AIKEN, S.C. - University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball player Samantha Lukralle was selected as the USC Aiken Athletic Department Student-Athlete of the Week on Monday, November 16.

Lukralle (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) concluded the 2009 USC Aiken volleyball campaign with a school-record 523 digs. Lukralle broke the record in USC Aiken's Peach Belt Conference Tournament loss to Montevallo last Friday.

The 523 digs accumulated by Lukralle in her freshman season bested the previous school record of 510 recorded by former Pacer great Roxanna Rivera in 1995. Rivera is one of just three Pacer volleyball players to have their jersey retired.

Lukralle obtained 14 20 or more dig performances in 2009, acquiring double-digit digs in 30 of USC Aiken's 33 matches over the course of the year.

The Pacer libero in 2009, Lukralle ended her year with a team third-best 34 service aces to go along with her school-record dig tally.

In USC Aiken's regular season-ending match with Newberry last Tuesday, Lukralle ended her evening with a match-high 22 digs. She followed that up by posting 12 digs in USC Aiken's PBC Tournament match with Montevallo.  

The USC Aiken Student Athlete of the Week award is a newly created award for the 2009-10 athletic year. Each week the USC Aiken athletic department is going to honor one individual from an in-season sport for their hard work and effort.

Check www.PacerSports.com throughout the course of the 2009-10 athletic year to learn more about USC Aiken's Student-Athlete of the Week award.