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. 8-14. UNCG outside hitter Allie Sweet was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Wofford middle blocker Annemarie Rakoski 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.
 
Sweet, who also won the honor on Sept. 1, averaged 5.07 kills per set for UNCG over the weekend during the UNCW Invitational. The sophomore had 26 kills and 12 digs in a five-set setback against Charlotte on Sept. 12. Later that day, Sweet had 23 kills, 16 digs, four blocks, and three aces in a five-set win versus UNC Wilmington. The native of Woodstock, Georgia, finished the weekend with 27 kills, 11 digs, and two aces in a five-set setback against West Georgia. Sweet leads the SoCon in kills with 168.

Rakoski, who won the honor for the second consecutive week, anchored the Wofford defense at the net, averaging 1.50 blocks per set over two matches. In a sweep against Elon on Sept. 12, the product of Atlanta, Georgia, had a pair of blocks and four kills. The next day, the senior tied her career high in blocks at Clemson, logging 10 blocks and seven blocks. Rakoski’s 10 blocks were tied for the fourth-highest total in a single match in program history.

Bruntmyer led the Samford offense over the weekend, logging an average of 9.73 assists per set. Against Wichita State on Sept. 12, the sophomore had 26 assists and three digs. Later that day in a sweep of Radford, the native of Abilene, Texas, recorded 39 assists, three aces, and a block. Bruntmyer concluded her play this weekend with 42 assists, three digs, and a block in a five-set win at Tennessee Tech on Sept. 13.

UNCG hosts the Battle of North Carolina on Sept. 19-20, where the Spartans will face North Carolina A&T and UNC Asheville. Wofford plays at South Carolina today, before returning home to welcome Gardner-Webb, Marshall and Northern Arizona on Sept. 18-20. Samford hosts South Alabama, Auburn, and UAB in the Alabama Challenge on Sept. 18-20.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Makayla Bays (ETSU), Tennyson Gorman (Furman), Charlotte Thompson (Mercer), Ally Cordes (Samford), Samantha Kranzler (Western Carolina), and Natalie Arnold (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Whitley Rammel (ETSU), Aubri Martin (Mercer), Chloe Nussbaum  (UNCG), Amelia Johnston (Samford), and Courtney Graham (Western Carolina)
 
Also nominated for setter of the week: Bailey Gohlke (ETSU), Emily Navarro (Furman), Sammi Bergjans (Mercer), Gabby Seeds (UNCG), Katie Boney (Western Carolina), 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 

 
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

 
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