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In 2011, the Tigers finished with 1644 digs, nearly 15 digs per set (14.55). Towson averaged just over two more digs per set then its opponents. The Tigers had five players to record over 150 digs on the season.
It was the most digs in a season by the Tigers since 2008. Leading the defensive charge for Towson was freshman defensive specialist Paige Sekerak. Sekerak finished with 485 digs, the most by Tiger since Missy Rohrbaugh had 413 digs in 2009.
Sekerak who earned the starting libero spot before the season began got her Tiger career off to a flying start as she averaged 4.43 digs per set in the opening weekend of the season. She was named the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week for her play at the West Virginia Mountaineer Invitational.
Sekerak continued her strong play throughout the season and on Oct. 24 was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week. Sekerak averaged over five digs per set in a pair of Tiger victories this week. In the match against UNC Wilmington, she had 10 digs, a kill and an assist. On Saturday against Georgia State, Sekerak led a Tiger backline that recorded 90 digs. It was the first time since 2009 that the Tigers had 90 digs in a match. Sekerak contributed a season-high 28 digs and added four assists and a kill as the Tigers' earned the four-set win.
A week later, Sekerak was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week again. That week, Sekerak had 18 digs in a win at Delaware which helped the Tigers reach the 20-win mark for the first time since 2006.
At the end of the season, Sekerak proved to have been a valuable addition to the Tiger line-up. Sekerak was named to the CAA All-Rookie team after having a team-high 485 digs while averaging 4.29 digs per set. Sekerak recorded double digit digs in 28 of 32 matches this season and recorded 20 or more digs in a match six times. Sekerak finished her season ranked sixth in single-season history at Towson for digs.
She added a team-high 33 service aces, including seven in the match at VCU. Sekerak dished out 82 assists on the year.
With a year of experience under her belt, Sekerak returns to lead the defensive effort in 2012 hoping to propel the Tigers to even greater heights.
