ETSU claims honor for third straight week

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Oct. 20, 2014) – For the third straight week, ETSU volleyball earned Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors as senior middle blocker Meredith Hardy (Kingsport, Tenn.) received the weekly award by the league office on Monday.

Hardy totaled 11 blocks (1.57 per set) last week and led the Blue and Gold to a pair of home wins over Wofford and Mercer.

On Friday, the Buccaneer senior middle blocker finished with five blocks, while adding seven kills (.417 attack percentage) and two digs in the sweep against the Terriers. As a team, ETSU out-blocked Wofford, 11-1, while seven of the blocks came in the third set. Hardy had three of her five blocks in the final frame and started a run where five consecutive points were scored via the block midway through the stanza. Less than 24 hours later, Hardy posted 19 kills (.516 attack percentage), six blocks and two digs in the four-set win over Mercer on Saturday.

Following the two contests, Hardy has now totaled at least one block in 116 straight matches, while moving her career total to 581. The 581 total blocks rank second among active NCAA Division I players.

Hardy shared this week’s honor with Samford senior libero Chelsi Carter.

Prior to this week’s award, Buccaneer senior libero Katie Muey (Alexandria, Ind.) took home back-to-back Defensive Player of the Week honors.

This marks Hardy’s third conference accolade this season as the Kingsport, Tenn. native was named to the preseason all-conference team and was selected SoCon Defensive Player of the Month for September.

Hardy and the Bucs wrap up a three-match homestand Tuesday night when ETSU hosts The Citadel at 6 p.m. inside Brooks Gym.

ETSU fans wanting to receive Buccaneer news, score updates, in-game promotions and much more sent to their mobile device can do so by signing up for “Buc Updates.” Click here to sign up today!

For more information on Buccaneer volleyball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the volleyball page.