SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week Monday for games played Oct. 10-16. Samford outside hitter Kenya McQuirter was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Chattanooga defensive specialist Paige Gallentine was named Defensive Player of the Week, while The Citadel’s Belle Hogan was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
McQuirter averaged 4.71 kills per set last week as Samford picked up two conference wins. Samford swept Mercer on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and defeated Wofford in four sets on Saturday, Oct. 15. McQuirter, a native of Mobile, Alabama, had 17 kills with a .364 hitting percentage versus Mercer. Against Wofford, McQuirter finished with 16 kills, three digs and a block. McQuirter is the second outside hitter from Samford to be awarded offensive player of the week this season as teammate Lauren Deaton received the honor on Sept. 5.
Gallentine was named defensive player of the week for the second time this season, the first coming on Sept. 19, after anchoring the Chattanooga defense as the Mocs went 3-0 last week. Chattanooga handed ETSU its first SoCon loss on Wednesday, Oct. 12, in five sets. The Mocs followed that with a four-set win over The Citadel on Friday, Oct. 14, and a sweep of Alabama A&M on Sunday, Oct. 16. Gallentine had 23 digs, five assists, and an ace at ETSU. The native of Fenton, Michigan, finished with 19 digs, five assists and two aces against The Citadel. In the match with Alabama A&M, Gallentine recorded 14 digs, two aces and two assists.
Hogan was named setter of the week for the second time this season, the first coming on Sept. 5, as she led The Citadel offense over the weekend with 12.56 assists per set. The Bulldogs fell to Chattanooga in four sets on Friday, Oct. 14, and dropped a five-set thriller to the conference-leading ETSU Buccaneers on Saturday, Oct. 15. Hogan tied her career high in assists at Chattanooga, finishing with 60 assists, three aces and three digs. Against ETSU, the native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, had a double-double with 53 assists, 12 digs and a block.
Samford (11-9, 6-2 SoCon) hosts UNCG (8-13, 2-6) on Friday, Oct. 21, and Western Carolina (13-7, 6-2) on Saturday, Oct. 22. Chattanooga (11-12, 5-3) travels to Wofford (12-8, 4-4) on Friday, Oct. 21, and Furman (5-13, 1-7) on Saturday, Oct. 22. The Citadel (9-12, 2-6) will host Furman on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Ali Ruffin (The Citadel), Brianna Cantrell (ETSU), Mary Beth Headley (Furman), Halle Olson (Chattanooga), Bailey Hartsough (Western Carolina) and Mille Loehr (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Haley Sanders (ETSU), Grainne McGrath (Furman), Kate Morgan (Samford), Eden Punch (Western Carolina) and Abbey Richman (Wofford)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Caroline Dykes (ETSU), Sarah Turner (Furman), 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
Oct. 17 Kenya McQuirter, R-Jr., OH, Samford
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
Oct. 17 Paige Gallentine, So., DS, Chattanooga
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
Oct. 17 Belle Hogan, So., The Citadel