ROME, Ga. – Salem first-year Ella Brameus claimed the volleyball program's second league award this season and became the Spirits first USA South Defensive Player of the Week since the 2018 campaign when she received the accolade in an announcement on September 19th.

Brameus joins Aspen Bradley, who was named USA South Rookie of the Week a week ago, as recipients of a league's weekly honors at this point of the 2022 campaign. Brameus became the first Spirit to receive Defensive Player of the Week honors since Maggie Hawks earned the distinction on September 3, 2018. Hawks is a three-time winner of the award, winning it twice in 2017 on September 11th and September 25th.

Brameus' performance on the court last week resulted in a total of 53 digs (4.82 digs/set) and the first three-match stretch of double-digit dig outings of her collegiate career. Along with her impact on the Salem defense, Brameus came through with 13 kills for the Spirit offense.

Last week began with a 3-0 sweep of Ferrum, where Brameus closed with 11 digs. The Chicago, Ill., native joined Valeria Rosa Lopez, who finished with match-high 16 digs, in limiting the Panthers' offense to a -.042 hitting percentage as Salem picked up its sixth win of the slate.

Brameus continued her solid play on the back row in Salem's clash against Bob Jones in Brevard, N.C., finishing with a team-high 19 digs, while driving home six kills on Friday, September 16th. The following morning, Brameus closed out her best single-match dig outing of the season against Huntingdon, coming through with 23 digs and five kills.

Brameus and teammate McKenzie Tullock, who emerged with 21 digs, led the way for a Salem defense that amassed 90 digs in the clash with the Hawks.

"I am proud of the whole team for their performance last week," said head coach Barry Rymer. "I am also very proud of Ella for her strong play so far this year. She is continuing to learn and develop as a player."