Player of the Week
Hailee Blankenship, King

A senior outside hitter from Goode, Virginia, Hailee Blankenship of King averaged an impressive 5.69 points, 5.13 kills and 4.13 digs per set in two matches last week. She finished her eight sets on the week hitting .294. 

Blankenship had a double-double in both matches last week for King. She first recorded 18 kills and 18 digs in a three-set conference win over Belmont Abbey. She also had three service aces in a match in which she hit .444. She followed up her efforts against Belmont Abbey by collecting 23 kills and 15 digs in a five-set league match with Converse. 

Blankenship currently leads Conference Carolinas in aces at 0.61 per set. She is fourth in the conference in kills per set at 3.48. Blankenship has 10 double-doubles on the season.  

Specialist of the Week
Kaylee Gillespie, Francis Marion

A senior setter from Pickens, South Carolina, Kaylee Gillespie of Francis Marion averaged 11.14 assists and 3.71 digs per set in two matches last week. She also had four kills and four blocks in the two matches. 

In Francis Marion’s four-set conference match with Mount Olive, Gillespie finished the match with 39 assists, 18 digs and two blocks. She followed that up by posting 39 assists, eight digs and two blocks in a league sweep of Chowan. 

Gillespie is currently third in Conference Carolinas in assists per set at 10.05. She has 17 double-doubles on the season and now 50 in her career. This is the third Conference Carolinas weekly award of the 2023 season for the setter who currently has 3,215 assists in her prolific career. 

2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball Weekly Awards

Week 8 (Oct. 23, 2023)

Player of the Week: Hailee Blankenship, King

Specialist of the Week: Kaylee Gillespie, Francis Marion

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.