Lukralle Tabbed Days Inn Downtown Aiken USC Aiken Athletic Department Student-Athlete of the Month for October

AIKEN, S.C. – University of South Carolina Aiken volleyball player Samantha Lukralle has been named the Days Inn Downtown Aiken USC Aiken Athletic Department Student-Athlete of the Month for her efforts in the month of October.

Lukralle helped lead the USC Aiken volleyball team to an impressive 8-3 record during the month of October. She was named South Carolina Education Lottery USC Aiken Athletic Department Student-Athlete of the Week twice (Oct. 3 and Oct. 30) during the month.

Lukralle concluded USC Aiken’s month with a team-best 229 digs. She averaged 5.09 digs per set over the course of the month.

The junior from Lindenhurst, N.Y. closed out the month by claiming a match-high 20 digs in USC Aiken’s 3-0 win over Francis Marion on Senior Day at the Convocation Center on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Lukralle's 20 digs in the match allowed her to continue her ascension in the USC Aiken record books. Lukralle's team-best 404 digs in 2011 thus far leave her with 1,561 in her career. She is now second all-time in school history in digs, passing Stefanie Durham (2005-08) in the process. Durham ended her career with 1,551 digs.

USC Aiken Hall of Famer Roxanna Rivera (1994-97) is USC Aiken's all-time digs leader with 1,753.

The Days Inn Downtown Aiken USC Aiken Athletic Department Student-Athlete of the Month award honors one student-athlete each month from an in-season sport for their hard work and effort. Each month during the 2011-12 athletic year one winner will be chosen from an in-season sport.