INDIANAPOLIS – Trevecca Nazarene and Ohio Dominican were selected for the first series of Great Midwest Athletic Conference Volleyball Players of the Week honors from the South Division.
 
South Division Offensive Player of the Week
Ellie Buffler
Trevecca Nazarene
Outside Hitter
Junior
Nashville, TN (Hume-Fogg HS)
 
The Trojans emerged from the Alabama-Huntsville Classic with a shiny 3-0 record to start the fall, defeating Ouachita Baptist, Emmanuel and the host Chargers, in order.
 
Buffler earned second team all-conference accolades this spring and in 2019, was the coaches pick for conference freshman of the year.
 
The junior came through with some impressive numbers, including Great Midwest-leading service ace totals, to help TNU out of the gates with a fast start.
 
Buffler averaged 3.09 kills per set and also contributed 2.27 digs per set in the three matches while posting a total of eight service aces. She recorded six of those in the opener vs. Ouachita Baptist, a 3-0 sweep for the Trojans.
 
South Division Defensive Player of the Week
Kelsey Shoup
Ohio Dominican
Defensive Specialist
Sophomore
Dalton, OH (Dalton HS)
 
The Panthers’ surge into the spring conference tournament was a turning point for the program since joining the Great Midwest and co-coach of the year Amy Bambenek led her team into the IUP Tournament to start the fall.
 
ODU posted a 2-0 record on Friday against Frostburg State and host IUP with sweeps before falling to Tusculum in five and Shepherd in four on Saturday.
 
Through Week 1, Shoup ranks fourth in the conference already with 4.07 digs per set. She posted back-to-back 20 dig efforts and finished with 60 total.
 
She also recorded a perfect 1.000 in servce receptions in the season opener vs. FSU while going 52-for-52.