SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Sept. 28-Oct. 4. Samford outside hitter Ally Cordes was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Wofford libero Laney Klika 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.
Cordes averaged 4.56 kills per set, while posting two double-doubles for Samford in a pair of games at Western Carolina last weekend. In a four-set setback on Oct. 1, the senior recorded 10 kills, 14 digs and three solo blocks. The next day, the product of Wyoming, Ohio, logged a career-high 31 kills, 15 digs and three blocks in a five-set win. Cordes is currently third in the SoCon in points per set (4.29).
Klika, who won the honor for the fourth time this season, anchored the Wofford defense, averaging 5.83 digs per set as Wofford grabbed two sweeps over UNC Greensboro. On Oct. 2, the senior had 16 digs and five assists. One day later, the native of Novelty, Ohio, finished with 19 digs and an assist. Klika leads the conference in total digs (335), which is third in the NCAA.
Boney paced the Western Carolina offense, averaging 11.89 assists per set for the Catamounts in the two matches with Samford. In the win on Oct. 1, the senior had 38 assists, 14 digs, eight kills, three blocks and two aces. During the match on Oct. 2, the native of Brookhaven, Georgia, recorded a career-best 69 assists, nine digs, six kills, three aces and a block. Boney’s 69 assist are the most by any player in the country in a match this season. The 69 helpers also tied the mark for the fourth-most assists in a single-match in program history. Boney leads the league in assists (673), which is fourth in the NCAA.
Samford welcomes Mercer on Oct. 6, before hosting Wofford on Oct. 9-10. Wofford plays Western Carolina at home on Oct. 6. Western Carolina hosts Furman on Oct. 9-10.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Sophie Davis (ETSU), Izzy Castelloe (Furman), Lara Matta (Mercer), Hailey Clifton (UNCG), Gracie Rose (Chattanooga), Alayna Pierce (Tennessee Tech), Samantha Kranzler (Western Carolina), and Bradley Brown (Wofford)
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Gianna Blair (ETSU), Tennyson Gorman (Furman), Aubri Martin (Mercer), Allie Sweet (UNCG), Kynli Kirkendoll (Chattanooga), Shelby Hannah (Tennessee Tech), and Elise Gurley (Western Carolina)
Also nominated for setter of the week: Alex Kreutzmann (ETSU), Morgan Baldridge (Furman), Sammi Bergjans (Mercer), Izora Gragg (UNCG), Ashley Reynolds (Chattanooga), Morgan Petelin (Tennessee Tech), 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
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
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