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. 9-15. Mercer outside hitter Skye Ekes was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Western Carolina middle blocker Janelle Blue was named Defensive Player of the Week, while the Bears’ Brooke Phillips was tabbed Setter of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
 
Ekes averaged 3.69 kills per set as the Bears went 4-0 last week. On Tuesday, Ekes had 16 kills, three blocks, three digs and an ace in the team’s four-set win at Kennesaw State. In the team’s sweep of Elon on Friday, the senior recorded 13 kills, two digs and a solo block. Later that day, the Sarasota, Florida, native logged 14 kills, three blocks, two digs and an ace in a 3-1 win over Southern Miss. In the squad’s final match of the weekend on Saturday, Ekes had 16 kills, four aces and four digs in a dramatic five-set victory against Presbyterian. Ekes was named the Mercer Invitational All-Tournament team following her play over the weekend.

Blue anchored the Western Carolina defense at the net as the Catamounts won three matches and dropped one last week. The Clover, South Carolina, product began her week with two blocks and eight kills in a 3-1 setback at UNC Asheville on Tuesday. On Friday in a sweep of North Carolina Central, the junior recorded eight blocks and six kills. The next day, Blue had 14 blocks in a five-set win over American, marking the highest block total for a Catamount in two seasons and falling one short of tying the program’s record in the category. Later, in a four-set triumph at Campbell, Blue finished with nine kills and five blocks.

Phillips paced the Mercer offense, averaging 9.62 assists per set. Against Kennesaw State, the graduate student had 37 assists, eight kills, nine digs and three aces. In the contest with Elon, Phillips recorded 27 assists, seven digs, three aces and three kills. The Indianapolis, Indiana, native dominated the match with Southern, finishing with 45 assists, 17 digs, three aces, three kills and two blocks. In the weekend finale with Presbyterian, Phillips had another double-double, logging 45 assists, 11 digs, six kills, four aces and a pair of blocks. Phillips was named the Mercer Invitational MVP following the final match of the weekend.

Mercer (9-1), who is off to its best 10-match start in program history, travels to Boca Raton, Florida, for the Owls Paradise Classic on Sept. 20-21, where the Bears will face off against Stetson, Florida Atlantic and Illinois State. Western Carolina (4-6) carries a three-match win streak into Statesboro, Geogia, for the Bash in the Boro on Sept. 20-21. The Catamounts will play Winthrop, Georgia Southern and Alabama State over the weekend.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Ali Ruffin (The Citadel), Amanda Lowe (ETSU), Emily Hanlon (UNCG), Chard'e Vanzandt (Chattanooga), Bailey Hartsough (Western Carolina) and Bradley Brown (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Whitley Rammel (ETSU), MeMe Davis (Mercer), Madeline Timmerman (UNCG), Paige Gallentine (Chattanooga) and Annemarie Rakoski (Wofford)
 
Also nominated for setter of the week: Greta Pleuss (The Citadel), Reese Rhodes (ETSU), Izora Gragg (UNCG), Elaine Redman (Chattanooga), Sarah Janourova (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 

 
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 

 
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