Colorado University Athletics
Simpson Earns Elusive Membership In The Thousand Dig Club
September 18, 2015 | Volleyball
BOULDER – When she made the play, seemingly an easy dig in the right front corner, it wasn't a big deal. It was something she's done 1,000 times before. Or, more to the point, something she had done 999 times prior to that play.
In the first game of a 3-1 win over Montana State Friday afternoon at the Coors Events Center, the first of two matches played on the day, junior Cierra Simpson's somewhat standard dig put her in a club that's been an elusive one to join.
Against Montana State, Cierra Simpson picked up her 1,000th career dig. #GoBuffs https://t.co/exnCXpjXnz
— Colorado Buffaloes (@cubuffs) September 19, 2015
But what makes her a special player is not that play. It's the fact that, early in her third campaign, she has already joined that list and has her sights set on more.
“I'm really excited, honored, of course I couldn't do it without my blockers helping me out,” Simpson said. “It's one of those things, I didn't realize it was coming, but now that I know, I'm going to strive for more.”
If she can accomplish that, she will obliterate the school record, one that has stood for over 20 years. Tina Murray became the first CU player to reach 1,000 digs early in the program's history and she finished just over the 1,500 mark with 1,523 by the time she graduated in 1990.
In 1991, the player with her name atop a solid majority of the CU record book, Karrie Downey, came to CU and by 1994 she had eclipsed that mark with 1,540 career digs. Those were the days before the libero was part of college volleyball, and many thought when that full time back-row player came into being, those dig records wouldn't hold.
They have held, for now. Simpson is now the 14th player with 1,000 or more career digs but she has her sights set on more. Not knowing that the CU career record was in the 1,500 range, Simpson already had put a higher bench mark in her mind.
“I'd love to have 2,000 digs by the time I'm out of here,” Simpson said.
Nobody should doubt that she can get there.
