Sept. 8, 2008

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Samford sophomore setter Hillary Fountain has been named the Southern Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for matches that occurred from Sept. 1-7, as voted on by the conference sports information directors Monday. The selection marks the second consecutive week SoCon newcomer Samford has had a player honored. Last week, senior outside hitter Ashley Adams was tabbed.

Fountain, who was named the University of Missouri at Kansas City Kangaroo Klassic MVP, helped the Bulldogs to a first place finish in the tournament after they defeated Arkansas State, UMKC, Morgan State and Florida Atlantic all by scores of 3-0. Her best performance of the weekend came in Samford's win over the host team UMKC. Fountain's dished out 35 assists while hitting .500 with two kills, two block assists, three aces and three digs.

For the weekend, Fountain notched 138 assists (11.58 apg), 15 digs and 10 blocks.

"I have been all over Hillary since last spring," Samford head coach Derek Schroeder said. "She has great intangibles and is a very good athlete so I have demanded she increase her volleyball IQ and become an intelligent setter as well. The way our serve receive, and more so our defensive transition, was clicking this weekend is a testament to how hard she has worked! Hillary is really going to enjoy this award and, knowing the type of player she is, will be in the gym early and working to take the next step!"

Fountain and the Bulldogs will participate in their second tournament hosted by a Southeastern Conference team this weekend, Sept. 12-13, as they compete in the Hampton Inn Bama Bash hosted by the University of Alabama. There Samford will take on Alabama and Murray State on Friday and while wrap up tournament play on Saturday with a noon match against South Florida.

Also nominated for the award were Furman's Katherine Hall, College of Charleston's Elyse Chubb, Wofford's Shanna Hughes, Elon's Traci Stewart, UNC Greensboro's Kayren Finney, Western Carolina's Katie Hennessey, Chattanooga's Lara Newberry, The Citadel's Amanda Beal and Davidson's Kittery Neale.

SoCon Volleyball Player of the Week
Week 1 - Ashley Adams, Samford
Week 2 - Hillary Fountain, Samford