Courtesy: GoMocs.com

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NCAA Statistics and Records

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Junior libero Lara Newberry (Chattanooga, Tenn.) capped off her record-setting 2007 campaign with yet another record, perhaps her most impressive, on November 17 when she recorded her 925^th dig of the season to break the NCAA’s Modern Era Single Season Digs record.

Newberry entered the Southern Conference Tournament needing 61 digs to break the 2004 record of 924 set by Minnesota’s Paula Gentil and recorded 40 digs in a quarterfinal win over Elon on November 16. The following day against three-time defending conference champion, and eventual 2007 Southern Conference Champion, College of Charleston, the Chattanooga native collected 39 digs to push her total to 942 digs and claim the record.

It is far from the first major record for Newberry, and certainly not the first one this season. In 2007 she has broken numerous Chattanooga records, including shattering Kylie Hunter’s (1990-93) all-time digs record of 2,058 with 2,399 for her career and resetting her own single-season mark of 736 digs with 942 this season. Newberry broke the Lady Mocs all-time digs record with 35 against Lipscomb on October 16 and set the single season mark with 25 digs at Western Carolina on October 30. She also holds the top three marks for single-season dig totals having posted 721 digs in 2006.

During the season she recorded 20 digs or more 26 times, including 14 times with 30 or more and four times with 40 or more digs, including 45 twice. Those performances came against Georgia State on August 24 and then against the College of Charleston on October 9 and were within one of tying the Lady Mocs single-match record of 46 set by Hunter on October 15, 1991. Overall, Newberry recorded double-digit digs in 32 of 33 matches this season.

In addition to her many records from this season, Newberry also currently leads the NCAA in digs per game with an average of 7.19 and has led the nation all season long in that category.

With one season of eligibility remaining, Newberry is currently 392 digs away from surpassing the NCAA’s All-Time Modern Era Digs Record and will likely accomplish that feat in the first half of the 2008 season. That mark is currently held by Paula Gentil who recorded 2,791 digs from 2002-05 for Minnesota.

The Modern Era Record for Digs began in 2004 when the NCAA switched over to a 30-point format with unlimited libero substitutions. This distinction allows the accomplishments of players that competed prior to this time to remain intact while recognizing the achievements of players currently competing under the current standards. For more information on this and other records, please consult the 2007 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Record Book.