Tusculum's Caitlyn Dean establishes NCAA digs record

SALISBURY, N.C. --- Tusculum College freshman libero Caitlyn Dean has established a new NCAA Division II single-season record with 822 digs.

Dean, a 5-5 rookie from Fort Wayne, Ind., set the record in Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Wingate in the championship match of the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament.

Dean’s 822 digs breaks the previous record of 795 by Lauren Flynn of Texas A&M-Commerce.  Flynn achieved the feat in 128 sets, while Dean’s current mark was accomplished in 115 sets.

Dean is currently averaging 7.15 digs per set, which is the second highest average in NCAA II history (25-point scoring format), second only to the 7.23 dps established by Kristen Hager of West Virginia State in 2008.

It has been an outstanding freshman season for Dean, who earned All-SAC First Team honors, while also being named to the SAC All-Freshman team earlier this week.  She was also named to the SAC All-Tournament Team as the Pioneers advanced to the Conference Tournament championship match for the first time in school history.

Tusculum (25-6) will learn its postseason fate on Sunday night at 10 p.m. as the NCAA Tournament field is announced.  The Pioneers are currently ranked third in the Division II Southeast Region.