CHARLOTTE, N.C.  (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Winthrop setter Stephanie Palmer (Spartanburg, S.C.) has been named the Choice Hotels Big South Volleyball Player of the Week, while Liberty outside hitter Caroline Douglas (Greenville, N.C.) was tabbed Freshman of the Week for matches played the opening weekend of the season.  In addition, Campbell middle blocker Lindsey Coats (Dunn, N.C.) picked up Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Palmer put away 29 kills while managing 61 assists, a .379 hitting average, eight service aces and 18 digs in helping Winthrop win two matches.  In Winthrop’s opening defeat of Hampton, Palmer posted 13 kills, 26 assists, 10 digs and one block.  In the Eagles’ second match versus Bradley, she managed 15 assists and six kills.  Palmer’s performance in the final match of the N.C. Central Invitational was impressive as she posted 10 kills, a .588 average, 20 assists and three digs against N.C. Central en route to All-Tournament honors.

Douglas had a great start to her collegiate career as she finished with 40 kills and a .515 hitting average in three matches.  She got her weekend started with 19 kills, a .548 average at the net and one block in Liberty’s season-opening match against UNC Greensboro.  The next day in Liberty’s win over N.C. Central, Douglas continued to contribute to the Flames’ offense with a .333 attack percentage.  In the weekend’s final match, she led the way in Liberty’s sweep of Elon, totaling 16 kills and a .538 average with three block assists.  

Coats recorded 17 blocks and a 1.55 blocks per set average for the weekend, while her 17 blocks was an East Carolina Classic record.  She posted 10 kills and nine blocks in the opening win against the tournament host East Carolina.  The second game versus Charlotte, she had six kills and one block.  In the Camels’ final tournament match against Bethune-Cookman, she had seven of the team’s 10 blocks and managed five kills.  Coats earned East Carolina Classic All-Tournament honors for her play.

Also nominated for volleyball Player of the Week for Week 1:  Jessica Groen (Campbell), Wynter Davis (Charleston Southern), Meghan Laffin (Coastal Carolina), Courtney Johnk (High Point), Caroline Douglas (Liberty) and Rachel Wieckecki (Radford).

Also nominated for volleyball Freshman of the Week for Week 1: Lauren Bewick (Campbell), Katrina Houston (Charleston Southern), Gabriella Horvath (Coastal Carolina), Anna Pashkova (Gardner-Webb), Annemarie Chin (High Point) and Cheyanne James (Radford).

Also nominated for volleyball Defensive Player of the Week for Week 1: Caity Farus (High Point), Gabrielle Shipe (Liberty), Emily Carlin (Radford) and Catherine Brusie (Winthrop).