UTM volleyball star now owns single season digs record

In a season in which she rewrote several UTM and OVC records, junior libero Kasey Elswick etched her name into the national record book in 2011, as she is the new recordholder for single-season digs in NCAA history.

Elswick's 852 digs shattered the previous benchmark in the 25-point scoring format/unlimited libero substitutions era, which was held by Lara Newberry of Chattanooga (777). All stats were compiled by the NCAA after the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament on Dec. 17.

Elswick will be officially recognized when the NCAA releases its 2012 records book next summer.

This is the latest in a long line of accolades earned by Elswick in 2011. The Louisville, Ky. native was named the program's first-ever All-American, collecting honorable mention status by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). She also brought home an AVCA All-Midwest regional award and was named the OVC's Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight time.

This past fall, Elswick set UT Martin's single-match digs record (46 in four sets at Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 23), single-season digs record (852; 210 more than the previous mark) and career digs record (1,963; 562 more than the previous mark).

The 852 digs were the most in the rich history of the OVC, and her 6.50 digs per set wound up as the second-best total in all of NCAA Division-I in 2011.

She helped the Skyhawks finish eighth in the country in digs per set (18.44), while more than tripling their win total from the previous season and advance to the OVC championship match.