SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week Monday for games played Sept. 19-25. Western Carolina outside hitter Merry Gebel was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Catamount middle blocker Johnna Robinson 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.
Gebel was named player of the week for the second time this season, the first coming on Aug. 29, after averaging 4.71 kills per set last weekend. Western Carolina went 2-0 in its first conference matches of the season as the Catamounts defeated Samford in four sets on Friday, Sept. 23, and swept Mercer on Saturday, Sept. 24. Gebel, a native of Wildwood, Missouri, had a season-high 20 kills, four digs and a block versus Samford. Against Mercer, Gebel had 13 kills, four digs and three blocks. Gebel had a combined hitting percentage of .455 last week as she had just three errors on 66 total attacks.
Robinson anchored the Western Carolina defense at the net in the Catamounts’ two wins. The native of Calera, Alabama, finished with four blocks, four kills and two digs in the win versus Samford. In the match with Mercer, Robinson finished with a season-high eight blocks, five kills and two digs. Robinson is the second middle blocker from Western Carolina to be awarded defensive player of the week this season as teammate Eden Punch received the honor on Aug. 29.
Dykes was named the setter of the week for the second straight week as she led the ETSU offense over the weekend with 11.14 assists per set. The Buccaneers won their first two matches in conference play, with ETSU defeating Wofford in four sets on Friday, Sept. 23, and Furman in straight sets on Saturday, Sept. 24. Dykes tallied 39 assists, nine digs, a block and a career-high six aces versus the Terriers. The native of Flower Mound, Texas, finished with 39 assists, seven digs and three kills against the Paladins. Dykes has had 20 or more assists in every match this season, including at least 30 in the last three matches.
Western Carolina (9-5, 2-0 SoCon) travels to The Citadel (8-6, 1-0) on Friday, Sept. 30, and Wofford (8-6, 0-2) on Saturday, Oct. 1, for its first two conference matches on the road. ETSU (8-6, 2-0) is at Samford (6-8, 1-1) on Friday, Sept. 30 and at Mercer (4-10,0-2) on Saturday, Oct. 1, for its first two road SoCon matches of the season.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Brianna Cantrell (ETSU), Lauren Deaton (Samford), Natalie Tyson (Chattanooga) and Millie Loehr (Wofford).
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Taylor Roberts (ETSU), Grainne McGrath (Furman), Kate Morgan (Samford), Paige Gallentine (Chattanooga) and Millie Loehr (Wofford).
Also nominated for setter of the week: Sarah Turner (Furman), Kayla Keshock (Samford), Elaine Redman (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
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., 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