SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Oct. 12-18. UNC Greensboro outside hitter Allie Sweet was named the Offensive Player of the Week and ETSU libero Melanie Morris 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.
Sweet, who won the honor for the third time this season, averaged 5.67 kills per set for UNCG last weekend. The junior had 18 kills, while hitting .412 in a sweep at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 16. She also finished with five digs and a pair of solo blocks in the contest. One day later, the native of Woodstock, Georgia, logged a double-double, recording 16 kills, 14 digs and an ace as the Spartans swept the Golden Eagles once again. Sweet currently leads the NCAA in points (432.0) and kills (378).
Morris anchored the ETSU defense last week, averaging 4.44 digs per set. On Oct. 16, the senior finished with 20 digs and an ace in a five-set win over Wofford. The next day, the product of Maryville, Tennessee, logged another 20 digs, along with six assists and two aces in a four-set win against the Terriers. Morris and her teammates’ two victories over Wofford ended the Terriers’ 10-match winning streak against SoCon opponents, dating back to the conference tournament last season.
Bergjans, who won the honor for the second consecutive week, paced Mercer’s offense in a pair of wins at Furman last week. In a four-set win on Oct. 16, the junior recorded 43 assists, 12 digs, three kills and a block. One day later, the native of Wentzville, Missouri, had another double-double, finishing with 43 assists, 18 digs, five kills, two blocks and an ace in a five-set victory over the Paladins. Bergjans is second in the SoCon in total assists (765), which is ranked 12th nationally.
UNCG hosts Chattanooga on Oct. 23-24. ETSU welcomes Furman on Oct. 23-24. Mercer plays at Western Carolina on Oct. 22-23.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Makayla Bays (ETSU), Lara Matta (Mercer), Maggie Kalisz (Samford), Gracie Rose (Chattanooga), Alayna Pierce (Tennessee Tech), and Tatum Sharp (Western Carolina)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Aubri Martin (Mercer), Chloe Nussbaum (UNCG), Brooklyn Drumwright (Samford), Jordin Glass (Chattanooga), Ashlyn Gamble (Tennessee Tech), and Elise Gurley (Western Carolina)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Alex Kreutzmann (ETSU), Izora Gragg (UNCG), Alison Ohlinger (Samford), Ashley Reynolds (Chattanooga), Morgan Petelin (Tennessee Tech), and Katie Boney (Western Carolina)
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
Oct. 19 Allie Sweet, Jr., OH, UNCG
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
Oct. 19 Melanie Morris, Sr., DS/LIB, ETSU
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
Oct. 19 Sammi Bergjans, Jr., Mercer