Mercer’s Rochefort Collects A-Sun Weekly Defensive Honor

MACON, Georgia (MERCER RELEASE) – Senior libero Emily Rochefort was honored as the Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Mercer volleyball team’s defensive efforts over the weekend. Her appointment was the first of her career and came in an announcement from the conference office Tuesday.

Rochefort led the league in digs, racking up 83 despite being sidelined by minor injury during the weekend. All told, she competed in 14 sets and averaged a conference leading 5.93 digs per set.

Her efforts helped bolster Mercer’s backline that registered 17.64 digs per set – tops in the league on opening weekend. She reached double figure dig totals in all four matches and posted a pair of 24-dig efforts against Alabama-Birmingham and Georgia State.

“She’s really aggressive,” Mercer head coach Damian Elder said. “She plays defense in a way that we’re trying to make everyone play in other areas. She’s an even better player than last year.”

Rochefort was an Atlantic Sun All-Conference second team member in 2012 and is a two-time Atlantic Sun Academic All-Conference selection.