INDIANAPOLIS --- Tusculum College's Caitlyn Dean finished third in the nation in digs according to the 2011 NCAA Division II volleyball final statistics.

Dean, a sophomore libero/defensive specialist, averaged 6.45 digs per set, while earning Daktronics All-America First Team honors for a second straight season, becoming the first player in program history to garner All-America distinction on two occasions.

After setting an NCAA Division II record last year with 845 digs, Dean led Tusculum to a third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Fort Wayne, Ind. product established a new school single-match record with 49 digs against Lincoln Memorial University.

The two-time All-South Atlantic Conference First Team and All-Region honoree is first all-time in school history with her 6.82 digs per set average, while her 1,529 total digs are the third-most ever by a Pioneer.

Sophomore setter Ashley Sarmiento finished second in the league and 39th in the country in assists per set, averaging 10.29 helpers per frame (5th in TC single-season history). The Dayton, Ohio product currently has the second-best career assists per set average in school history at 10.34. Her 2,367 total assists are third in the Tusculum record books.

Sarmiento, the 2010 SAC and Southeast Region Freshman of the Year, has also been recognized for her accomplishments in the classroom and was named to the 2011 Capital One NCAA Division II Academic All-District III First Team.

As a team, the Pioneers also finished fifth in the country in digs per set, averaging 19.54 per frame. Tusculum also finished 55th in kills per set (12.95 kps) and 57th in assists per set (11.99 aps).

Tusculum ended the season with an 18-13 overall record, while advancing to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three years. The Pioneers recorded their sixth straight winning season and 22nd in the 30-year history of the Pioneer volleyball program.

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