NEED TO KNOW:
USA South Offensive Player of the Week: Caitlyn Russell
USA South Defensive Player of the Week: Megan Murray
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Meredith volleyball took home two of the three weekly awards as the USA South Athletic Conference released its selections on Monday afternoon.
After leading the Avenging Angels to the program's first 5-0 start since 2016, seniors
Caitlyn Russell and
Megan Murray took home the conference's top offensive and defensive honors for the first week of the season.
Caitlyn Russell, USA South Offensive Player of the Week
Russell's big week started in the season and home opener, as she recorded 13 kills to lead the team to a 3-0 sweep of Guilford.
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Then, the Graham, North Carolina native was dominant at the Vickie Staton Memorial Tournament in Pennsylvania over the weekend, recording 52 total kills over the four matches and earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Russell tallied at least 10 kills in four of the team's five matches this week, and in the one match in which she recorded single digit kills, she totaled a season-best four service aces. She reached the 20-kill mark against Bluffton, marking the fourth time in her career she has reached the milestone.Â
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Megan Murray, USA South Defensive Player of the Week
Murray was a defensive star and a service ace standout in the first week of competition for Meredith. The senior libero reached double digits in digs in all five matches, including going over 20 on two occasions, against Washington & Jefferson (22) and Bluffton (23). Her 14 service aces for the week rank No. 1 in the USA South. She totaled nine of those service aces in one day, recording five against Waynesburg and four more against Washington & Jefferson. After helping Meredith to a 4-0 sweep of the Vickie Staton Memorial Tournament, she was named Tournament MVP.
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