SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford’s Krista Boesing and The Citadel’s Sarah Dobrich have been named the Southern Conference offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for matches played Sept. 17-23, the conference office announced Monday.
Boesing, an outside hitter, averaged 4.5 kills per set as she helped the Bulldogs to a 2-0 weekend to begin conference play. In the four-set win over Furman to kick off the conference slate, the senior hit .259 and led all players with 17 kills. A day later against Wofford, the native of New Albany, Indiana, hit .362 and again led all players with 19 kills and just two errors on 47 swings in the 3-1 win over the Terriers. Boesing now has 1,115 career kills, good for 10th in school history. She is first amongst conference players in total kills with 233 and third with 3.64 kills per set.
Dobrich, a middle hitter, tallied 33 kills and 16 blocks as the Bulldogs went a perfect 3-0 on the week. The Citadel earned a midweek win over S.C. State to conclude nonconference play and downed both UNCG and Western Carolina to get off to a 2-0 start in conference play for the first time in program history. In the sweep of S.C. State, Dobrich hit .615 with nine kills, four block assists, three digs and a solo block. Against the Spartans, the junior hit .562 and had 10 kills, four digs, four block assists and a solo stuff. A day later, the Mokena, Illinois, native finished with 14 kills, five block assists, two digs and a solo block to help the Bulldogs to a 3-2 win over Western Carolina. On the week, she averaged 2.75 kills, 1.33 blocks and 0.75 digs per set. She moved into second place in program history with 231 career block assists, into 10th place with 35 solo blocks and now sits fourth with 266 total blocks. Through the opening weekend of conference play, Dobrich is fourth with a .432 hitting percentage and sits in fifth with 1.22 blocks per set.
The conference honor is the first for both Boesing and Dobrich. It’s just The Citadel’s fourth player of the week nod and the first ever on the defensive end.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Sharlissa De Jesus (The Citadel), Braedyn Tutton (ETSU), Paige Alsten (Mercer), Maria Esch (UNCG), Jacquelyn Langhaim (Chattanooga), Merry Gebel (Western Carolina) and Catie Cronister (Wofford).
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Mariah McPartland (ETSU), Amber Gibson (Mercer), Megan Moran (UNCG), 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
Sept. 24 Krista Boesing, Sr., OH, Samford
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
-www.SoConSports.com-