FRISCO, Texas — SFA's Katherine Holtman, McNeese's Sophia Tocmo and Northwestern State's Jade Longlad have been named this week's Southland Volleyball Players of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. All three student-athletes are first-time winners this season.
Offensive Player of the Week: Katherine Holtman, SFA – Jr. – RS – Argyle, Texas (Argyle High School)
Holtman continues to lead the offense for the Ladyjacks, totaling 47 kills, hit .281, and added 25 digs this past week. Holtman averaged 3.36 kills per set, 1.79 digs per set and 3.39 points per set. In the match against PVAMU, she recorded 15 errorless kills, hit .517, and recorded 11 digs to lead the team to a sweep of the Panthers. She followed up that performance against Louisiana Tech with a team-high 18 kills and 10 digs for her second straight double-double.
Honorable mention: Olivia Nzioki, Northwestern State
Defensive Player of the Week: Sophia Tocmo, McNeese – Fr. – L – Algonquin, Ill. (Huntley High High School)
Tocmo led McNeese's back line of defense again this week by leading the Cowgirls in digs in wins against Grambling and Oral Roberts, extend the Cowgirls winning streak to four matches. Tocmo led all payers with 20 digs against Grambling and picked up a match and career high 33 digs against ORU for an average of 7.57 digs per set last week. She also recorded her first career double double with 33 digs and 13 assists against ORU.
Honorable mention: Mia Lopez, LSU New Orleans
Setter of the Week: Jade Longlad, Northwestern State – Sr. – S – Calgary, Alberta, Canada (William Aberhart High School)
Longlad had another big week for Northwestern State as she had 131 assists (9.3 assists per set) in four matches for the Demons who went 3-1 this week. She leads the Southland in total assists (452) and assists per set (9.42).
2026 Southland Volleyball Players of the Week
| Date |
Offensive |
Defensive |
Setter |
| Aug. 31 |
Ariana Brown, East Texas A&M |
Jade Washington, East Texas A&M |
Isabella Padilla Nicholls |
| Sept. 7 |
Ariana Brown, East Texas A&M |
Jade Washington, East Texas A&M |
Lana Rjnak, UTRGV |
| Sept. 14 |
Olivia Nzioki, Northwestern State |
Emmarie McFarland, Northwestern State |
Ava Hight, A&M-Corpus Christi |
| Sept. 21 |
Katherine Holtman, SFA |
Sophia Tocmo, McNeese |
Jade Longlad, Northwestern State |