SoCon volleyball players of the week announced

Butler, Elgert and Thatcher honored

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its volleyball players of the week on Monday for matches played Oct. 14-20. Samford outside hitter Gracie Lynn Butler 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.

Butler finished with a .437 hitting percentage, while averaging 5.43 kills per set for Samford last week. The Hazel Green, Alabama, product recorded 18 kills, 12 digs and a block in a sweep at The Citadel on Oct. 18. The next day, the senior logged 20 kills, 12 digs, four assists and three blocks in a four-set setback at UNCG. Butler now has nine double-doubles this season following her play over the weekend.

Elgert, who also won the honor on Oct. 7, anchored The Citadel defense as the Bulldogs went 1-1 last week. Against Samford, the native of Peoria, Arizona, had 25 digs and two assists in the contest. On Oct. 19 versus Furman, the graduate student logged 24 digs, two aces, two assists and a kill in a four-set win. Elgert has recorded 20-plus digs in each of the team’s last six matches.

Thatcher, who won the award for the second time this season, paced the Samford offense, averaging 12.86 assists per set in the squad’s two matches over the weekend. The sophomore finished with 41 assists, 13 digs and six blocks in the team’s match with The Citadel. The next day, the Indianapolis, Indiana, native finished with 49 assists, 11 digs, four kills and one block verses UNCG. Thatcher currently leads the SoCon in assists per set (10.56).

Samford (12-6, 6-2 SoCon) hosts Wofford (14-6, 6-2) on Oct. 25, and Chattanooga (12-9, 3-4) on Oct. 26. The Citadel (10-9, 4-4) plays at Western Carolina (7-12, 1-5) on Oct. 24, and at Mercer (16-4, 6-1) on Oct. 25.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Mackenzie Martin (The Citadel), Whitley Rammel (ETSU), Chandler Parker (Furman), Gia Padilla (Mercer), Allie Sweet (UNCG), Chard'e Vanzandt (Chattanooga) and Mary Emily Morgan (Wofford)

Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Melanie Morris (ETSU), MeMe Davis (Mercer), Chloe Nussbaum (UNCG), Kynli Kirkendoll (Chattanooga) and Annemarie Rakoski (Wofford)

Also nominated for setter of the week: Belle Hogan (The Citadel), Quinn Morrissey (Furman), 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

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

Oct. 21 Gracie Lynn Butler, 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

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

Oct. 21 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