CHARLOTTE – Coming off a pair of conference wins, Gardner-Webb's Sophia Kotsovolos has been named Big South Libero of the Week, while Morgan Hornaday has earned Freshman of the Week honors, the league office announced on Monday afternoon.
 
Kotsovolos, a freshman, combined for 42 digs (5.25 per set), nine assists and three service aces in two matches. On the road at Upstate, Kotsovolos posted a team-high 31 digs with seven assists – both career-highs – along with two service aces as the Runnin' Bulldogs took down the Spartans in five sets, 3-2. She followed up with 11 digs against UNC Asheville for her third-straight double-digit dig performance as GWU swept the Bulldogs at home, 3-0. 
 
As for a fellow freshman, Hornaday tallied 67 assists, 17 digs, five blocks and four kills to help GWU earn back-to-back victories. At Upstate, she dished out a team-high 40 assists, her third-most of the season, and recorded 11 digs plus four blocks for her fourth double-double of the season. Hornaday then posted another team-high in assists with 27 in just three sets against UNC Asheville. She added a pair of kills, six digs and a block in the 3-0 victory.
 
The double awards mark the first time since October 2015 that the Runnin' Bulldogs earned two weekly awards from the Big South for the week.
 
The league has now honored Hornaday twice this season with Freshman of the Week, while the Libero of the Week marks the first Big South accolade for Kotsovolos.
 
Gardner-Webb will once again hit the road for two matches this weekend as the Runnin' Bulldogs face off against Winthrop on Friday (Oct. 7) and Presbyterian on Saturday (Oct. 8). Both matches are scheduled for 6 p.m.