Junior Skylar Raskevitz cemented herself as one of the best liberos in program history. During the team's contest versus Lasell University, she became the first player in Dean College volleyball history to surpass 1,000 career digs. Read more about the moment and Raskevitz's career down below:
GETTING TO THE MOMENT
Prior to the 2024 season, Raskevitz entered with exactly 700 digs, needing only 300 more to surpass the four-digit mark. By this point in time, Raskevitz was already among Dean volleyball royalty. In the final game of the 2023 season, Raskevitz successfully passed alumnus Melanie Rios-Nevarez (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico) for the most digs in program history. Rios-Nevarez held the previous record with 689 digs over three seasons (2017-2019). Raskevitz scored 16 digs against Norwich to claim the record.
With her junior year on the horizon, the libero now had her sights set on unchartered territory. She was looking to become the first player in program history to hit 1,000 digs.
Prior to the 2024 season, Raskevitz was named co-captain of the women's volleyball's team, sharing the honor with seniors Anabella Driscoll (Plymouth, MA) and Janai Price (Providence, RI). This propelled her into the first match of the season, recording 14 digs, an assist, and four service aces in the team's 3-1 victory over Bay Path.
The momentum would continue to increase from there. The libero would record over 20 digs in three of the next five matches, along with multiple assists. She would also play a key factor in the team's conference victories over Albertus Magnus, New England College, and Rivier University.
RASKEVITZ MAKES HISTORY
It wasn't going to be easy for the libero to reach four-digit digs. The team would have to face two strong conference opponents in a tri-match with Lasell and Norwich (@ Norwich). However, even with the extra adversity, it didn't take Raskevitz long to secure the mark.
In the opening match with Lasell, Raskevitz would need just five digs to set the record. Lasell would jump out to the early lead, scoring the first four points of the opening set. However, with Dean quickly surging back, history was made. On a return by Lasell, Raskevitz would lunge and make the play to secure her 1,000th career dig. The Bulldogs would go-on to fall to Lasell, but bounce back in a 3-0 conference victory over Norwich.
Raskevitz would finish the season with 398 digs, the second-highest total of her career (439, 2023). She now holds 1,098 career digs going into her senior campaign, with her eyes on yet another milestone: 1,500.