Blancher named SSAC Defender of the Week Monday

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southern States Athletic Conference handed out its weekly awards on Monday, and Loyola's Lola Blancher earned this week's SSAC Defender of the Week honor after racking up 92 digs over 17 sets for a 5.41-per-set average. 
 

It's Blancher's first career SSAC weekly award, and the first conference honor this season for any Wolf Pack volleyball student-athlete. 
 

The Wolf Pack traveled to McPherson, Kansas, to play in the McPherson College Invite, matching up with four solid programs last Friday and Saturday. First, Blancher totaled a season-high 28 digs in Loyola's five-set loss to Oklahoma Wesleyan to start the weekend, then Loyola lost its matchup with No. 5 McPherson while Blancher only had seven digs. On Saturday, Blancher turned in 24 digs in a five-set win over Central Methodist (Mo.), and she ended the weekend with a career-best 33 digs in a four-set win over Stephens (Mo.). 
 

Blancher's 33-dig outing was the first 30-plus-dig performance by a Wolf Pack libero since Nov. 2, 2024, when Simone Moreau had 30 against Mobile. Blancher also had five service aces throughout the weekend.  
 

Blancher, a sophomore from New Orleans, is playing her first season as the team's libero. She currently leads the SSAC with 212 total digs through 12 matches, and she is second in the league with a 4.71-per-set average. 
 

Loyola will take on Dillard Wednesday night in its final non-conference matchup of the season before turning its attention to Xavier on Saturday in its SSAC opener. Wednesday's match is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Dillard, and the Wolf Pack and Xavier will meet at 1 p.m on Saturday in the XULA Convocation Center. 
 

This season's SSAC Volleyball Player of the Week honorees

Attacker of the Week
Week 1: Marley Manning, Point
Week 2: Medney Garraux, Life
Week 3: Kaylin Johnson, Mobile
Week 4: Jakaya Smith, Faulkner
 

Setter of the Week
Week 1: Emily Martin, William Carey
Week 2: Emily Martin, William Carey
Week 3: Maurin Reyes, William Carey
Week 4: Kamrynn Williams, Xavier
 

Defender of the Week
Week 1: Eva Blatchford, Mobile
Week 2: Abbi Williams, Blue Mountain
Week 3: Amree Patterson, Tennessee Southern
Week 4: Lola Blancher, Loyola
 

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