SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Leah Clayton and Braedyn Tutton have been named the Southern Conference offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for matches played Sept. 10-16, the conference office announced Monday.

Clayton, an outside hitter, picks up her second offensive player of the week nod of the young season after pacing ETSU to a 3-1 record on the week, including a 3-2 win over No. 22 Washington State. The senior averaged 4.21 kills per set and hit .320 in the four matches. Against Appalachian State in a mid-week game, Clayton tallied eight kills and added 10 digs in the Bucs’ sweep. To open play in the Western Kentucky Tournament, she had four kills and 10 digs against the host school in the lone loss of the week. She hit .528 and led the Bucs with 22 kills in the win over Northern Illinois. In the straight-set victory, she again totaled 10 digs, earning her fifth double-double of the season. In the upset of No. 22 Washington State, she led the all players in kills and recorded a new career-high with 25 kills. She hit .308 in the contest and added eight digs and a service ace in the five-set victory. The native of Danville, Virginia leads the conference in kills with 211.

Tutton, a middle blocker, averaged 2.97 kills and 1.0 blocks per set. She tallied eight kills, had three blocks assists and hit .727 in the win over Appalachian State and followed that performance up with seven kills, four blocks and a .500 hitting percentage against Western Kentucky. In the sweep of Northern Illinois, the senior had five kills and four blocks to contribute on both the offensive and defensive side. In the thrilling win over No. 22 Washington State, she had nine kills and three blocks to help the Bucs’ effort.    

The honor is the second of Clayton’s career and her second of the season, while Tutton’s nod is also the second of her career.

ETSU sits atop the conference at 11-3. The Bucs’ conference season gets underway Wednesday, Sept. 19 at Western Carolina.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Krista Boesing (Samford), Hannah Price (Western Carolina) and Colleen Reilly (Wofford).

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Grace Tiesman (Samford), Meagan 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, UTC

Sept. 10 Alyssa Kvarta, Sr., S, ETSU

Sept. 17 Leah Clayton, Jr. OH, 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

-www.SoConSports.com-