SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Aug. 25-27. Chattanooga outside hitter Morgan Romano was named the Offensive Player of the Week and The Citadel libero Jaelynn Elgert was named Defensive Player of the Week, while the Mocs’ Elaine Redman was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
Romano averaged 4.64 kills per set and hit .304 as Chattanooga opened the 2023 campaign with a 3-0 record to win the Georgia State University Invitational. The Mocs swept New Orleans and South Carolina State on Friday before winning a dramatic reverse sweep against the host Georgia State on Saturday. In the opening match of the season, Romano had 19 kills, 10 digs and two assists versus New Orleans. The Oviedo, Florida, native followed that with 11 kills, nine digs, two assists and an ace against South Carolina State. In the tournament finale with Georgia State, Romano erupted for 21 kills, 15 digs, four aces and a block to help secure the tournament title. The graduate student was named the GSU Invitational Tournament MVP following the conclusion of the contest.
Elgert, a senior, anchored The Citadel defense as the Bulldogs began their season with two wins during the Bash at the Beach in Daytona Beach, Florida. The native of Peoria, Arizona, recorded 14 digs and three assists in the Bulldogs’ season-opening sweep of Marshall on Friday. Later that day, Elgert logged another 14 digs along with eight assists and an ace in the team’s second sweep of the day against host Bethune-Cookman. Elgert averaged 4.67 digs per set in the tournament, which was the best in the SoCon during the opening weekend of the season.
Redman paced Chattanooga’s offensive effort during the Georgia State Invitational. The junior logged a double-double in the team’s win over New Orleans, recording 36 assists and 15 digs. Against South Carolina State, the Chattanooga, Tennessee, product contributed 26 assists, seven digs, three aces and three blocks. Redman closed out her weekend with another double-double, finishing with a career-high 53 assists, 12 digs and a block.
Chattanooga (3-0, 0-0 SoCon) travels to Charleston, South Carolina, for the Charleston Southern Tournament on Sept. 1-2, facing host Charleston Southern, Southern Illinois and North Carolina A&T. The Citadel (2-0, 0-0 SoCon) hosts crosstown foe College of Charleston on Aug. 29 before going to Jacksonville, Florida, to compete in the Jacksonville Invitational on Sept. 1-2. The Bulldogs will play Florida A&M, Northern Arizona and host Jacksonville during the tournament.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Ali Ruffin (The Citadel), Ava Augustson (Furman), Kylee Quigley (Mercer), Madeline Timmerman (UNCG), Gracie Lynn Butler (Samford), Ali Morris (Western Carolina) and Mary Emily Morgan (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Izzy Castelloe (Furman), Skyler Bumpers (Mercer), Mya Wood (UNCG), Kate Morgan (Samford), Paige Gallentine (Chattanooga), Logan Carr (Western Carolina) and Millie Loehr (Wofford)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Belle Hogan (The Citadel), Malgorzata Andersohn (ETSU), Ella Abraham (Furman), Kiera McCarles (Mercer), Mallory Meers (UNCG), Lexi Thatcher (Samford), and Emily Hodsdon (Wofford)
2023 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 28 Morgan Romano, Gr., OH, Chattanooga
2023 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 28 Jaelynn Elgert, Sr., LIB, The Citadel
2023 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week
Aug. 28 Elaine Redman, Jr., Chattanooga