VICKY GENTILE SETS CLARION RECORD FOR DIGS IN A CAREER

            Clarion University senior Libero Vicky Gentile (Euclid, Ohio/Villa Angela-St. Joseph) became the all-time Golden Eagle digs leader when she recorded 61 digs over the weekend at the Carolina Challenge at Lees-McRae.

            Gentile now has 2,039 digs bettering the previous mark of 2,000 set by Melanie Bull from 2000-2003. She broke the record in a 3-0 Clarion win against Lincoln Memorial Friday night.

            “This is a nice accomplishment,” Gentile said. “It’s something I have worked very hard to achieve. I would like to thank the coaches I have had here at Clarion and in high school for preparing me well. I would also like to thank my teammates for their continuous support and encouragement.”

            Gentile holds three of the top five single-season digs marks in school history including the school record with 711 in 2004. She also is tied for third in a single season with 577 last season and had the fifth most in 2005 with 567. This season she has 184 digs (5.94 per game) while helping Clarion to a 10-0 start, the most consecutive wins to start a season in school history.

            “Vicky has worked very hard for the record,” Clarion’s first year head coach Jennifer Harrison said. “The fact that she has started since she was a freshman says a lot about the type of player she is. This year, she is a huge part of the reason our offense is running smoothly. She is phenomenal on defense and is one of our best serve receivers by far.”

            Clarion returns to action Tuesday when it opens PSAC-West play at Slippery Rock.

            GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES – Gentile and Bull are the only players in school history with at least 1,500 career digs … The previous school record for wins at a start of a season was nine set in 2002 when Clarion went 31-5 and qualified for the NCAA D-II Playoffs for the first time in school history. Overall, the Golden Eagles have qualified for the NCAA Playoffs in four of the past five seasons including last year when they went 20-12. Gentile has been on two of those NCAA teams (2004, 2006).