GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman sophomore outside hitter Ashley Stein has been named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week for matches played October 13-19, it was announced this afternoon by the league office.

She becomes the second Paladin this season to earn a weekly award from the conference. Sophomore middle blocker Tennyson Gorman was voted Defensive Player of the Week on September 29.

Stein, a native of nearby Easley, paced the Furman defense in two home matches last week against Chattanooga and Western Carolina. She led the team with 42 digs, averaging over five per set, and four service aces, and ranked second with 19 kills. Stein also contributed three blocks and two assists.

She set new career high dig totals in both matches and started the weekend posting her third double-double of the season against Chattanooga with 13 kills and 18 digs and tied her career high of four service aces. Stein followed the next day with a career best 24 digs, the third-highest by a Paladin this season and most in a three-set match, in Furman's 3-0 sweep of Western Carolina.

Stein enters the week second on the team in both kills and digs, third in service aces, and fourth in blocks.

The Paladins travel to Samford on Thursday to face the Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. EST. Furman then returns to Alley Gymnasium on Saturday to host UNC Greensboro at 7 p.m.

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