INDIANAPOLIS --- Tusculum College and Caitlyn Dean continue to be listed second in the nation in digs according to this week's NCAA Division II volleyball statistics.

The Pioneers (17-4, 11-1 in South Atlantic Conference) are averaging 18.75 digs per set, which is tops in the league, while Dean (Fort Wayne, Ind.) is posting 6.68 digs per frame.

Tusculum is also 24th in the country in won-loss percentage (.810) as the Pioneers are off to their best start to a season in school history as a NCAA member institution. TC's 11-1 league slate is the best start to a conference since joining the SAC in 1999.

Sophomore middle hitter Alyssa Raterman (Urbana, Ohio) leads the Pioneers with a .393 hitting percentage, which is tops in the league and 14th in the nation. Freshman setter Ashley Sarmiento (Dayton, Ohio) is 35th in the land, averaging 10.11 assists per set, which is the best in the conference.

Tusculum will be on the road this weekend for a pair of critical South Atlantic Conference matches. On Friday, the Pioneers to take on Catawba for a 7 p.m. match. The Pioneers will be at Wingate on Saturday in a contest that could decide the conference title. Tusculum's only league loss this year came to Wingate last month in Greeneville. Both Catawba and Wingate advanced to the 2009 NCAA Tournament, along with the Pioneers.

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