SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week Monday for games played Sept. 7-19. UNCG outside hitter Kayla White was named the Offensive Player of the Week, The Citadel libero Kenzie Kellerman was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week, and ETSU setter Caroline Dykes was named Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office. 
 
White averaged 4.10 kills per set as UNCG went 2-1 in the UNCW Hampton Inn & Suites Landfall Classic. In a 3-1 loss to Campbell on Friday, the graduate student tallied 12 kills and added 21 digs, two blocks, an assist and a service ace. The native of Montgomery, Alabama, opened play the next day with a match-high 13 kills and adding eight digs and an ace in a sweep of Jacksonville before again tallying a match-high 16 kills (.412), in a sweep of host UNCW. In the win over the Seahawks, she added five digs, an ace and two blocks.
 
Kellerman averaged 6.14 assists per set as The Citadel split a pair of matches in The Citadel Tournament. On Thursday, the native of Little Elm, Texas, led all players with 17 assists in a sweep of South Carolina State. The junior added three assists and three service aces in the home win. The next day, Kellerman totaled 26 digs, again a match high, as the Bulldogs fell 3-1 to Presbyterian.
 
Dykes averaged 11.09 assists per set for the Bucs, who went 1-2 in Clemson’s Big Orange Bash. In the Bucs’ 3-1 loss to Rutgers on Friday, the freshman dished out a career-high 43 assists and added 10 digs, earning her fifth double-double of the season. That afternoon, the Flower Mound, Texas, native finished with a match-high 40 assists, adding seven digs, two kills and a service ace in ETSU’s sweep of UNC Asheville. She concluded the tournament with 39 assists, a match high, adding 10 digs to earn her team-best sixth double-double of the season.
 
UNCG (11-2), opens SoCon play on Friday at Chattanooga before traveling to Johnson City, Tennessee, for a showdown with ETSU (4-7) a day later. The Citadel (4-2) also hits the road to open conference play, matching up with Mercer (4-7) on Friday and playing at Samford (1-10) on Saturday, while ETSU hosts Western Carolina (4-7) on Friday before welcoming the Spartans for Saturday’s meeting.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Sharlissa De Jesus (The Citadel), Jenna Forster (ETSU), Bella Tolone (Furman), Gylian Finch (Chattanooga), Merry Gebel (Western Carolina) and Meghan Yaffa (Wofford).

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Taylor Roberts (ETSU), Andrea Aceveda (Furman), Megan Smith (Mercer), Jenna Wiggs (UNCG), Paige Gallentine (Chattanooga), Livi Weidmann (Western Carolina) and Kennedy Smith (Wofford).

Also nominated for setter of the week: Sarah Turner (Furman), Agnieska Paskevic (Mercer), Gabriela McHugh (UNCG) and Emily Hodsdon (Wofford).  
 
2021 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 30 Meghan Yaffa, R-Jr., OH, Wofford
Sept. 6  Maia Rackel, Jr., MB/RS, Chattanooga
Sept. 13 Sharlissa De Jesus, Sr., OH, The Citadel
Sept. 20 Kayla White, Gr., OH, UNCG

2021 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 30 Megan Smith, Gr., LIB, Mercer
Sept. 6  Andrea Aceveda, Jr., LIB, Furman
Sept. 13 Destinee Dorsey, So., LIB, Western Carolina
Sept. 20 Kenzie Kellerman, Jr., LIB, The Citadel

2021 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week
Aug. 30 Emily Hodsdon, So., Wofford
Sept. 6  Gabriela McHugh, Jr., UNCG
Sept. 13 Gabriela McHugh, Jr., UNCG
Sept. 20 Caroline Dykes, Fr., ETSU