Total Digs 2022: Scranton’s Maddie Forry was the only 1st year player to break into the top 20 in digs (12th, 646); 2021: 4 players did it (1 from Haverford, 1 from UW-Oshkosh, 1 from UW-Superior and 1 from Trine– first 2 of those squads qualified for ’21 NCAA tournament–); 2020; 3 players did it (1 from ETBU, 1 from Averett, 1 from Mary Hardin-Baylor); 2019-1 player did it (from Texas Lutheran)

Total Kills 2022: ETBU’s Graycee Mosley was the lone 1st year player to crack the top 20 in kills (466); 2021: 4 players did it (from UW-Stevens Point, Transylvania, Drew and NW-MN, respectively); 2020-1 player did it (from Otterbein), led the nation in kills in that shortened season (301); 2019; 3 players did it (from Coe, Susquehanna and Aurora, respectively).

Total Blocks 2022: 2 1st year players finished in the top 20 nationally in this stat–Marley Aune-NW-MN (6th, 129), and Brooke Murdoch-Randolph (14th, 118.) 2021; 3 players did it (from ONU, Cortland State and Calvin; 2020: 9 1st year players did it (COVID shortened season); 2019; 1 player did it (from ONU).

Again, with the exception of Randolph and Drew, these stats come from very strong squads, most of whom have been nationally ranked, and even mostly un-ranked Cortland State has been a top SUNYAC squad.

It’s that much more of a bonus when a first-year player can step in and make that strong a contribution right away, and even though it may not happen that often, relatively speaking, it’s that much more appreciated when it does.