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 Aug. 31-Sept. 6. Tennessee Tech outside hitter Alayna Pierce was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Wofford libero Laney Klika was named Defensive Player of the Week, while UNCG’s Izora Gragg was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
 

Pierce averaged 5.15 kills per set as Tennessee Tech grabbed three wins during the Golden Eagle Invitational. On Sept. 4, the junior logged 26 kills, 11 digs, three aces and two blocks in a five-set win over Austin Peay. Later that day, Pierce recorded another double-double, finishing with 25 kills, 15 digs, two blocks and an ace in a five-set victory over Green Bay. The native of Genoa, Illinois, completed the weekend with 16 kills, three digs and an ace in a sweep of Tennessee State on Sept. 5. For her performance over the weekend, Pierce was named the MVP of the Golden Eagle Invitational. Pierce is currently averaging 4.42 kills per set for the season, which is tops in the SoCon alongside UNCG’s Allie Sweet.

Klika anchored the Wofford defense over four matches last week for the Terriers. In a four-set win over Presbyterian on Sept. 1, the native of Novelty, Ohio, had 21 digs and eights assists. In the opening game of the Summit Hospitality Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Sept. 4, Klika had 15 digs and a pair of assists in a sweep of Charlotte. The next day, the senior logged 21 digs and two aces in a five-set setback versus host North Carolina State. On Sept. 6, Klika finished with 24 digs and an assist in a sweep of George Washington. Klika leads the conference in digs per set (5.41).

Gragg, who won the honor for the second consecutive week, paced the UNC Greensboro offense at the Clemson Invitational, averaging 10.67 assists per set. The product of Morganton, North Carolina, finished with 38 assists, nine digs and an ace in a four-set setback against Clemson on Sept. 4. The next day, Gragg logged 35 assists, five digs and two aces in a sweep of App State. In the final match of the weekend on Sept. 6, the senior had a career-best 55 assists, seven digs, four blocks, two aces and a kill as UNCG defeated East Carolina in five sets. Gragg leads the league in assists per set (10.68).

Tennessee Tech plays at the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic in Colorado Springs this weekend. The Golden Eagles will take on Idaho State, Air Force and Little Rock during the event. Wofford welcomes three in-state foes this week, beginning with Coastal Carolina on Sept. 10, before playing South Carolina on Sept. 12, and Clemson on Sept. 13. UNC Greensboro will play in the Central Carolina Clash this weekend, facing North Carolina A&T, Davidson and North Carolina Central on Sept. 11-12.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Rachel Reininger (The Citadel), Karis Chatfield (ETSU), Izzy Castelloe (Furman), Lara Matta (Mercer), Allie Sweet (UNCG), Addison Walker (Chattanooga), Zoe Zudans (Western Carolina), and Bradley Brown (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Jess Martin (The Citadel), Kacie Moore (Furman), Aubri Martin (Mercer), Chloe Nussbaum (UNCG), Kynli Kirkendoll (Chattanooga), Mallory Jenkins (Tennessee Tech), and Tatum Sharp (Western Carolina)
 
Also nominated for setter of the week: Allie Davison (The Citadel), Emily Navarro (Furman), Sammi Bergjans (Mercer), Ashley Reynolds (Chattanooga), Morgan Petelin (Tennessee Tech), Katie Boney (Western Carolina), and Taylor Pecht (Wofford)

2026 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week 
Aug. 31             Chloe Smith, Jr., OH, Wofford

Sept. 7             Alayna Pierce, Jr., OH, Tennessee Tech 

 
2026 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week 
Aug. 31             Caiti Barthel, Sr., DS/LIB, Chattanooga

Sept. 7             Laney Klika, Sr., LIB, Wofford
 
2026 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week 
Aug. 31             Izora Gragg, Sr., UNCG 

Sept. 7             Izora Gragg, Sr., UNCG