SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Oct. 19-25. UNC Greensboro right side Hailey Clifton was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Wofford libero Laney Klika was named Defensive Player of the Week, while the Spartans’ Izora Gragg was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
Clifton averaged 4.57 kills per set, while logging a .551 hitting percentage in UNCG’s two wins last week. On Oct. 23, the freshman had a career-best 20 kills, two digs and two blocks in a four-set win against Chattanooga. The next day, the native of Valrico, Florida, recorded 12 kills and a block in a sweep of Chattanooga. Clifton is currently fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.320).
Klika, who won the honor for the sixth time this season, anchored the Wofford defense, averaging seven digs per set last weekend. The senior had 17 digs, four aces and an assist in a 3-0 win against The Citadel on Oct. 22. One day later, the product of Novelty, Ohio, logged 25 digs and six assists in another sweep of the Bulldogs. Klika is third in the nation in total digs (469).
Gragg, who won the honor for the third time this season, led the Spartans offense, averaging 11.57 assists per set. In the team’s win on Oct. 23, the Morganton, North Carolina, native finished with a double-double, logging 46 assists, 10 digs and a career-best seven aces. In the Oct. 24 victory, the senior had 35 assists, seven digs, three blocks and two kills. Gragg leads the conference in assists per set (10.19).
UNCG welcomes ETSU on Oct. 27, before traveling to Furman on Oct. 30-31. Wofford plays at Western Carolina on Oct. 27, before hosting Mercer on Oct. 30-31.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Karis Chatfield (ETSU), Izzy Castelloe (Furman), Ally Cordes (Samford), Kynli Kirkendoll (Chattanooga), Tatum Sharp (Western Carolina), and Avery White (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Jess Martin (The Citadel), Melanie Morris (ETSU), Kacie Moore (Furman), Connore' Siler-Nixon (UNCG), Brooklyn Drumwright (Samford), Kynli Kirkendoll (Chattanooga), and Elise Gurley (Western Carolina)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Kennedy Boatman (ETSU), Morgan Baldridge (Furman), Alison Ohlinger (Samford), 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
Oct. 19 Allie Sweet, Jr., OH, UNCG
Oct. 26 Hailey Clifton, Fr., RS, 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
Oct. 26 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
Oct. 19 Sammi Bergjans, Jr., Mercer
Oct. 26 Izora Gragg, Sr., UNCG