Best friends swap records for Lyons

Updated: October 3, 2011 7:08PM

Digs are not the most popular statistic in the game of volleyball, which makes sense that neither Laura Williams or Megan Miller knew that they were close to setting a career record in that stat.

“Actually, I had no clue,” Miller said. “I didn’t even know when I broke it.”

Miller, Lyons Township’s Wake Forest-bound senior libero, established a school record with 906 career digs after completing the Rich East Invitational Sept. 24.

Mother McAuley beat LT for the tournament title 25-19, 25-21. The two teams meet again in a nonconference match Oct. 19 in La Grange.

Miller set the record during the first round of Rich East Sept. 23 when defending Class 4A state champion LT (16-5) won matches over Lemont, Marian Catholic and St. Francis.

Miller, who already set the single-season record of 543 digs from last season, broke her own teammates’ record set three days earlier. Duke-bound Laura Williams owned the record after LT defeated Glenbard West Sept. 20 in Glen Ellyn.

“Right before Rich East, Coach P (Joann Pyritz) came up to me and said, ‘Miller, you’ll have the dig record this weekend if you play enough games. If you dig like you’ve been digging, you’ll probably break the record.’”

Considering Miller has been a defensive player for four years on the varsity, it was a matter of time before she held the record for her own. Williams is one of Miller’s best friends, the two were former neighbors, but an unlikely candidate to hold the record considering her outside hitter position.

The advantage to picking up digs is receiving more playing time in the back row. Playing libero accomplishes that.

“(Miller) has led the team with her tenacious defensive and excellent ability to read the offense,” Pyritz said.

LT already has another candidate to top Williams’ record of 863 digs after the Glenbard West match. Illinois-bound setter Alexis Viliunas is on pace to enter the record books in second place. She missed the first half of last season due to a broken wrist. Assistant coach George Ushela calls the trio of seniors: Mil, Vil and Wil.

“The record is not that big of a deal,” Williams said. “It’s more important to have the good experience of playing at LT than having the record there.”

The previous record holder for career digs was 2010 graduate Jamie Lundstrom, who is currently a libero for Belmont University. She holds the single-match dig record at that school.

For the second consecutive season, LT has a two-week break between matches. LT beat Downers Grove North 25-17, 25-20 Sept. 27 and doesn’t play again until it hosts Hinsdale Central at 6 p.m. Oct. 11.

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