JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Melanie Morris of East Tennessee State University's volleyball team was named the Southern Conference's Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. 

This marks the first career SoCon weekly honors for Morris. 

The senior started and played in all nine sets for the Buccaneers' two wins over Wofford. 
She had 40 total digs, 20 in each win over the Terriers, for an average of 4.44 per set. 

Over the season, the Maryville, Tennessee native averages 3.30 digs per set and has 1327 total career digs. She leads the 2026 team with 267 digs, which rank seventh in the SoCon. 

Morris and the Buccaneers are back in action this Friday and Saturday at Brooks Gym as they face Furman at 6 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.