SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week Monday for games played Oct. 3-9. Wofford outside hitter Kennedy Smith was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Samford libero Kate Morgan was named Defensive Player of the Week, while ETSU’s Caroline Dykes was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
 
Smith was named offensive player of the week for the second straight week as she averaged 5.00 kills per set and 3.33 digs per set last week. Wofford won its lone match by sweeping The Citadel on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Smith, a native of Huntersville, North Carolina, had a double-double versus the Bulldogs, finishing with 15 kills and 10 digs with a .433 hitting percentage. Smith’s performance against The Citadel marked the fifth straight match that she led the Terriers in kills.
 
Morgan anchored the Samford defense as the Bulldogs went 2-0 last weekend. Samford defeated Furman in four sets on Saturday, Oct. 8, and won a four-set match at The Citadel on Sunday, Oct. 9. The native of Waxahachie, Texas, finished with 16 digs, two aces and four assists at Furman. In the match with The Citadel, Morgan had 26 digs, four aces and three assists.
 
Dykes led the ETSU offense over the weekend with 13.33 assists per set. The Buccaneers won both of their matches via sweep on the road last weekend as ETSU defeated UNCG on Friday, Oct. 7, and Western Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 8. Against UNCG, Dykes tallied 35 assists, nine digs and a career-high seven aces. The native of Flower Mound, Texas, finished with 45 assists, seven digs, an ace and a block against Western Carolina. Dykes has been named setter of the week three times this season; the other two occurrences came on Sept. 19 and Sept. 26.
 
Wofford (12-6, 4-2 SoCon) travels to Mercer (6-12, 2-4) on Friday, Oct. 14, and Samford (9-9, 4-2) on Saturday, Oct. 15. Samford will host Mercer on Wednesday, Oct. 12. ETSU (12-6, 6-0) hosts Chattanooga (8-12, 3-3) on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and The Citadel (9-10, 2-4) on Saturday, Oct. 15.
 
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Lundyn Coffman (ETSU), Mary Beth Headley (Furman), Annie Karle (Mercer), Daija Jackson (UNCG), Lauren Deaton (Samford), Natalie Tyson (Chattanooga) and Merry Gebel (Western Carolina)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Taylor Roberts (ETSU), Grainne McGrath (Furman), Ella Voegele (UNCG), Paige Gallentine (Chattanooga), Destinee Dorsey (Western Carolina) and Abbey Richman (Wofford) 
 
Also nominated for setter of the week: Sarah Turner (Furman), Gabriela McHugh (UNCG), Sophia Bossong (Chattanooga), Sydney Carlson (Western Carolina) and Victoria Hensley (Wofford) 

2022 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week 
Aug. 29             Merry Gebel, 5th Yr., OH, Western Carolina
Sept. 5             Lauren Deaton, Gr., OH, Samford 
Sept. 12            Annie Karle, Gr., OH, Mercer
Sept. 19            Ali Ruffin, So., OH, The Citadel
Sept. 26            Merry Gebel, 5th Yr., OH, Western Carolina
Oct. 3               Kennedy Smith, Sr., OH, Wofford
Oct. 10             Kennedy Smith, Sr., OH, Wofford
 
2022 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week 
Aug. 29             Eden Punch, Jr., MB, Western Carolina
Sept. 5             Jaelynn Elgert, Jr., LIB, The Citadel
Sept. 12            Whitley Rammel, Fr., MB, ETSU
Sept. 19            Paige Gallentine, So., DS, Chattanooga
Sept. 26            Johnna Robinson, Sr., MB, Western Carolina
Oct. 3               Lundyn Coffman, Sr., MB, ETSU
Oct. 10             Kate Morgan, So., LIB, Samford

 
2022 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week 
Aug. 29             Gabriela McHugh, Sr., UNCG
Sept. 5             Belle Hogan, So., The Citadel
Sept. 12            Sarah Turner, Sr., Furman
Sept. 19            Caroline Dykes, So., ETSU
Sept. 26            Caroline Dykes, So., ETSU
Oct. 3               Victoria Hensley, Fr., Wofford
Oct. 10             Caroline Dykes, So., ETSU