SAVANNAH, Ga. --- Tusculum College libero Caitlyn Dean has been named to the 2012 Daktronics NCAA Division II Volleyball All-Southeast Region second team.

This marks the third straight year Dean has been named to Daktronics All-Region team, but first as a second team selection despite leading all NCAA divisions in digs, averaging 7.80 per set, which is currently on pace to be a new NCAA II record (Kristen Hager, West Virginia State, 7.23 in 2008). Her 842 total digs this year are just three off her NCAA II-record mark of 845 posted in her 2010 rookie campaign.

Dean, a junior libero/defensive specialist from Fort Wayne, Ind, (Northrop HS) has earned AVCA All-Region honors for three consecutive seasons, becoming the first three-time All-Region honoree since the Pioneers joined the NCAA II ranks in 1998.

The two time Daktronics All-America First Team honoree has amassed 2,371 career digs, which are already a new school record, second most in South Atlantic Conference history and 22nd in the NCAA II record book. Her 7.12 career digs per set average is currently the best average of any player in D-II history, just ahead of Western Washington's Courtney Schneider, who averaged 7.00 digs per set from 2004-07.

The three-time All-SAC First Team honoree has accounted for 70 assists and 34 service aces (7th in SAC), and has also been named to the Capital One Academic All-District 3 Volleyball Team this fall.

All 14 members of the first and second team All-Region squad are still playing as members of the eight-team NCAA region field, which begins play in Savannah on Thursday. First-team members advance to national balloting for the Daktronics/CoSIDA NCAA DII Volleyball All-America team.

Dean has helped guide the Pioneers to a 22-7 overall record and the program's fourth consecutive berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Tusculum also posted a 14-4 conference worksheet to finish second in the league and advanced to the championship match of the Food Lion SAC Tournament for a second time in the last three years.

The Pioneers will be the No. 4 seed in this week's NCAA II Southeast Regional, held in Savannah, Ga. TC will face fifth-seeded Lincoln Memorial in a quarterfinal contest on Thursday beginning at 5 p.m.

- TC -

2012 Daktronics NCAA II All-Southeast Region Volleyball Team
First Team
Pos. Name School
OH *Dianna Craine Flagler
OH Amanda Jones Armstrong
OH $Jessica Santaniello Armstrong
RS *Anna Hilton Wingate
MH *Brittany Wolf Armstrong
L $Casey Gnann Flagler
S Ashley Seal Armstrong

Second Team
Pos. Name School
OH Shelly Stumpff Wingate
OH Emilee Taylor Flagler
OH Samantha Parrish Newberry
MH $Blaire Fowler Lincoln Memorial
MH Rachel Stacy Flagler
L %Caitlyn Dean Tusculum
S Amelia Morgan Flagler

Southeast Region Player of the Year
Ashley Seal, Armstrong

% = 2010 & 2011 Daktronics All-Southeast Region First Team honoree
* = 2011 Daktronics All-Southeast Region First Team honoree
$ = 2011 Daktronics All-Southeast Region Second Team honoree