October 22, 2012

Humphries Named SoCon Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Junior hitter/blocker Olivia Humphries of the UNCG volleyball team has been named the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week according to an announcement Monday by the league.

"Receiving the league's offensive player of the week award is such an honor," Humphries said. "It is a goal of every hitter. I am really proud of how the whole team performed this weekend. We have made some huge strides that we can hopefully carry into next weekend's matches. Playing with energy and passion like we did this weekend, especially against Wofford on Saturday, makes us a hard team to beat and a fun team to watch."

Humphries posted 41 kills in eight sets over the weekend against Furman and Wofford for an average of 5.12 kills per set, helping UNCG hang on to second place in the SoCon North standings. The Charlotte, N.C., native compiled a hitting percentage of .341, firing at .306 against the Paladins and .414 versus the Terriers. She is now ranked 10th in the league in kills per set at 3.02.

"I am very pleased that Olivia has been recognized by the SoCon this week," head coach Patrick Nicholas said. "She consistently works hard and has been extremely flexible as we have moved her around to every position on the court imaginable. There are a lot of players in our league who are good at just one skill, but Olivia excels at nearly all of them. You just do not find many six-rotation players in our sport these days."

Humphries turned in her fifth double-double of the season against Furman, racking up a career-high 27 kills to go along with 11 digs as well as three blocks and a service ace. She capped the weekend by leading UNCG to its first SoCon sweep of the season, putting down 14 kills on 29 attempts with just two errors.

UNCG will play a pair of matches at Fleming Gymnasium this weekend, facing Western Carolina and Appalachian State for the second time this season. The Spartans will battle the Catamounts at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26 before wrapping up the weekend with a matchup against the Mountaineers – also at 7 p.m.

2012 Southern Conference Volleyball Offensive Players of the Week

Aug. 27 – Darcy Dorton, College of Charleston
Sept. 3 – Kris Harris, Elon
Sept. 10 – Natalie Braun, Furman
Sept. 17 – Lauren Hutchinson, Samford
Sept. 24 – Lauren Hutchinson, Samford
Oct. 1 – Taeler Davis, College of Charleston
Oct. 8 – Chandler Ambrester, Furman
Oct. 15 – Meredith Paskert, Georgia Southern
Oct. 22 – Olivia Humphries, UNCG 

- UNCG -