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 Nov. 11-17. Samford outside hitter Gracie Lynn Butler was named the Offensive Player of the Week and ETSU middle blocker Abbey Thomas was named Defensive Player of the Week, while the Buccaneers’ Reese Rhodes was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.

Butler, who also won the honor on Oct. 21, averaged 4.75 kills per set, while logging two double-doubles as Samford won a pair of conference matches last week. The Hazel Green, Alabama, native had 21 kills, 12 digs, six blocks, two aces and an assist in the team’s five-set win over UNCG on Nov. 15. The next day, the senior finished with 17 kills, 12 digs, three assists and two blocks in a sweep of The Citadel. Butler is currently fourth in the SoCon in kills per set (3.31).

Thomas, who also won the honor on Oct. 28, anchored the ETSU defense at the net, averaging 2.17 blocks per set as the Bucs picked up a pair of sweeps last week. The Goldsboro, North Carolina, product logged seven blocks, three of which were solo, along with a kill, an ace and a dig against Western Carolina on Nov. 14. The senior recorded six blocks, six kills, four digs and an assist versus Chattanooga on Nov. 16. Thomas leads the conference in blocks (119) and blocks per set (1.18).

Rhodes, who also won the honor on Sept. 23, paced the ETSU offense in the team’s two matches last week. Against Western Carolina, the graduate student posted 33 assists, 11 digs, two blocks and a kill. In the contest with Chattanooga, the native of Waco, Texas, had 42 assists, eight digs, two kills and a block. Rhodes has 973 assists this season, which is currently fourth in the SoCon.

Samford (15-11, 9-7 SoCon) is the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament and will take on No. 5 The Citadel (14-13, 8-8) in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 22, at 10:30 a.m. inside Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on the campus of Wofford. No. 3 ETSU (18-10, 10-6) will take on No. 6 Furman (13-13, 7-8) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, in the SoCon championship quarterfinals.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Amanda Lowe (ETSU), Chandler Parker (Furman), Skye Ekes (Mercer), Allie Sweet (UNCG), Chard'e Vanzandt (Chattanooga), Logan Carr (Western Carolina) and Sarah MacLean (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Mackenzie Martin (The Citadel), Kennedy Seekford (Furman), MeMe Davis (Mercer), Cece Fitz (UNCG), Kate Morgan (Samford), Paige Gallentine (Chattanooga), Eda Yalçinkaya (Western Carolina) and Annemarie Rakoski (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for setter of the week: Belle Hogan (The Citadel), Brooke Phillips (Mercer), Izora Gragg (UNCG), Lexi Thatcher (Samford), Elaine Redman (Chattanooga), Katie Boney (Western Carolina) 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  

Oct. 14             Chard'e Vanzandt, Sr., OH, Chattanooga 

Oct. 21             Gracie Lynn Butler, Sr., OH, Samford

Oct. 28             Skyler Bumpers, Sr., MB, Mercer

Nov. 4              Sophie Childs, Gr., OH, The Citadel 

Nov. 11             Allie Sweet, Fr., OH, UNCG   

Nov. 18             Gracie Lynn Butler, Sr., 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

Oct. 14             Peri Hoshock, So., MB, The Citadel

Oct. 21             Jaelynn Elgert, Gr., LIB, The Citadel

Oct. 28             Abbey Thomas, Sr., MB, ETSU

Nov. 4              Jaelynn Elgert, Gr., LIB, The Citadel

Nov. 11             Annemarie Rakoski, Jr., MB, Wofford

Nov. 18             Abbey Thomas, Sr., MB, ETSU

  
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 

Oct. 14             Elaine Redman, Sr., Chattanooga  

Oct. 21             Lexi Thatcher, So., Samford 

Oct. 28             Brooke Phillips, Gr., Mercer 

Nov. 4              Brooke Phillips, Gr., Mercer 

Nov. 11             Belle Hogan, Sr., The Citadel 

Nov. 18             Reese Rhodes, Gr., ETSU