SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week Tuesday for games played Feb. 9-15. ETSU outside hitter Olivia Cunningham was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Western Carolina libero Destinee Dorsey was named the Defensive Player of the Week, and Samford’s Corinne Meglic repeats as the setter of the week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.

Cunningham averaged 5.50 kills per set as the Bucs won a pair of home matches against UNCG. In the first match, a 3-2 ETSU win on Feb. 14, Cunningham set a program record with 30 kills. She hit .288 and added 12 digs, earning her a double-double, three assists, two block assists and a service ace in the Bucs’ home opener. The following day, the Knoxville, Tennessee, native and preseason all-conference selection tallied a match-high 14 kills and added 12 digs, good enough for her third straight double-double in the Bucs’ sweep of the Spartans.

Dorsey, a freshman, averaged 5.83 digs per set as Western Carolina won a pair of home matches against Chattanooga. The native of Mobile, Alabama, tallied 20 digs in Sunday’s 3-0 victory, adding three assists and a service ace. The following day, Dorsey recorded a match-high 15 digs and added five assists in the Catamounts’ three-set sweep of the Mocs.

Meglic, a redshirt junior, averaged 13.00 assists per set in a pair of Samford victories. The native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, dished out a match-high 48 assists in the first matchup against Wofford, a 3-1 Bulldogs win. She added seven digs, a pair of service aces and a block assist. She followed up that performance with a match-high 43 assists, adding four digs and three service aces in the three-set sweep a day later.

ETSU (4-0, 4-0 SoCon) hosts Wofford (2-2, 2-2) on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22, while Western Carolina (3-5, 3-3) is off until the Catamounts host the Terriers on Feb. 24 in a makeup contest. After back-to-back home series, Samford (5-1, 5-1) heads on the road to face UNCG (0-6, 0-6) on Feb. 21 and Feb. 22.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Jaida Howell (Mercer), Lauren Deaton (Samford), Merry Gebel (Western Carolina) and Kennedy Smith (Wofford).

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Sydney Cherney (ETSU), Megan Smith (Mercer) and Emily Naubert (Samford).

Also nominated for setter of the week: Emily Arnold (ETSU), Malia Randolph (Mercer), Hannah Price (Western Carolina) and Emily Hodsdon (Wofford).  
 
2020-21 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Feb. 2 Lauren Deaton, Jr., OH, Samford
Feb. 9 Lauren Deaton, Jr., OH, Samford
Feb. 16 Olivia Cunningham, So., OH, ETSU

2020-21 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Feb. 2 Sanne Maring, Sr., MB, ETSU
Feb. 9 Andrea Aceveda, So., LIB, Furman
Feb. 16 Destinee Dorsey, Fr., LIB, Western Carolina

2020-21 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week
Feb. 2 Emily Arnold, So., ETSU
Feb. 9 Corinne Meglic, R-Jr., Samford
Feb. 16 Corinne Meglic, R-Jr., Samford