SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week Monday for games played Aug. 30-31. Samford outside hitter Lauren Deaton was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Western Carolina libero Meagan Sanchez was named the Defensive Player of the Week and UNC Greensboro’s Gabriela McHugh was tabbed the Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
Deaton averaged 4.33 kills per set as the Bulldogs played three five-set matches in the Cactus Classic, hosted by Arizona, falling to Loyola Marymount and Appalachian State before upsetting No. 24 Arizona on its home court. In the setback against Loyola Marymount to kick off the 2019 campaign, Deaton hit .500 and tallied a career-high 31 kills, just three shy of the Bulldogs’ program record. Deaton, the 2018 SoCon Freshman of the Year and a 2019 preseason all-conference selection, also added eight digs in the loss. She added another 19 kills and 11 digs, earning her first double-double of the season, later that afternoon against Appalachian State. In the win over Arizona, Samford’s first over a ranked opponent in program history, Deaton threw down 15 kills and added nine digs, finishing just shy of another double-double.
Sanchez averaged 5.64 digs per set as Western Carolina went 1-2 on the week, downing Georgia State 3-1 in the GSU Invitational. In the Catamounts’ season opener against Georgia State, the senior tallied 22 digs and four assists. The next day, she combined for 40 digs as she finished with 24 and 16, respectively, in setbacks against Fordham and Lamar.
McHugh, a freshman, averaged an impressive 10.8 assists per set, helping the Spartans to a 2-1 record in the Spartan/Demon Deacon Classic. In McHugh’s first collegiate action, a 3-1 UNCG win over North Carolina Central, the native of Ashley, Indiana, tallied 46 assists, eight digs, five blocks and four kills. She added 35 assists in the Spartans’ 3-0 sweep of Presbyterian College the next day. In the win, she notched 13 digs to earn her first career double-double, while also finishing with three service aces, two block assists and two kills. McHugh finished the weekend with 27 assists in a straight-set loss to Wake Forest.
The weekly honor is the first for Deaton and McHugh, while Sanchez collects her second after taking home Defensive Player of the Week honors in week three of the 2016 season.
Samford hosts North Alabama, Jacksonville State and UAB this weekend as part of the Samford Invitational. Western Carolina heads to Chicago, Illinois, to take part in the Chicago State Tournament, while UNCG competes in the Maverick Classic, hosted by Texas-Arlington.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Kaela Massey (ETSU), Nicole Mack (Furman), Brittany Major (Mercer), Holly Behrends (UNCG), Dani Szczepanski (Chattanooga), Madison McNally (Western Carolina) and Megan Yaffa (Wofford).
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Marija Popovic (ETSU), Andrea Aceveda (Furman), Emilee Wissmach (Mercer), Grace Howell (UNCG), Grace Tiesman (Samford) and Megan Kaufman (Chattanooga).
Also nominated for setter of the week: Emily Arnold (ETSU), Nya Steele (Mercer), Corinne Meglic (Samford) and Maddie Halsey (Chattanooga).
2019 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Sept. 2 Lauren Deaton, So., OH, Samford
2019 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Sept. 2 Meagan Sanchez, Sr., LIB, Western Carolina
2019 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week
Sept. 2 Gabriela McHugh, Fr., UNCG
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