SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Oct. 20-26. Samford outside hitter Kaleigh Meritt was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Wofford middle blocker Annemarie Rakoski was named Defensive Player of the Week, while Western Carolina’s Katie Boney was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
Meritt, who also won the honor on Sept. 8, averaged 4.38 kills per set for Samford last week during a pair of conference matches. In a 3-0 setback versus Furman on Oct. 23, the product of Evansville, Indiana, had 15 kills and seven digs. The next day, the redshirt junior logged 20 kills, 18 digs and five blocks in a five-set triumph over UNCG. Meritt is second in the SoCon in total kills (310).
Rakoski, who won the honor for the fourth time this season, anchored the Wofford defense at the net, averaging 2.86 blocks per set last week. In a four-set win at Western Carolina on Oct. 23, the senior had a career-high 12 blocks and six kills. The native of Atlanta, Georgia, recorded eight blocks and five kills in a sweep of The Citadel on Oct. 25. Rakoski currently leads the SoCon in blocks per set (1.38).
Boney, who won the honor for the fifth time this season, averaged 10.14 assists per set for Western Carolina last week. The junior had 37 assists, nine digs, two kills and an ace in a four-set setback versus Wofford on Oct. 23. The next day, the Brookhaven, Georgia, native finished with 34 assists, eight digs, three kills and three aces during a sweep of The Citadel. Boney leads the conference in assists (776) and assists per set (10.35).
Samford plays at ETSU on Oct. 31, and at Wofford on Nov. 1. Wofford welcomes Chattanooga on Oct. 31. Western Carolina travels to UNCG on Oct. 31, and ETSU on Nov. 1.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Brianna Cantrell (ETSU), Tennyson Gorman (Furman), Sophia Henry (Mercer), Allie Sweet (UNCG), Gracie Rose (Chattanooga), Tatum Sharp (Western Carolina), and Bradley Brown (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Whitley Rammel (ETSU), Kennedy Seekford (Furman), Aubri Martin (Mercer), Chloe Nussbaum (UNCG), Amelia Johnston (Samford), Caiti Barthel (Chattanooga), and Halley Tang (Western Carolina)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Sammi Bergjans (Mercer), Gabby Seeds (UNCG), Shea Bruntmyer (Samford), Ashley Reynolds (Chattanooga), 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
Oct. 20 Ally Cordes, Jr., OH, Samford
Oct. 27 Kaleigh Meritt, R-Jr., OH, Samford
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
Oct. 20 Ashley Stein, So., OH, Furman
Oct. 27 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
Oct. 20 Gabby Seeds, So., UNCG
Oct. 27 Katie Boney, Jr., Western Carolina