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. 30-Oct. 6. Samford outside hitter Kaleigh Meritt was named the Offensive Player of the Week and The Citadel libero Jaelynn Elgert was named Defensive Player of the Week, while Samford’s Lexi Thatcher was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.

Meritt averaged 5.00 kills per set for Samford as the team won two conference matches via sweep last week. The redshirt sophomore recorded a double-double on Oct. 4 versus Western Carolina, finishing with 19 kills, 11 digs and three blocks. The next day, the Evansville, Indiana, native logged 11 kills, eight digs, two blocks and a pair of aces in a victory over ETSU. Meritt is currently fourth in the SoCon in total kills (200).

Elgert anchored The Citadel defense last week as the team went 2-0. On Oct. 3, the graduate student had 22 digs and four assists in a four-set win at UNCG. The product of Peoria, Arizona, had 23 digs, three assists and three aces during a five-set victory over Wofford, who came into the contest on a six-match winning streak, on Oct. 5. Elgert is in the top five in the conference in total digs (236) and digs per set (4.29).
 
Thatcher paced the Samford offense, averaging 11.50 assists per set last week. In the contest with Western Carolina, the native of Indianapolis, Indiana, had 37 assists, seven digs, two aces and a kill. The next day, the sophomore recorded 32 assists and four digs against ETSU. Thatcher currently leads the league in assists per set (10.44).

Samford (9-5, 3-1 SoCon) hosts Mercer (13-3, 3-0) on Oct. 10, and Furman (7-5, 1-0) on Oct. 11. The Citadel (8-7, 2-2) travels to ETSU (9-6, 1-2) on Oct. 10, and Chattanooga on Oct. 11.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Ali Ruffin (The Citadel), Skye Ekes (Mercer), Allie Sweet (UNCG), Chard'e Vanzandt (Chattanooga) and Sarah MacLean (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: MeMe Davis (Mercer), Chloe Nussbaum (UNCG), Kate Morgan (Samford), Breanah Rives (Chattanooga) and Laney Klika (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for setter of the week: Belle Hogan (The Citadel), Brooke Phillips (Mercer), Izora Gragg (UNCG), Elaine Redman (Chattanooga) and Taylor Pecht (Wofford)

2024 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week 
Sept. 2             Allie Sweet, Fr., OH, UNCG 
Sept. 9             Bradley Brown, Fr., MB, Wofford 

Sept. 16            Skye Ekes, Sr., OH, Mercer

Sept. 23            Ali Ruffin, Sr., OH, The Citadel 

Sept. 30            Ali Morris, Jr., OH, Western Carolina

Oct. 7               Kaleigh Meritt, R-So., OH, Samford  

 
2024 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week 
Sept. 2             MeMe Davis, Fr., L/DS, Mercer

Sept. 9             Kynli Kirkendoll, Fr., MB, Chattanooga
Sept. 16            Janelle Blue, Jr., MB, Western Carolina 

Sept. 23            Laney Klika, So., LIB, Wofford

Sept. 30            Laney Klika, So., LIB, Wofford

Oct. 7               Jaelynn Elgert, Gr., LIB, The Citadel

  
2024 SoCon Volleyball Setters of the Week 
Sept. 2             Elaine Redman, Sr., Chattanooga 

Sept. 9             Elaine Redman, Sr., Chattanooga 

Sept. 16            Brooke Phillips, Gr., Mercer 

Sept. 23            Reese Rhodes, Gr., ETSU 

Sept. 30            Brooke Phillips, Gr., Mercer 

Oct. 7               Lexi Thatcher, So., Samford