on the week to remain atop the conference. At Chattanooga, Massey hit .208 with nine kills. She added 24 digs, a season high, and five block assists in the 3-1 win. A day later at Samford, the lone team to beat the Bucs this season, the junior tallied 15 kills and hit .419 to help ETSU come back from a 2-0 deficit to down the Bulldogs. The native of Brentwood, Tennessee, also had 17 digs, the second most behind Popovic, to earn a double-double. She tacked on another four block assists to finish with nine in two games.
Popovic, a libero, averaged 6.33 digs per set in the two wins. In the four-set win at Chattanooga, the sophomore had 25 digs to lead all players. In the five-set thriller at Samford a day later, Popovic again turned in a match-high, finishing with 32 digs. The Belgrade, Serbia, native surpassed 500 digs for the second straight season and went over 1,000 career digs in the match at Samford. Popovic leads all conference players in overall digs (525) and digs per set (5.47), and her 5.72 digs per set in conference play is a league best.
The weekly award is the first of the season and first career offensive nod for Massey, though she took home defensive player of the week honors in week two of the 2016 season. Popovic’s defensive player of the week recognition is her third of the season and fifth of her career.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Mellanie King (The Citadel), Brittany Major (Mercer), Allison Penner (UNCG), Lauren Deaton (Samford), Merry Gebel (Western Carolina) and Catie Cronister (Wofford).
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Meg DeMaar (Furman), Emilee Wissmach (Mercer), Stephanie Meysembourg (UNCG), Grace Tiesman (Samford), Megan Sanchez (Western Carolina) and Taylor Gill (Wofford).
2018 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 27 Leah Clayton, Jr., OH, ETSU
Sept. 3 Dani Szczepanski, Jr., MB, Chattanooga
Sept. 10 Alyssa Kvarta, Sr., S, ETSU
Sept. 17 Leah Clayton, Jr., OH, ETSU
Sept. 24 Krista Boesing, Sr., OH, Samford
Oct. 1 Krista Boesing, Sr., OH, Samford
Oct. 8 Jaquelyn Langhaim, Fr., S, Chattanooga
Oct. 15 Dani Szczepanski, Jr., MB, Chattanooga
Oct. 22 Maddie Nunley, So., S, Mercer
Oct. 29 Kaela Massey, Jr., MB, ETSU
2018 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 27 Taylor Gill, Sr., LIB, Wofford
Sept. 3 Marija Popovic, So., LIB, ETSU
Sept. 10 Grace Tiesman, Jr., LIB, Samford
Sept. 17 Braedyn Tutton, Sr., MB, ETSU
Sept. 24 Sarah Dobrich, Jr., MH, The Citadel
Oct. 1 Marija Popovic, So., LIB, ETSU
Oct. 8 Abigail Veit, Jr., OH, Western Carolina
Oct. 15 Meg DeMaar, R-Sr., LIB, Furman
Oct. 22 Taylor Gill, Sr., LIB, Wofford
Oct. 29 Marija Popovic, So., LIB, ETSU
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