Kozlova, Williams, Gorjup Bring Home SSC Volleyball Player of the Week Awards

Kozlova, Williams, Gorjup Bring Home SSC Volleyball Player of the Week Awards

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ORLANDO, Fla. – Barry’s Valeriya Kozlova has been selected as the Sunshine State Conference Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week, while Eckerd’s Sydney Williams earned Defensive Player of the Week honors and Lynn’s Ula Gorjup was named Setter of the Week for the fourth time this season. The awards recognize performances during the week ending October 18.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Valeriya Kozlova, Barry
So. | OH/MH | Moscow, Russia
  • Led Barry to a 3-0 week with 45 kills, recording double-digit kills in all three matches (11, 16 and 18).
  • Hit above .300 in all three contests, highlighted by a .531 hitting percentage with 18 kills on 32 attempts against Rollins. Recorded 10 kills in the second set alone, hitting .529.
  • Committed just one attack error in each of the matches against Embry-Riddle and Rollins.
  • Added eight service aces, six blocks and three assists, totaling 56 points while helping the Buccaneers improve to 9-0 at home this season.
Other Nominees: Peyton Walker, Eckerd; Dakota Zieman, Embry-Riddle; Cordelia Kearns, Florida Tech; Alexia Radulovic, Lynn; Sydney Corbett, Palm Beach Atlantic; Kayla Goodloe, Rollins; Connor Rahn, Tampa.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Sydney Williams, Eckerd
Jr. | DS | Overland Park, Kan.
  • Anchored Eckerd's defense during a 2-0 week in SSC play, totaling 30 digs across seven sets for an average of 4.29 digs per set.
  • Recorded a match-high 23 digs (5.75 per set) in a four-set victory over Palm Beach Atlantic after opening the week with seven digs in a sweep of Saint Leo.
  • Committed just one reception error across the two matches while contributing six assists and two service aces.
  • Helped the Tritons limit Saint Leo to a .100 hitting percentage and Palm Beach Atlantic to a .207 clip.
Other Nominees: Vavara Osychenko, Barry; Taylor Fonseca, Embry-Riddle; Sofia Augusto, Palm Beach Atlantic; Robinson Repass, Rollins; Ana Rivera, Tampa.

SETTER OF THE WEEK

Ula Gorjup, Lynn
Jr. | S | Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • Directed No. 10 Lynn to a 2-1 week in SSC play, totaling 119 assists (11.90 per set), nine kills, four service aces, 12 digs and three blocks across three matches.
  • Dished out 49 assists in a three-set sweep of Florida Tech, averaging 16.33 assists per set while guiding the Fighting Knights to 57 kills and a .385 hitting percentage.
  • Recorded 50 assists, six kills without an attack error, two service aces and three digs in a four-set road victory over Florida Southern, helping Lynn produce 62 kills and a .338 hitting percentage.
  • Added 20 assists against conference-leading Tampa. Across Lynn's two victories, Gorjup averaged 14.14 assists per set as the Fighting Knights combined for 119 kills and a .360 hitting percentage.
Other Nominees: Thalia Iglesias, Barry; Ashlyn Koerner, Embry-Riddle; Grace Dumont, Eckerd; Jenna Garza, Rollins.

2026 SSC VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offensive Player of the Week
  • Oct. 19 – Valeriya Kozlova, So., OH/MB, Barry
  • Oct. 12 – Dakota Zieman, So., OH, Embry-Riddle
  • Oct. 5 – Veronika Eremeeva, Jr., RS, Barry
  • Sept. 28 – Lira Pukl Verdel, So., OH, Lynn
  • Sept. 21 – Vavara Osychenko, Sr., OH, Barry
  • Sept. 14 – Hayden Nash, R-Jr., MB, Eckerd
  • Sept. 8 – Veronika Eremeeva, Jr., OH, Barry
  • Aug. 31 – Lira Pukl Verdel, So., OH, Lynn
Defensive Player of the Week
  • Oct. 19 – Sydney Williams, Jr., DS, Eckerd
  • Oct. 12 – Ella Kuosmanen, Jr., MB, Florida Southern
  • Oct. 5 – Nako Sasaki, Jr., L, Florida Southern
  • Sept. 28 – Sofia Augusto, Jr., L, Palm Beach Atlantic
  • Sept. 21 – Nako Sasaki, Jr., L, Florida Southern
  • Sept. 14 – Sydney Williams, Jr., DS, Eckerd
  • Sept. 8 – Ivana Žujovic, Sr., MB, Barry
  • Aug. 31 – Sofia Augusto, Jr., L, Palm Beach Atlantic
Setter of the Week
  • Oct. 19 – Ula Gorjup, Jr., S, Lynn
  • Oct. 12 – Ashlyn Koerner, Jr., S, Embry-Riddle
  • Oct. 5 – Ula Gorjup, Jr., S, Lynn
  • Sept. 28 – Ula Gorjup, Jr., S, Lynn
  • Sept. 21 – Katie Silcott, Fr., S, Palm Beach Atlantic
  • Sept. 14 – Ula Gorjup, Jr., S, Lynn
  • Sept. 8 – Ashlyn Koerner, Jr., S, Embry-Riddle
  • Aug. 31 – Abbie Roth, So., S, Nova Southeastern

About the SSC

Founded in 1975, the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and sponsors 21 NCAA Division II sports. SSC member institutions have won 144 NCAA national championships across 15 sports and boast a Division II-leading 89% Academic Success Rate. In 2025-26, the SSC set an NCAA Division II record with nine national team championships.