SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford redshirt freshman outside hitter Kaleigh Meritt was named the Southern Conference's Rayna Taylor Freshman of the Year while Gracie Lynn Butler landed on the All-SoCon First Team when the league announced its yearly volleyball awards on Thursday afternoon.
 
Along with being named Freshman of the Year, Meritt was also named to the All-SoCon First Team and All-Freshman Teams.
 
Merritt ranked second on the Bulldogs with 351 kills and sixth in all the off SoCon. The Evansville, Ind., native's 3.41 kills per set placed her fifth in league.
 
After being named to the 2022 All-SoCon Second Team, Bulter made a jump up to the First Team by ranking second in league with 423 kills. The Hazel Green, Ala., native enters the postseason sitting 23rd in the country with her 423 total kills and 33rd averaging 4.07 kills per set. Bulter has also totaled 36 aces on the season which places her second on the Bulldog roster and tied for fourth in the conference.
 
Looking to defend its 2022 tournament title, Samford opens the 2023 Southern Conference Championship on Friday with a showdown against Furman. 
 
Friday's quarterfinals match up with the Paladins is slated for 10:30 a.m. CT in Spartanburg, S.C., and will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
The winner of Samford/Furman will play the winner of The Citadel/ETSU at 4 p.m. CT on Saturday in the first semifinal. 
 
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