INDIANAPOLIS --- Tusculum's Caitlyn Dean continues to lead the nation in digs according to this week's NCAA Division II statistics.

Dean, a junior from Fort Wayne, Ind., is averaging 7.81 digs per set, which is also tops amongst all three NCAA divisions and is on pace to shatter the DII single-season record of 7.23 set by Kristen Hager of West Virginia State in 2008.

For her career, Dean has recorded 2,224 digs, which are a school record and third most in South Atlantic Conference history. Dean's 7.08 career digs per set average is the best in NCAA II history (since 2008 - 25-point, rally-scoring format).

As a team, Tusculum is one of the top defenses in the country, averaging 21.79 digs per set, just off the pace set by national leader Oakland City (22.27 dps).

Tusculum junior setter Ashley Sarmiento (Dayton, Ohio) is 63rd in the nation in assists per set, dishing out 9.76 helpers per set, which is tops in the South Atlantic Conference. Sarmiento 3,197 career assists are second in TC history.

Tusculum (18-6, 12-4 SAC) is also 44th in won-loss percentage (.750) as the Pioneers have rattled off a five-match winning streak, including Tuesday's three-set sweep over Mars Hill to take over sole possession of second place in the South Atlantic Conference.

TC will host Brevard on Friday night for a 7 p.m. conference tilt. Friday is Senior Night as the College will be honoring its four seniors (Melanie Gibson, Bailee Price, Alyssa Raterman and Sam Underwood). This senior class has put together the most successful four-year run in the program's DII history. Over the last four years, the Pioneers have posted a 79-41 record (.658), including 46-22 in SAC play (.676). Tusculum has also made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament.

The Pioneers have already clinched the program's seventh consecutive winning season and are two victories shy of TC's fifth 20-win campaign in the last seven years. It would also mark the 21st time in the storied program's history that the Pioneers have won 20 matches.

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