SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Leah Clayton and Wofford’s Taylor Gill have been named the Southern Conference offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for matches played Aug. 24-26, the conference office announced Monday.

Clayton, an outside hitter, earned double-digit kills in all three matches and led the Bucs in kills in two of those as the Bucs went 2-1 in the Gamecock Invitational, including a win over ACC foe Clemson. The Danville, Virginia, native started the season off with a bang, tallying a game-high 23 kills, a new career high, in the 3-1 win over the Tigers. She followed that up with 12 kills in a loss against the host South Carolina Gamecocks. In the final match of the weekend against Texas A&M Corpus Christi, the junior pre-season all-conference selection hit .467 and picked up a double-double with 16 kills and 11 digs. In the sweep of the Islanders, she also recorded her 500th career dig. In total, she had 51 kills (5.10 kills/set) and hit .316 in the three matches. Following the conclusion of the tournament, Clayton was named to the Gamecock Invitational All-Tournament team. Clayton currently ranks first in kills among conference members.

Gill, a defensive specialist/libero, tallied 76 digs in the Purdue Reamer Club Xtra Tournament, hosted by Purdue. The senior totaled 20-plus digs in all three matches, including 28 digs in the Terriers’ first win of the season, against Bowling Green, and led all players in digs in each match. The three-set output against the Falcons was just two digs shy of Wofford’s three-set record, set by Gill in 2017. In the first match of the tournament, Gill led all players with 21 digs in a loss to No. 23 Purdue. In the four-set loss to Tulsa, the native of Madison, Alabama, racked up 27 digs and eight assists. Following the conclusion of the tournament, Gill was named to the Purdue Reamer Club Xtra All-Tournament team. Gill currently ranks first in digs and digs per set among conference student-athletes.

The honor is Clayton’s first of her career, while Gill picks up her third honor after being named the defensive player of the week twice in 2017.  

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Roberta Todd (Mercer), Emily Keilen (UNCG), Kelsi Hobbs (Samford), Dani Szczepanski (Chattanooga) and Abigail Veit (Western Carolina).

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Marija Popovic (ETSU), Meg DeMaar (Furman), Alexia Morey (Mercer), Grace Tiesman (Samford) and Aleah Keaton (Western Carolina).

2018 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week

Aug. 27 Leah Clayton, Jr., OH, ETSU

2018 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week

Aug. 27 Taylor Gill, Sr., LIB, Wofford

-www.SoConSports.com-