SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Oct. 16-22. Mercer outside hitter Kylee Quigley was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Chattanooga defensive specialist/libero Paige Gallentine was designated Defensive Player of the Week, while Furman’s Emily Navarro was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
Quigley averaged 5.83 kills per set last week as Mercer went 2-0 in a pair of road contests. The Bears swept UNCG on Friday and Wofford on Saturday. The graduate student finished with 14 kills, six digs, four aces and two bocks versus the Spartans. Quigley, a Port St. Lucie, Florida, product, logged a season-high 21 kills, five digs, three blocks, an ace and an assist. Mercer is currently on a six-match winning streak and sit second in the SoCon standings.
Gallentine anchored the Mocs defense, averaging 6.22 digs per set as Chattanooga went 1-1 last week. The Mocs were victorious in four sets at Wofford on Friday, before dropping a five-set match at The Citadel on Saturday. The Fenton, Michigan, native had 25 digs, four assists, three aces and a kill against Wofford. The next day, the junior logged 31 digs, a career-high eight assists and an ace in the contest with The Citadel. Gallentine is fifth in the NCAA in total digs this season (472).
Navarro averaged 11.57 assists per set to pace the Furman offense. The Paladins won in straight sets over ETSU on Thursday and defeated Western Carolina in four sets on Friday. The freshman finished with 41 assists, four digs, four kills, two aces and a block versus the Bucs. The native of Davie, Florida, recorded 40 assists, a career-high 20 digs and four kills in the match with Western Carolina.
Mercer (12-9, 8-2 SoCon) hosts Western Carolina (6-15, 3-7) on Oct. 26 and The Citadel (22-0, 10-0) on Oct. 27. Chattanooga (16-9, 4-6) welcomes UNCG (1-20, 0-10) on Oct. 26 and ETSU (3-18, 3-7) on Oct. 27. Furman (15-6, 6-4) travels to Samford (10-12, 5-5) on Oct. 26, before hosting Wofford (15-6, 6-4) on Oct. 28.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Ali Ruffin (The Citadel), Mary Beth Headley (Furman), Aylin Baran (UNCG), Kaleigh Merritt (Samford), Morgan Romano (Chattanooga), Bailey Hartsough (Western Carolina) and Mary Emily Morgan (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Jaelynn Elgert (The Citadel), Kennedy Seekford (Furman), Gia Padilla (Mercer), Hallie Cook (UNCG), Kate Morgan (Samford), and Abbey Richman (Wofford)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Belle Hogan (The Citadel), Kiera McCarles (Mercer), Izora Gragg (UNCG), Kayla Keshock (Samford), Elaine Redman (Chattanooga), and Emily Hodsdon (Wofford)
2023 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 28 Morgan Romano, Gr., OH, Chattanooga
Sept. 4 Ali Ruffin, Jr., OH, The Citadel
Sept. 11 Ali Ruffin, Jr., OH, The Citadel
Sept. 18 Gracie Lynn Butler, Jr., OH, Samford
Sept. 25 Ali Ruffin, Jr., OH, The Citadel
Oct. 2 Gylian Finch, Gr., OH, Chattanooga
Oct. 9 Ali Ruffin, Jr., OH, The Citadel
Oct. 16 Skyler Bumpers, Jr., MB, Mercer
Oct. 23 Kylee Quigley, Gr., OH, Mercer
2023 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 28 Jaelynn Elgert, Sr., LIB, The Citadel
Sept. 4 Abbey Richman, Sr., DS/LIB, Wofford
Sept. 11 Sarah Barham, Sr., MB, Wofford
Sept. 18 Abbey Richman, Sr., DS/LIB, Wofford
Sept. 25 Abbey Richman, Sr., DS/LIB, Wofford
Oct. 2 Abbey Richman, Sr., DS/LIB, Wofford
Oct. 9 Sarah Barham, Sr., MB, Wofford
Oct. 16 Gina DeLancey, Gr., MB, The Citadel
Oct. 23 Paige Gallentine, Jr., DS/LIB, Chattanooga
2023 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week
Aug. 28 Elaine Redman, Jr., Chattanooga
Sept. 4 Ella Abraham, Sr., Furman
Sept. 11 Belle Hogan, Sr., The Citadel
Sept. 18 Elaine Redman, Jr., Chattanooga
Sept. 25 Belle Hogan, Sr., The Citadel
Oct. 2 Elaine Redman, Jr., Chattanooga
Oct. 9 Belle Hogan, Sr., The Citadel
Oct. 16 Kiera McCarles, So., Mercer
Oct. 23 Emily Navarro, Fr., Furman