SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week Monday for games played Oct. 24-30. ETSU outside hitter Amanda Lowe was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Western Carolina libero Destinee Dorsey was named Defensive Player of the Week, while the Buccaneers’ Caroline Dykes was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
Lowe averaged 4.57 kills per set with a .453 hitting percentage as ETSU went 2-0 last week. The Buccaneers swept Mercer on Friday, Oct. 28, and defeated Samford in four sets on Saturday, Oct. 29. The native of Blacksburg, Virginia, had a career-high 15 kills and four digs in the match with Mercer. Lowe followed that by establishing a new career high of 17 kills versus Samford a day later, along with two blocks and a dig against the Bulldogs as well.
Dorsey anchored the Western Carolina defense as the Catamounts grabbed two conference wins. Western Carolina got a win over Wofford in four sets on Friday, Oct. 28, and won via sweep against The Citadel on Saturday, Oct. 29. Dorsey had 16 digs, three assists and two aces in the contest versus Wofford. The native of Mobile, Alabama, finished the match against The Citadel with 20 digs, two aces and an assist. Dorsey is the third Catamount to be named SoCon defensive player of the week this season as Eden Punch and Johnna Robinson were recognized on Aug. 29 and Sept. 26, respectively.
Dykes led the ETSU offense with 9.43 assists per set. Against Mercer, the native of Flower Mound, Texas, had 29 assists, seven digs, one block and one kill. In the match with Samford, Dykes posted her eighth double-double of the season with 37 assists, 11 digs, two blocks and a kill. Dykes has been named setter of the week four times this season; the other three occurrences came on Sept. 19, Sept. 26 and Oct. 10.
ETSU (17-7, 11-1 SoCon) hosts Western Carolina (16-8, 9-3) on Friday, Nov. 4, and UNCG (10-15, 4-8) on Saturday, Nov. 5. Western Carolina travels to Chattanooga (13-14, 7-5) on Saturday, Nov. 5.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Ali Ruffin (The Citadel), Mary Beth Headley (Furman), Kenya McQuirter (Samford), Merry Gebel (Western Carolina) and Millie Loehr (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Kenzie Kellerman (The Citadel), Whitley Rammel (ETSU), Andrea Aceveda (Furman), Jaida Howell (Mercer), Jocelyn Carter (UNCG) and Abbey Richman (Wofford)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Belle Hogan (The Citadel), Sarah Turner (Furman), Gabriela McHugh (UNCG), 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
Oct. 24 Natalie Tyson, R-Sr., OH, Chattanooga
Oct. 31 Amanda Lowe, So., OH/RS, ETSU
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
Oct. 31 Destinee Dorsey, Jr., LIB, Western Carolina
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
Oct. 31 Caroline Dykes, So., ETSU