SPARTANBURG (October 6, 2025) – Chattanooga Mocs volleyball junior libero
Caiti Barthel has been named the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week following her efforts last weekend, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
Barthel's selection for the SoCon weekly defensive award is the first during her three-year UTC career. She's also the first Moc since
Paige Gallentine in October of 2023 to earn the DPOTW honor.
Helping lead Chattanooga to a weekend split including a 3-1 win over defending champion Wofford on Saturday, Barthel finished the pair of SoCon matches with 55 total digs (6.88/set), three aces and eight assists. Barthel recently surpassed 600 career digs two weekends ago and is already nearing the 700 mark (683) after this weekend's performance.
Barthel recorded 32 digs, three aces and five assists during Saturday's win over the Terriers, who entered the match as the back-to-back league champions and were unbeaten in SoCon play this season. The effort followed a 23-dig performance during Friday's setback against UNCG.
For the season, Barthel ranks second in the SoCon in total digs (274) and third in digs per set (4.49) while sitting in a tie for eighth in service aces (19). Her season digs total (274) and digs per set (4.49) average currently ranks 28
th and 42
nd, respectively, in NCAA Division I volleyball.
Chattanooga (8-8, 2-2 SoCon) continues league play this week with a Thursday night road contest at Western Carolina (6 p.m.) before returning home to host Samford on Saturday (4 p.m.). Match coverage links are located on the schedule page at GoMocs.com, when available.
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