SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week Monday for games played Oct. 17-23. Chattanooga outside hitter Natalie Tyson was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Samford libero Kate Morgan 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.
Tyson averaged 4.50 kills per set as Chattanooga went 1-1 last week. The Mocs defeated Wofford in five sets on Friday, Oct. 21, and fell to Furman in three sets on Saturday, Oct. 22. Tyson, a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, had a double-double at Wofford, finishing with 23 kills, 11 digs and four aces with a .380 hitting percentage. In the contest at Furman, Tyson had 13 kills, nine digs and two blocks.
Morgan was named the defensive player of the week for the second time this season, the first coming on Oct. 10, after anchoring the Samford defense as the Bulldogs grabbed two conference wins. Samford swept UNCG on Friday, Oct. 21, and defeated Western Carolina in four sets on Saturday, Oct. 22. Morgan finished with 19 digs, one assist and one ace against UNCG. The native of Waxahachie, Texas, had a career-high 37 digs along with three assists versus Western Carolina.
Hogan was named setter of the week for the second straight week as she led The Citadel offense last week with 11.67 assists per set. The Bulldogs swept Furman in their lone match of the week on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Against Furman, the native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, had 35 assists, nine digs, four aces and three blocks. Along with the last two weeks, Hogan was named setter of the week on Sept. 5, as well.
Chattanooga (12-13, 6-4 SoCon) hosts Samford (13-9, 8-2) on Friday, Oct. 28, and Mercer (7-15, 3-7) on Saturday, Oct. 29. Samford travels to ETSU (15-7, 9-1) on Saturday, Oct. 29. The Citadel (10-12, 3-6) travels to UNCG (9-14, 3-7) on Friday, Oct. 28, and Western Carolina (14-8, 7-3) on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Ali Ruffin (The Citadel), Kimani Johnson (ETSU), Mary Beth Headley (Furman), Daija Jackson (UNCG), Lauren Deaton (Samford), Merry Gebel (Western Carolina) and Bella Zeman (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Kenzie Kellerman (The Citadel), Haley Sanders (ETSU), Andrea Aceveda (Furman), Ella Voegele (UNCG), Destinee Dorsey (Western Carolina) and Abbey Richman (Wofford)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Caroline Dykes (ETSU), Sarah Turner (Furman), Gabriela McHugh (UNCG), Kayla Keshock (Samford) 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
Oct. 24 Natalie Tyson, R-Sr., OH, Chattanooga
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
Oct. 24 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
Oct. 17 Belle Hogan, So., The Citadel
Oct. 24 Belle Hogan, So., The Citadel