SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Oct. 5-11. Wofford outside hitter Chloe Smith was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Terriers libero Laney Klika was named Defensive Player of the Week, while Mercer’s Sammi Bergjans was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
Smith, who also won the honor on Aug. 31, averaged five kills per set, while logging a .383 hitting percentage for Wofford as the Terriers went 3-0 las week. The native of Louisville, Kentucky, logged 17 kills and six digs in a sweep of Western Carolina on Oct. 6. Three days later, Smith had 15 kills, four digs, one ace and a solo block in a three-set win at Samford. The junior finished her week with 18 kills, nine digs, two aces and a block as Wofford defeated Samford, 3-1, on Oct. 10. Smith currently leads the SoCon in aces (31).
Klika, who won the honor for the fifth time this season, averaged 5.6 digs per set for Wofford. In the win over Western Carolina, the senior had 21 digs and seven assists. The product of Novelty, Ohio, logged 12 digs and a pair of assists in the sweep of Samford. In the final match against Samford, Klika had 23 digs and five assists. Klika is second in the NCAA in total digs (391).
Bergjans, who also won the honor on Sept. 28, paced the Mercer offense over the Bears three matches last week. In setback at Samford on Oct. 6, the junior logged 42 assists, seven digs, six kills and an ace. In a sweep against Tennessee Tech on Oct. 9, the native of Wentzville, Missouri, had 34 assists and three digs. The next day, Bergjans finished with 34 assists, seven digs, four kills, three aces and a block in a four-set win over Tennessee Tech. Mercer’s two wins versus Tennessee Tech gave the Golden Eagles their first two defeats in conference play.
Wofford plays at ETSU on Oct. 16-17. Mercer heads to Furman on Oct. 16-17.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Makayla Bays (ETSU), Lara Matta (Mercer), Allie Sweet (UNCG), Gracie Rose (Chattanooga), Alayna Pierce (Tennessee Tech), and Tatum Sharp (Western Carolina)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Melanie Morris (ETSU), Aubri Martin (Mercer Chloe Nussbaum (UNCG), Caiti Barthel (Chattanooga), Shelby Hannah (Tennessee Tech), and Elise Gurley (Western Carolina)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Bailey Gohlke (ETSU), Izora Gragg (UNCG), Ashley Reynolds (Chattanooga), Morgan Petelin (Tennessee Tech), Katie Boney (Western Carolina), and Maddy Frazier (Wofford)
2026 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 31 Chloe Smith, Jr., OH, Wofford
Sept. 7 Alayna Pierce, Jr., OH, Tennessee Tech
Sept. 14 Chloe Smith, Jr., OH, Wofford
Sept. 21 Allie Sweet, Jr., OH, UNCG
Sept. 28 Allie Sweet, Jr., OH, UNCG
Oct. 5 Ally Cordes, Sr., OH, Samford
Oct. 12 Chloe Smith, Jr., OH, Wofford
2026 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 31 Caiti Barthel, Sr., DS/LIB, Chattanooga
Sept. 7 Laney Klika, Sr., LIB, Wofford
Sept. 14 Laney Klika, Sr., LIB, Wofford
Sept. 21 Laney Klika, Sr., LIB, Wofford
Sept. 28 Aubri Martin, Jr., LIB, Mercer
Oct. 5 Laney Klika, Sr., LIB, Wofford
Oct. 12 Laney Klika, Sr., LIB, Wofford
2026 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week
Aug. 31 Izora Gragg, Sr., UNCG
Sept. 7 Izora Gragg, Sr., UNCG
Sept. 14 Emily Navarro, Sr., Furman
Sept. 21 Alison Ohlinger, R-Fr., Samford
Sept. 28 Sammi Bergjans, Jr., Mercer
Oct. 5 Katie Boney, Sr., Western Carolina
Oct. 12 Sammi Bergjans, Jr., Mercer