Palazzo Named Southern Conference Volleyball Player of the Week

Oct. 30, 2006

Greenville, S.C. - The Southern Conference announced today that Furman's Nicole Palazzo has been named the Molten Volleyball Player of the Week for the week of October 30. This marks the second player of the week honor for Palazzo this season. She was also named SoCon Player of the Month for September.

Palazzo, a sophomore from Grayson, Ga., tied a Southern Conference record last week and led the Lady Paladins to a 1-1 record. The middle blocker recorded five kills and four total blocks in the 3-0 win over The Citadel on Friday. She notched 17 total blocks (five solo) and 20 kills in the 3-2 loss against College of Charleston on Saturday.

Her 17 total blocks shatters the Furman record of 13 total blocks set by Meredith Matkin against Western Carolina on September 9, 1995, and equalled by Kristin Kiessling against Davidson on October 29, 1995. The total also ties the Southern Conference record for total blocks in a single match that was set in 2002 by ETSU's Lissa Allen.

It is believed that the 17 total blocks ranks as the fifth-highest blocking total in NCAA history. In 1995, Erica Berggren of South Florida recorded 21 total blocks in a match against Cincinnati. Palazzo's total is the second-highest in the nation this season. Earlier in the year, Destiny Clark of Arkansas recorded 18 total blocks in a match versus Ole Miss.

On the week, Palazzo tallied 25 kills and 21 blocks in two matches for Furman. She currently leads the league in hitting percentage with a .376 clip and blocks per game average with 1.46.