SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week Tuesday for games played March 2-8. Mercer outside hitter Annie Karle was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Furman libero Andrea Aceveda was named the Defensive Player of the Week, while The Citadel’s Amie Greene was named the Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.

Karle tallied a pair of double-doubles on the week and hit .391 as Mercer won both contests against Wofford, who entered the series right behind the Bears in the standings at third. In the first matchup on March 7, the native of Flanders, New Jersey, hit .286 and led all players with 18 kills, adding 14 digs in the narrow 3-2 win. After the Terriers took the first two sets, Mercer trailed 24-23 in the third set before rallying to earn a 26-24 win and extend the match en route to a 3-2 win. A day later, the junior hit .591 with 14 kills, a match high. She committed just one error on 22 swings and added 13 digs to tally another double-double as the Bears swept Wofford to win their ninth straight, last losing on Jan .31 in the conference opener. The nine conference wins is a program record.

Aceveda, a sophomore, earns her second defensive honor of the season after averaging 5.71 digs per set as the Paladins split a pair of conference contests against Western Carolina. In the first match on March 7, Aceveda finished with a match-high 20 digs, adding three assists and two service aces as Furman won 3-1. The native of Brentwood, Tennessee, tallied a team-high 20 digs and contributed four assists and two service aces in a 3-0 loss a day later.

Greene, a sophomore, averaged 12.50 assists per set as The Citadel swept a pair of matches against Chattanooga. The native of Tomball, Texas, dished out a match-high 40 assists in a 3-0 win on March 7 and tallied a match-high 35 assists a day later to pace The Citadel offense. She also contributed 14 digs, four kills and three service aces in the series.

Mercer (10-5, 9-1 SoCon) plays at Western Carolina (6-7, 6-5) on Sunday, March 14, and Monday, March 15, while Furman (4-6, 4-6) plays at Samford (9-1, 9-1) and The Citadel (5-10, 3-7) plays at ETSU (4-6, 4-6) on the same dates.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Mellanie King (The Citadel), Jenna Forster (ETSU), Neci Harris (Furman), Lauren Deaton (Samford), Merry Gebel (Western Carolina) and Sarah Barham (Wofford).

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Gina Delancey (The Citadel), Sydney Cherney (ETSU), Emily Naubert (Samford), Johnna Robinson (Western Carolina) and Abbey Richman (Wofford).

Also nominated for setter of the week: Emily Arnold (ETSU), Katie Murphy (Furman), Kayla Keshock (Samford), Hannah Price 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       
Feb. 23 Riley Coonan, Sr., MB, Wofford
March 2 Merry Gebel, Jr., OH, Western Carolina
March 9 Annie Karle, Jr., OH, Mercer

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      
Feb. 23 Paige Gallentine, Fr., LIB, Chattanooga
March 2 Abbey Richman, Fr., LIB, Wofford
March 9 Andrea Aceveda, So., LIB, Furman

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
Feb. 23 Emily Hodsdon, Fr., Wofford
March 2 Hannah Price, Sr., Western Carolina
March 9 Amie Greene, So., The Citadel