MCLA's Lane Reaches Dig Milestone

December 2, 2009

By Jason Kenney, Somerset Spectator

NORTH ADAMS - Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts junior Amanda Lane, a 2007 graduate of Case High School, recently reached the 1000 career dig milestone on the women's volleyball team at the school. With 417 total digs this season, she also led the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MACAC) in digs, averaging a stellar 5.38 digs per game.

"I feel it's a great accomplishment and I am very proud for reaching it in my junior year," said Lane about reaching 1000 career digs. "Like most sports, volleyball is very team oriented, but it is nice to be recognized for individual accomplishments as well."

MCLA women's head volleyball coach Amanda Beckwith said she was very proud of Lane for her accomplishment.

"I am very proud of Amanda for reaching her 1000th dig," she said. "Amanda has the ability to read the ball well and loves being challenged by opponents. Amanda, who we call L, is one of our co-captains this season and she understands the sport very well. L is quick on her feet and covers hitters well."

Coach Beckwith said that Lane has had a big impact on the team the past three seasons.

"Amanda has played a significant role the last three years here at MCLA," she said. "Amanda started her first year as a defensive specialist and has gone on these past two seasons to be our libero. She has anchored our defense and is one of the best passers on our team."

During her freshman campaign, Lane appeared in 15 matches and 51 games, collecting 316 digs and 18 service aces, with a .844 receiving percentage. During the following season, she appeared in 26 matches and 87 games, accumulating 345 digs and 42 service aces, with a .880 receiving percentage. She was also named Second Team All-MASCAC at the end of the season.

This year, Lane had her best season to date, appearing in 24 matches and 82 games, while compiling a team and conference leading 441 digs, with an astounding .904 receiving percentage.

Despite having so much success, Lane said she never expected to be her college's leader in digs.

"I couldn't say that I expected to be among the team and conference dig leaders, but I certainly have always pushed to do my best every time I step onto the court," she said. "I know I'm helping the team by doing my part in the team's success. Honestly, I hadn't even thought about my individual stats until another team member brought it to my attention that I was getting close to my 1,000th dig."

With so many individual accomplishments, Lane said her biggest highlight of the past three seasons is her team finishing with a 15-11 record her freshmen year.

"I am still proud of our final record my freshmen year," she said. "Previous years had been very rough for the MCLA volleyball team including the year before I came to the college. The team won only five times for the entire season. With eight new freshmen and four starting, we tripled the previous year's record with a final record of 15-11. That still seems to be quite an accomplishment to me and we continue to get stronger as a team every year."

Although she hasn't played volleyball at the high school level since 2006, Lane credits Denise Levesque, head coach of the Case High School and Coastal' volleyball teams, for molding her into the player she has become today.

"I've known Coach Levesque long before I joined the volleyball team for my final year of high school," she said. "I had already learned so much from her when I was on her Coastal team along with my sister. The Coastal program was the biggest factor in building my skills as a volleyball player. Without that strong base, I would never be the player I am today."

Lastly, when asked what she likes most about volleyball, Lane said she likes the adrenaline rush it gives her.

"The most exhilarating part of volleyball is after a long volley, when every person on the court has had a touch on the ball and your team is working hard and finally gets everything together to make an awesome play to win the point, you come together in the middle with your teammates and you feel like nothing can break you. It's an adrenaline rush that I couldn't do without," she said.