Murray State University Athletics
Racers fourth in the nation in defense, Norris back among top 30 in digs
9/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Murray State women's volleyball team is ranked fourth in the nation in digs per game, topping the Ohio Valley Conference at 19.55 dpg. Freshman libero Heather Norris -- who took a brief dip outside of the nation's top 30 defenders -- finds herself ranked 28th in the nation in digs per game at 5.29.
The rankings are issued every Monday by the NCAA Web site.
Murray State is one of three OVC teams ranked among the top 30 teams in digs. Austin Peay, which MSU hosts Friday at 7 p.m., is ranked 20th at 18.19 digs per game, and Eastern Illinois is ranked 29th at 17.8 dpg. The Ohio Valley Conference has long been among the best in defense in NCAA Division I.
Tulane leads the nation with 20.6 digs per game.
Murray State opened the season ranked third in the nation for the week ending Sept. 4. The following week, the Racers were ranked 16th, and last week rose to a No. 10 ranking.
Individually, Norris opened the season ranked 14th in the nation in digs per game on Sept. 4, then fell to No. 30 the week of Sept. 11. Last week, she was not ranked among the top 30. Norris has led the OVC in digs per game throughout the season.
Kelli Dickson of Tulane leads the nation with 8.0 digs per game.
Murray State returns to action on Friday at 7 p.m., when the Racers host league rival Austin Peay at MSU's Racer Arena.
