SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Sept.1-7. 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 averaged 4.75 kills per set for Samford in a pair of matches last week at the Tennessee Invitational. The Bulldogs topped Winthrop in five sets on Thursday, before having a setback against Tennessee the next day. The redshirt junior tied her career high with 32 kills versus Winthrop. Meritt also had 15 digs, three aces and a block in the contest. The native of Evansville, Indiana, logged six kills, four digs and a solo block versus Tennessee. Meritt is third in the SoCon in kills this season with 69.
Rakoski anchored the Wofford defense at the net during the Tennessee Invitational, averaging 1.57 blocks per set. In a four-set setback versus Tennessee on Thursday, the senior had a team-high seven blocks and two kills. The next day, the product of Atlanta, Georgia, logged four blocks and a kill in a sweep of Winthrop. Rakoski leads the league in solo blocks this season with seven.
Boney, who won the honor for the second consecutive week, led the Western Carolina offense at the Blue Ridge Volleyball Classic in Asheville, North Carolina. On Friday, the junior began the weekend with 30 assists, five digs and an ace in a setback against Charleston. On Saturday, Boney recorded a career-high 50 assists, 12 digs, three blocks and two aces in a reverse sweep versus Bradley. Later that day, the native of Brookhaven, Georgia, finished with a double-double in a setback against Charlotte, logging 32 assists and 12 digs. Boney has 246 assists this season, which leads the SoCon and is eighth in the NCAA.
Samford travels to North Alabama on Sept. 9, before playing in the Tennessee Tech Tournament on Sept. 12-13. The Bulldogs will face Radford, Wichita State and Tennessee Tech. Wofford hosts Elon on Sept. 12, and travels to Clemson on Sept. 13. Western Carolina welcomes UNC Asheville on Sept. 9. The Catamounts play in the UNA Volleyball Classic against North Alabama on Sept. 12, and Alabama on Sept. 13.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Makayla Bays (ETSU), Sophia Henry (Mercer), Allie Sweet (UNCG), Samantha Kranzler (Western Carolina) and Bradley Brown (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Whitley Rammel (ETSU), Aubri Martin (Mercer), Siena Smiejek (UNCG), Emma Sorensen (Samford) and Eda Yalçinkaya (Western Carolina)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Bailey Gohlke (ETSU), Emily Navarro (Furman), Jessica Dunn (Mercer), Gabby Seeds (UNCG), Shea Bruntmyer (Samford) and Maddy Frazier (Wofford)
2025 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Sept. 1 Allie Sweet, So., OH, UNCG
Sept. 8 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
2025 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week
Sept. 1 Katie Boney, Jr., Western Carolina
Sept. 8 Katie Boney, Jr., Western Carolina