--- Tusculum College's Caitlyn Dean has been named to the 2013 American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-America honorable mention team announced officials Wednesday.

Dean earns All-America honors for the third time in her stellar career, but the first All-America recognition by the AVCA. Dean was named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-American first team in 2010 and 2011 as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Dean joins former 2007 All-American Vivian Lacy as the only Tusculum players to garner AVCA All-America distinction.

Dean, a senior libero/defensive specialist from Fort Wayne, Ind., led the South Atlantic Conference in digs for a fourth consecutive season, averaging 6.03 per set, which is currently seventh in the nation. Dean became NCAA Division II's all-time digs leader earlier this season. Her D-II best 3,184 career digs are the eighth most for all NCAA divisions.

The Northrop High School graduate is second in DII history in career digs per average (6.85 dps) and her 114 career service aces are the seventh most in Tusculum history.

During her 124-match career, Dean has accounted for an amazing 40 contests with 30 or more digs, including seven times in 2013. Her 723 total digs this year are the third most in TC history.

Dean is a four-time Daktronics All-Southeast Region and All-South Atlantic Conference first team selection. She is also two-time Capital One Academic All-District first team choice.

Tusculum accounted for a 21-11 record in 2013, including 15-7 in conference play to finish second in the league standings for the third time in the last four years. TC earned the program's fifth straight NCAA II Tournament at-large bid as the Pioneers advanced to the Southeast Regional quarterfinal. TC posted the program's eighth consecutive winning season and the sixth 20-win campaign in the last eight years. Tusculum has recorded 20 more wins on 22 occasions in the storied program's history.