SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Sept. 11-17. Samford outside hitter Gracie Lynn Butler was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Wofford defensive specialist/libero Abbey Richman was designated Defensive Player of the Week, while Chattanooga’s Elaine Redman was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
Butler averaged 4.55 kills per set as Samford went 1-2 last week. The Bulldogs defeated crosstown foe UAB in four sets on Wednesday, before dropping matches to South Alabama in three sets and 24th-ranked Auburn in four sets during the Alabama Showdown on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Against UAB, Butler had a career-high 23 kills, along with eight digs, three assists and one ace. In the contest with South Alabama, the junior finished with 13 kills, nine digs and two blocks. The Hazel Green, Alabama, product had her third career double-double against Auburn, finishing with 14 kills, 11 digs, one ace and a block. Butler is currently sixth in the NCAA in total kills (198) and ninth in kills per set (4.60).
Richman, who also received the honor on Sept. 4, anchored the Wofford defense, averaging 4.22 digs per set. The Terriers went 2-0 last weekend during the Jefferson Cup Invitational in Charlottesville, Virginia, defeating George Washington in five sets and ACC opponent Virginia in four sets. The native of Carmel, Indiana, recorded 19 digs, seven assists and one ace against George Washington on Friday. The senior followed that up with another 19 digs, two assists and an ace against Virginia on Saturday, marking the first win of any SoCon team against a Power Five opponent this season. Richman became the 18th Terrier to record 1,000 digs in their career during the match with Virginia, a contest that also gave Wofford head coach Lynze Roos her 300th career victory.
Redman averaged 10.33 assists per set to pace the Chattanooga offense as the team went 3-1 last week. The Mocs won at Jacksonville State in four sets on Tuesday before winning two matches during the Chattanooga Classic. In the contest with Jacksonville State, the junior had 41 assists, 15 digs, two aces and two kills. On Friday, the Chattanooga, Tennessee, native had 33 assists, five digs, three kills and three blocks in a sweep of Eastern Michigan. Later that day, Redman had 34 assists, 12 digs, one kill and an ace in a 3-0 win over Morehead State. In the final match of the weekend on Saturday, the Mocs fell to Gardner-Webb in five sets, with Redman logging 47 assists, five digs, four blocks, two kills and an ace.
Samford (5-7) hosts UNCG (1-10) on Sept. 22, and The Citadel (12-0) on Sept. 23. Wofford (9-2) travels to Mercer (4-7) on Sept. 22, and Chattanooga (11-3) on Sept. 23. The Mocs welcome The Citadel on Sept. 22.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Ali Ruffin (The Citadel), Ava Augustson (Furman), Kylee Quigley (Mercer), Aylin Baran (UNCG), Gylian Finch (Chattanooga) and Sarah MacLean (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Jaelynn Elgert (The Citadel), Kennedy Seekford (Furman), Abbey Havrilla (Mercer), Madeline Timmerman (UNCG), Kate Morgan (Samford), Kate Neill (Chattanooga) and Eden Punch (Western Carolina)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Belle Hogan (The Citadel), Emily Navarro (Furman), Kiera McCarles (Mercer), Izora Gragg (UNCG), Lexi Thatcher (Samford) 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
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
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