SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Oct. 6-12. ETSU outside hitter Makayla Bays was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Wofford middle blocker Annemarie Rakoski was named Defensive Player of the Week, while the Buccaneers’ Bailey Gohlke was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
Bays, who also won the honor on Sept. 22, averaged 3.86 kills per set, while logging a .458 hitting percentage in a pair of two conference wins for ETSU. In a sweep of The Citadel on Oct. 9, the sophomore had 12 kills, five digs, three aces and three blocks. The next day, the product of Gate City, Virginia, had a double-double, finishing with 15 kills, 12 digs and four aces in a four-set triumph over Furman. Bays is currently second in the SoCon in total kills (245) and kills per set (3.95).
Rakoski, who received the honor for the third time this season, averaged 1.50 blocks per set in a pair of sweeps for Wofford last week. On Oct. 10, against Mercer, the senior had five blocks and six kills. One day later, the native of Atlanta, Georgia, finished with four blocks and five kills versus Furman. Rakoski has 76 blocks this season, which is second in the conference.
Gohlke had a pair of strong performances in ETSU’s wins last week. The freshman recorded 14 assists and two digs in the squad’s win over The Citadel. The Waconia, Minnesota, native had a career-best 35 assists and 11 digs, logging her fifth double-double of the season against Furman. Gohlke, who splits time a setter with teammate Alex Kreutzmann, helped the Bucs offense to 106 kills and a .357 hitting percentage last week.
ETSU, who is on a nine-match winning streak, plays at Wofford on Oct. 17, and UNCG on Oct. 18. Wofford welcomes UNCG on Oct. 16.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Rachel Reininger (The Citadel), Sophia Henry (Mercer), Robin Rosser (UNCG), Ally Cordes (Samford), Sydney Jackwin (Chattanooga), Courtney Graham (Western Carolina), and Bradley Brown (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Luci Lippelgoos (The Citadel), Gianna Blair (ETSU), Aubri Martin (Mercer), Chloe Nussbaum (UNCG), and Caiti Barthel (Chattanooga)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Greta Pleuss (The Citadel), Alex Kreutzmann (ETSU), Sammi Bergjans (Mercer), Gabby Seeds (UNCG), Shea Bruntmyer (Samford), Ashley Reynolds (Chattanooga), Katie Boney (Western Carolina) and Maddy Frazier and Taylor Pecht (Wofford)
2025 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Sept. 1 Allie Sweet, So., OH, UNCG
Sept. 8 Kaleigh Meritt, R-Jr., OH, Samford
Sept. 15 Allie Sweet, So., OH, UNCG
Sept. 22 Makayla Bays, So., OH, ETSU
Sept. 29 Bradley Brown, So., MB, Wofford
Oct. 6 Connore' Siler-Nixon, Fr., MB, UNCG
Oct. 13 Makayla Bays, So., OH, ETSU
2025 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Sept. 1 Chloe Nussbaum, So., LIB, UNCG
Sept. 8 Annemarie Rakoski, Sr., MB, Wofford
Sept. 15 Annemarie Rakoski, Sr., MB, Wofford
Sept. 22 Laney Klika, Jr., LIB, Wofford
Sept. 29 Tennyson Gorman, So., MB, Furman
Oct. 6 Caiti Barthel, Jr., LIB, Chattanooga
Oct. 13 Annemarie Rakoski, Sr., MB, Wofford
2025 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week
Sept. 1 Katie Boney, Jr., Western Carolina
Sept. 8 Katie Boney, Jr., Western Carolina
Sept. 15 Shea Bruntmyer, So., Samford
Sept. 22 Shea Bruntmyer, So., Samford
Sept. 29 Katie Boney, Jr., Western Carolina
Oct. 6 Katie Boney, Jr., Western Carolina
Oct. 13 Bailey Gohlke, Fr., ETSU