BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- After helping lead the team to two sweeps last weekend, freshman Gabbi Greenwald has been named the SoCon Freshman of the Week, announced by the conference office Monday.
 
"We've been asking a lot out of Gabbi lately due to other injuries on the team," said Samford Head Coach Derek Schroeder.  "She has responded in a huge way for us and is really starting to look comfortable as a college athlete and with her role on our team."
 
Last weekend, Greenwald was second on the team in kills (25) and blocks (4) and was third in hitting percentage (.440).  Greenwald earned 12 kills against Elon and tied a career high with 13 kills against UNCG, matching her total from the Oct. 4 match against Western Carolina that went five sets.  Her .478 hitting percentage against UNCG is her highest total in SoCon play this season and is the second-highest total of any Samford player in SoCon play, only trailing Katie Murphy's .733 clip against Elon on Friday.
 
So far this season, Greenwald has played in 18 matches, starting 14 including all eight conference matches.  She has 79 kills, 21 block assists and 11 service aces in SoCon play this season.  Over Samford's three most-recent wins over Davidson, Elon and UNCG, the Louisville, Ky., native has a .333 hitting percentage and 37 of the team's 163 kills.
 
This is Samford's second Freshman of the Week honor this season, as Erin Bognar won it in the opening week of the season.  Furman's Ashton Gregory was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week while fellow Paladin Elle Ross was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week.
 
This weekend, the Bulldogs hit the road to face The Citadel on Friday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. ET and Georgia Southern on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. ET.