Dec. 30, 2009

Sabrina Baby and the NJIT volleyball team captured the 2009 NCAA Division I statistical championships for individual digs per set and team digs per set.

The Highlanders and Baby were atop their respective categories all season, and their statistical championships became assured with the completion of the national championship match won by Penn State on December 19.

Baby, the Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, led the nation with 6.27 digs per set (608 digs in 97 sets).  In addition to her on-the-court success, the GWC first-team honoree was also recognized for her outstanding efforts in the classroom by a third-team selection to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Team.

The 0.25 digs per set difference between Baby's nation-leading average and that of second-place Kim Maroon of Villanova (6.02 digs per set) was greater than between any other two consecutive spots in the individual top 50.

As a team, NJIT, which finished with a 17-11 record (7-5 GWC-3rd), led the nation with 19.81 digs per set (1922 digs, 97 sets).  Southeast Missouri State finished second with 19.29 digs per set.