Courtesy: GoMocs.com

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Collegiate Volleyball Update Release

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Following one of the most impressive seasons by a defensive player in recent memory, Chattanooga junior libero Lara Newberry has received yet another major accolade as she has been named Collegiate Volleyball Update’s Libero of the Year for 2007.

The Chattanooga native compiled unparalleled numbers last season as she led the nation with an average of 7.19 digs per game and broke the NCAA modern era single season digs record with 942 on the season.

In addition to those lofty national accomplishments, Newberry continued to rewrite the Lady Mocs record book throughout the year, setting the all-time digs record with 2,399 over her first three seasons and breaking the single season digs mark for the third straight year.

“I am extremely proud of Lara for being named the CVU Libero of the Year” says Chattanooga head coach Lisa Rhodes. “This award is just another way that recognizes the outstanding year she had for us here at Chattanooga. While Lara Newberry is our statistical leader in digs she brings so much more to the team in non-statistical areas, and that is what sets her apart from others”.

That outstanding year has also led to a number of other prominent awards, including being named Collegiate Volleyball Update’s National Player of the Week for October 8-14, 2007 and being chosen as the Southern Conference’s Co-Player of the Week for the same time period. The recognition continued in the post season as Newberry was named as the Southern Conference’s Libero of the Year and secured a spot as a Second Team All-Conference selection after leading the league in digs per game for the entire season.

In the Southern Conference Tournament she posted some of her most impressive performances, notching 40 digs in a 3-1 opening round victory over Elon before registering 39 digs, including the record breaking 925^th of the season, in a narrow 3-2 loss to three-time defending and eventual 2007 champion, College of Charleston in the semifinals. Those performances netted her the second All-Tournament selection of her career.

On the season, Newberry recorded 20 digs or more 27 times, 30 digs or more 10 times and surpassed 40 digs four times. Among those four performances were 45 dig totals  against Georgia State on August 24 and against the College of Charleston on October 9. Both of those came within one dig of tying the Lady Mocs single-match record of 46 set by Kylie Hunter on October 15, 1991. Overall, Newberry recorded double-digit digs in 32 of 33 matches this season.

With one season of eligibility remaining, the Chattanooga native’s greatest athletic accomplishment is likely to come midway through the 2008 season as she is only 392 digs away from breaking the NCAA modern era record of 2,791 set by Minnesota’s Paula Gentil from 2002-05.

Newberry is the first member of the Lady Mocs to be named Collegiate Volleyball Update’s Libero of the Year. The selection was based off of a combination of NCAA season totals and accomplishments as well as a formula that includes totals digs, number of opportunities and receive errors.

Newberry By The Numbers in 2007

Statistical Achievements

942 Digs in 2007 – NCAA Record

2,399 Career Digs – Chattanooga Record

7.19 Digs Per Game – NCAA Leader

7.03 Digs Per Game – Southern Conference Leader

Dig Totals

Double-Digit Digs – 32 of 33 matches

20-29 Digs – 13

30-39 Digs – 10

40-49 Digs - 4

45 Digs – 2

Recognition

Collegiate Volleyball Update’s Libero of the Year

NCAA All-South Region Honorable Mention selection

Southern Conference Libero of the Year

Second Team All-Southern Conference selection

Southern Conference All-Tournament selection

Collegiate Volleyball Update’s National Player of the Week for October 8-14

Southern Conference Co-Player of the Week for October 8-14