Nov. 3, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Southern Conference announced its Players of the Month for October across eight different categories, and Samford's Elizabeth Neisler was named the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Month.
"Neisler and I just had a great chat last week about the player she has become," said Head Coach Derek Schroeder. "Her team never needs to worry about her. She will always be working very hard. She's always composed, always encouraging and also demanding. She will always be the friend you need, step up when the team needs her or be there to volunteer time and energy to anyone or any group that needs it.
"I'm so glad the conference recognized her achievements because I can't think of anyone more deserving of recognition than Elizabeth Neisler."
The junior outside hitter led the team in kills during the month, tallying 140 and averaging 4.24 per set. Neisler, along with Katie Murphy, were the only Bulldogs with triple-digit kills. Through the month's ten matches she hit .307 (140/45/309), went up for 15 blocks and even contributed to the defense, grabbing 30 digs. The Bulldogs were 9-1 in October, winning nine in a row heading into this weekend.
The Jacksonville, Ala., native put up great numbers during the month, but her best performance came in a 3-1 win at Georgia Southern on Oct. 22, where she earned a season-high 20 kills and also hit a .405 clip, her best percentage in conference play this season. Her numbers for that match and in the 3-0 sweep over Davidson the previous night helped earn her SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors, the third consecutive weekly honor for a Samford player.
Her season totals have been equally as impressive, as she leads the team with 338 kills averaging 4.07 kills per set. This average leads the SoCon and ranks 38th nationally. Her season total puts her only 59 kills shy of cracking the single-season top ten at Samford. She is also ranked 39th nationally in points per set at 4.6.
This is the second Player of the Month award given to a Samford player this season, as Lauren Hutchinson was the September Offensive Player of the Month. During the month of October, the Bulldogs took home at least one weekly honor for three consecutive weeks. On October 10, Alexis Bauer and Michaela Reesor were named Defensive and Freshmen Player of the Week, respectively. The following week, on Oct. 17, Hutchinson won the weekly honor on offense and Neisler won the same honor the following week.
Neisler and the Bulldogs play their final SoCon road matches of the season this weekend, facing Elon on Friday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. and UNC Greensboro on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m.
