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 Oct. 28- Nov. 3. The Citadel outside hitter Sophie Childs was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Bulldogs libero Jaelynn Elgert was named Defensive Player of the Week, while Mercer’s Brooke Phillips was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.

Childs hit .377, while averaging 5.17 kills per set as The Citadel went 1-1 last week. On Oct. 31 at Wofford, the graduate student logged 10 kills, three digs and an ace as the team fell to Wofford. Two days later, the native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, posted a season-high 21 kills, three blocks, three digs and an ace in a sweep over UNCG. Childs is currently 10th in the SoCon in total kills (246).

Elgert, who also won the honor on Oct. 7, anchored The Citadel defense, averaging 7.33 digs per set in the team’s two matches. Against Wofford, the graduate student tallied 19 digs and two assists. The product of Peoria, Arizona, recorded a match-high 25 digs and five assists versus UNCG. Elgert is currently third in the SoCon in digs per set (4.89).

Phillips, who has received the honor on four occasions this season, including the last two weeks, paced the Mercer offense, averaging 10.57 assists per set. The native of Indianapolis, Indiana, had a double-double, logging 33 assists, 17 digs, five kills, three aces and a block in a sweep at Chattanooga on Nov. 1. The next day in a four-set win at ETSU, the graduate student finished with 41 assist, eight digs, six kills and three blocks. Phillips leads the SoCon and is second in the NCAA in service aces (60).

The Citadel (12-11, 6-6 SoCon) hosts ETSU (15-9, 7-5) on Nov. 8, and Chattanooga (14-12, 4-7) on Nov. 9. Mercer (20-4, 10-1) plays at Western Carolina (7-16, 1-9) on Nov. 6, and at Furman (10-11, 4-6) on Nov. 7. The Bears hosts Samford (13-9, 7-5) on Nov. 9.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Makayla Bays (ETSU), Izzy Castelloe (Furman), Skye Ekes (Mercer), Allie Sweet (UNCG), Kaleigh Meritt (Samford), Sydney Jackwin (Chattanooga), Zoe Zudans (Western Carolina) and Sarah MacLean (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Abbey Thomas (ETSU), Kennedy Seekford (Furman), MeMe Davis (Mercer), Chloe Nussbaum (UNCG), Kate Morgan (Samford), Paige Gallentine (Chattanooga), Ali Morris (Western Carolina) and Annemarie Rakoski (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for setter of the week: Belle Hogan (The Citadel), Reese Rhodes (ETSU), Quinn Morrissey (Furman), Izora Gragg (UNCG), Lexi Thatcher (Samford), Elaine Redman (Chattanooga), Katie Boney (Western Carolina) and Maddy Frazier 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, R-So., OH, Samford

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

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

 
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

  
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