Courtesy: Southern Conference
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga’s Dani Szczepanski and Furman’s Meg DeMaar have been named the Southern Conference offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively, for matches played Oct. 8-14, the conference office announced Monday.
Szczepanski, a middle blocker, recorded 26 kills, nine digs and six blocks on the week as the Mocs split a pair of conference matches, coming from behind to upset Samford, which sits second in the league standings, and falling in four sets at Western Carolina. In the five-set win over the Bulldogs in midweek action, the junior hit .385 with 12 kills, four digs, three blocks and a service ace. Nine of her 12 kills came in the fourth and fifth sets as she caught fire to lead Chattanooga to the win. In the Saturday match at Western Carolina, the Cincinnati, Ohio, native hit .344 and led the Mocs with 14 kills. She added five digs, three blocks and two assists. Szczepanski leads all SoCon players in hitting percentage both overall (.376) and in conference matches (.376).
⭐️ 𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑖 𝑆𝑧𝑐𝑧𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑘𝑖@SoConSports Offensive Player of the Week!
🎖 2nd POTW for @dani_pants4
🎖 Consecutive POTW honors for #MocsVB
🎖 3rd total POTW selection this season; tied for most in program since 1997📖 | https://t.co/NDmcj4eP3n pic.twitter.com/o5uAOtrPf2
— Chattanooga VB (@GoMocsVB) October 15, 2018
DeMaar, a libero, averaged 6.5 digs per set and led all players in digs in both of Furman’s conference sweeps on the week. In the Paladins’ win at Wofford, the redshirt senior tallied 16 digs and added two assists and two service aces. Two days later, she bested that performance, turning in 23 digs in the 3-0 win over UNCG. She also contributed six assists and three service aces. The Glen Ellyn, Illinois, native is third in the league in digs per set on the season (.4.81) and second in conference play (5.07) and is fourth overall in aces (0.40). DeMaar is Furman’s career digs leader and the Southern Conference’s active career leader, totaling 1,880 in her time as a Paladin.
.@FurmanVB's Meg DeMaar Named @SoConSports Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week https://t.co/OklMldlDss pic.twitter.com/EyupG5MFB1
— Furman Paladins (@FurmanPaladins) October 15, 2018
The nod is the second of the season for Szczepanski and the third for the Mocs. It’s the first of the season for DeMaar and the first for Furman, but the fifth player of the week honor in DeMaar’s impressive career.
Also nominated for offensive player of the week: Sharlissa De Jesus (The Citadel), Mariah McPartland (ETSU), Neci Harris (Furman), Roberta Todd (Mercer), Allison Penner (UNCG), Lauren Deaton (Samford), Abigail Veit (Western Carolina) and Catie Cronister (Wofford).
Also nominated for defensive player of the week: Megan Fuhr (The Citadel), Marija Popovic (ETSU), Paige Alsten (Mercer), Allison Penner (UNCG), Lauren Deaton (Samford), Emily Plumlee (Chattanooga), Meagan Sanchez (Western Carolina) and Taylor Gill (Wofford).
2018 SoCon Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week
Aug. 27 Leah Clayton, Jr., OH, ETSU
Sept. 3 Dani Szczepanski, Jr., MB, Chattanooga
Sept. 10 Alyssa Kvarta, Sr., S, ETSU
Sept. 17 Leah Clayton, Jr., OH, ETSU
Sept. 24 Krista Boesing, Sr., OH, Samford
Oct. 1 Krista Boesing, Sr., OH, Samford
Oct. 8 Jaquelyn Langhaim, Fr., S, Chattanooga
Oct. 15 Dani Szczepanski, Jr., MB, Chattanooga
2018 SoCon Volleyball Defensive Players of the Week
Aug. 27 Taylor Gill, Sr., LIB, Wofford
Sept. 3 Marija Popovic, So., LIB, ETSU
Sept. 10 Grace Tiesman, Jr., LIB, Samford
Sept. 17 Braedyn Tutton, Sr., MB, ETSU
Sept. 24 Sarah Dobrich, Jr., MH, The Citadel
Oct. 1 Marija Popovic, So., LIB, ETSU
Oct. 8 Abigail Veit, Jr., OH, Western Carolina
Oct. 15 Meg DeMaar, R-Sr., LIB, Furman
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