SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Sept. 29-Oct. 5. UNCG middle blocker Connore' Siler-Nixon was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Chattanooga libero Caiti Barthel 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.
Siler-Nixon averaged 3.25 kills per set, while recording a .447 hitting percentage in a pair of matches for UNCG. The freshman had 10 kills and a pair of blocks in a four-set win at Chattanooga on Oct. 3. The next day, the native of Odessa, Florida, logged a career-best 16 kills in a four-set setback at Western Carolina. Siler-Nixon also had six blocks in the match with the Catamounts.
Barthel anchored the Chattanooga defense, averaging 6.88 digs per set for the Mocs. The product of Indianapolis, Indiana, finished with 23 digs and three assists against UNCG. On Oct. 4, the junior had 32 digs, five assists and three aces in a four-set win over Wofford, who was previously unbeaten in conference play. Barthel is second in the SoCon in total digs this season with 274.
Boney, who won the honor for the second consecutive week and fourth time overall this season, paced the Western Carolina offense, averaging 12.75 assists per set. On Oct. 3, in a four-set setback versus ETSU, the junior logged 44 assists, seven digs and four service aces. Boney recorded a career-best 58 assists and six digs against UNCG. The Brookhaven, Georgia, native’s 58 helpers in the Catamounts’ win over the Spartans moved her into 15th place in school history for career assists. Boney leads the league in assists (561) and assists per set (10.39).
UNCG hosts The Citadel on Oct. 10, and Mercer on Oct. 11. Chattanooga plays at Western Carolina on Oct. 9, before welcoming Samford on Oct. 11. Western Carolina faces Samford on Oct. 10.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Whitley Rammel (ETSU), Ashley Stein (Furman), Sophia Henry (Mercer), Kendyl MacAskill (Chattanooga), Tatum Sharp (Western Carolina), and Chloe Smith (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Melanie Morris (ETSU), Tennyson Gorman (Furman), Aubri Martin (Mercer), Chloe Nussbaum (UNCG), Janelle Blue (Western Carolina), and Laney Klika (Wofford)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Bailey Gohlke (ETSU), Emily Navarro (Furman), Sammi Bergjans (Mercer), Gabby Seeds (UNCG), 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
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
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