DeLand, Fla. - Sophomore libero Monique Russell (Phoenix, Ariz.) became the first Stetson volleyball player since 1997 to record 400 digs in a single season, finishing with 13 on the day, in a 25-13, 25-19, 25-10 Hatters loss to visiting Atlantic Sun Conference rival Lipscomb (20-6, 9-0 A-Sun) at the Edmunds Center on Saturday. Stetson dropped to 1-24 overall and 0-9 in the A-Sun on the season.
Senior right side Brandy Worlton (Crystal River, Fla.) and freshman middle blocker Ellen Hawks (Austin, Texas) tied for the team lead with six kills each; Hawks added four blocks. Sophomore setter Kelli Carneal had 21 assists and five digs while freshman outside hitter Kaley Melville (New Germany, Minn.) tied Russell with 13 digs on the day. Russell now has 405 digs in 2010, the first Hatter since Melissa Roy 13 years ago to surpass the 400 mark, and is tied for second on the Stetson single-season list. Cindy Benge set the record with 455 digs in 1991; Russell would need to average 25 digs per match in the team's last two outings (Wednesday at Bethune-Cookman and Saturday at FGCU) to tie the record.
Alex Kelly led four Lady Bisons in double figure kills with 13 kills, 15 digs and five blocks. Charlyn Ursell added 11 kills while Meghan Hinemeyer and Kaycee Green had 10 each. Jake Pease handed out 41 assists for the defending A-Sun champions while Caitlin Dotson contributed 11 digs.
Stetson honored its six seniors (Worlton, Leslie Armstrong Stephanie Canfield, Sabrina Dodd, Kerrie Dunn and Megan Stewart) in a pre-match ceremony prior to their final home match at the Edmunds Center. The Hatters visit Volusia County rival Bethune-Cookman at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday for a non-conference match and conclude the season next Saturday, Nov. 13 at Florida Gulf Coast.
