SoCon volleyball players of the week announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Sept. 15-21. ETSU outside hitter Makayla Bays was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Wofford libero Laney Klika was named Defensive Player of the Week, while Samford’s Shea Bruntmyer was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
 
Bays averaged 4.25 kills per set for ETSU as the Buccaneers won a pair of contests in the Virginia Tech Tournament last week. The sophomore recorded 19 kills and nine digs in the team’s four-set win at Virginia Tech on Sept. 18. The next day, Bays logged a double-double, finishing with 15 kills, 12 digs, two blocks and an ace in a four-set victory against Middle Tennessee. The native of Gate City, Virginia, also boasted a perfect 1.000 on serve-receive mark during the tournament on 36 receptions. Bays is currently second in the SoCon in kills per set this season (3.85).

Klika anchored the Wofford defense, averaging 7.06 digs per set over four matches. On Sept. 15, Klika began her week with 18 digs, six assists and an ace in a four-set setback at South Carolina. The junior logged 26 digs in a sweep of Gardner-Webb on Sept. 18. The next day, the product of Novelty, Ohio, recorded 32 digs and a pair of aces in a five-set setback against Marshall. Klika concluded her week with a double-double, finishing with a career-best 37 digs, 13 assists and an ace in a four-set win over Northern Arizona. During the match with Northern Arizona, Klika became the 20th Terrier to reach 1,000 career digs. Klika leads the league in digs per set this season (5.00).

Bruntmyer, who won the honor for the second consecutive week, averaged 10.50 assists per set during the Alabama Challenge over the weekend. On Sept. 18, the Abilene, Texas, native tallied a season-high 47 assists and six digs in a five-set match with South Alabama. Against Auburn the next day, Bruntmyer had 34 assists and nine digs in a four-set setback versus the Tigers. The sophomore finished her weekend with 45 assists and four blocks in a sweep of UAB on Sept. 20. Bruntmyer’s 372 assists this season ranks second in the conference.

Conference play begins for all SoCon teams this week. ETSU travels to Mercer on Sept. 25, before hosting Chattanooga on Sept. 27. Wofford plays at The Citadel on Sept. 25, and welcomes Western Carolina on Sept. 27. Samford travels to UNCG on Sept. 26, and Furman on Sept. 27.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Rachel Reininger (The Citadel), Tennyson Gorman (Furman), Sophia Henry (Mercer), McKenna Timmerman (UNCG), Ally Cordes (Samford), Kynli Kirkendoll (Chattanooga), and Chloe Smith (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Whitley Rammel (ETSU), Kennedy Seekford (Furman), Aubri Martin (Mercer), Siena Smiejek (UNCG), Amelia Johnston (Samford), and Caiti Barthel (Chattanooga)
 
Also nominated for setter of the week: Emily Navarro (Furman), Sammi Bergjans (Mercer), Gabby Seeds (UNCG), and Taylor Pecht (Wofford)

2025 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week 
Sept. 1             Allie Sweet, So., OH, UNCG 
Sept. 8             Kaleigh Meritt, R-Jr., OH, Samford 

Sept. 15            Allie Sweet, So., OH, UNCG 

Sept. 22            Makayla Bays, So., OH, ETSU 

 
2025 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week 
Sept. 1             Chloe Nussbaum, So., LIB, UNCG

Sept. 8             Annemarie Rakoski, Sr., MB, Wofford
Sept. 15            Annemarie Rakoski, Sr., MB, Wofford

Sept. 22            Laney Klika, Jr., LIB, Wofford

 
2025 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week 
Sept. 1             Katie Boney, Jr., Western Carolina 

Sept. 8             Katie Boney, Jr., Western Carolina 

Sept. 15            Shea Bruntmyer, So., Samford

Sept. 22            Shea Bruntmyer, So., Samford