SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week Monday for games played Nov. 7-13. Chattanooga outside hitter Natalie Tyson was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Furman middle blocker Kelsey Watkins was named Defensive Player of the Week and Wofford’s Victoria Hensley was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
 
Tyson, who also earned the honor on Oct. 24, averaged 4.33 kills per set and 3.67 digs per set as Chattanooga fell to ETSU in three sets on Nov. 9 and defeated The Citadel in three sets on Nov. 12. The redshirt senior from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, recorded 11 kills, 10 digs and a block against ETSU. Tyson had another double-double against The Citadel, finishing with 15 kills and 12 digs with a .350 hitting percentage.
 
Watkins averaged 1.33 blocks per set as Furman topped UNCG in four sets on Friday, Nov. 11, and defeated Western Carolina in a five-set thriller on Saturday, Nov. 12. The native of Chicago, Illinois, had a career-high nine total blocks, six solo, along with four kills against the Spartans. The six solo blocks that Watkins had versus UNCG tied a school record. Against Western Carolina, Watkins finished with three total blocks, four kills, one assist and one dig.
 
Hensley, who also earned the honor on Oct. 3, paced the Wofford offense to the tune of 8.11 assists per set as the Terriers went 1-1 over the weekend. The freshman from Clearwater, Florida, had 36 assists in Wofford’s 3-1 win over Samford on Friday, Nov. 11, adding a career-high four kills, eight digs, two blocks and an ace. The next day, Hensley had 37 assists, eight digs, three aces and two kills in a five-set loss to Mercer.
 
Chattanooga (16-15, 10-6 SoCon) is the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament and will take on No. 5 Wofford (16-12, 8-8) in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 18, at 11:30 a.m. inside Timmons Arena on the campus of Furman. No. 8 Furman (8-18, 4-12) hosts No. 9 UNCG (10-19, 4-12) on Monday at 7 p.m. in a first-round contest. The winner of that contest will face No. 1 ETSU (21-7, 15-1) at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, in the SoCon championship quarterfinals.
 
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Ali Ruffin (The Citadel), Kimani Johnson (ETSU), Lauren Haynes (Furman), Kenya McQuirter (Samford), Bailey Hartsough (Western Carolina) and Millie Loehr (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Kenzie Kellerman (The Citadel), Lundyn Coffman (ETSU), Kate Morgan (Samford), Destinee Dorsey (Western Carolina) and Abbey Richman (Wofford) 

Also nominated for setter of the week: Belle Hogan (The Citadel), Caroline Dykes (ETSU) and Sarah Turner (Furman)

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
Nov. 7              Annie Karle, Gr., OH, Mercer
Nov. 14             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
Oct. 31             Destinee Dorsey, Jr., LIB, Western Carolina
Nov. 7              Paige Gallentine, So., DS, Chattanooga
Nov. 14             Kelsey Watkins, R-Jr., MB, Furman

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
Nov. 7              Carolina Dykes, So., ETSU
Nov. 14             Victoria Hensley, Fr., Wofford