The Southern Conference announced its September athletes of the month for football, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball Thursday, highlighting excellence among student-athletes during the month.
VOLLEYBALL
OFFENSE
Jamila Johnson, Furman, Jr., OH
Furman’s Jamila Johnson helped guide the Paladins to an 8-5 record in the month of September, including a 3-0 start in Southern Conference play. The junior racked up 205 kills in 48 sets, including a career-high 28 kills in a five-set loss at Tennessee on Sept. 16. Named to three all-tournament teams in September, Johnson recorded double-digit kills in all 13 matches and averaged 4.27 kills per set. Johnson ranks second in the conference with 4.22 kills per set and third with 270 kills. Defensively, the Greenville, South Carolina, native recorded 144 digs and 11 total blocks, averaging 3.00 digs per set.
Others nominated: Moriah Smith (The Citadel), Paige Alsten (Mercer), Ashley Muench (UNCG), Taylor Anderton (Samford), Ally Ford (Chattanooga), Abigail Veit (Western Carolina) and Catie Cronister (Wofford).
DEFENSE
Megan Kaufman, Chattanooga, Fr., L/DS
Chattanooga’s Megan Kaufman finished the month of September with 290 digs, averaging 5.80 digs per set in 50 total sets played. The freshman recorded double-digit digs in all 14 games and her 42 digs against Western Carolina are tied for the third-most in the NCAA for a five-set match this year. Kaufman, who was named to the Scenic City Showdown all-tournament team, currently ranks seventh in digs pet set (6.02) and seventh in total digs (379) in all of Division I. Offensively, the Liberty Township, Ohio, native chipped in 30 assists and 10 service aces. Kaufman leads the conference in digs and has been selected the SoCon defensive player of the week twice this season.
Others nominated: Caricia Rodriguez (The Citadel), Braedyn Tutton (ETSU), Meg DeMaar (Furman), Christina Gregory (UNCG), Grace Tiesman (Samford), Katie O’Connor (Western Carolina) and Taylor Gill (Wofford).
Leave a Reply