Skidmore Volleyball's top defensive player of all time, Lauren Dinsdale '10, “is recognized nationally as one of the best liberos to have played the game,” observes Head Coach Hilda Arrechea. Dinsdale holds the National Collegiate Athletic Association record for most digs in a season (1,118 in 2007) and second all-time record for career digs in NCAA Div. III (3,717).
Volleyball Liberty League Rookie of the Year in 2006, she was named to Liberty League's First Team and Championship All-Tournament Team for all four years. Dinsdale was a New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association First Team All-State selection in 2006, and chosen NYSWCA Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 and Conference Player of theYear in 2008 and 2009. Her stand-out performance on the court earned her American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA All-American honors all four years of her career.
While leading the volleyball team as captain her junior and senior years, she also had a prolific career as a member of the softball team, captaining them to the two winningest seasons in Skidmore Softball history. Dinsdale holds the Skidmore season record for HR and hitting streak, and still co-owns single game records for triples, HR and total bases. She remains the all-time leader in hits, HR and total bases and is second in career RBI and runs scored.
In the nomination that led to Dinsdale winning the prestigious Skidmore Senior Athlete Award (2010), Head Softball Coach Kelly Schwarz said, "I have not seen a student athlete that matches Lauren's ability to anticipate and see the game. There are no stats to measure an understanding of the game. There are no stats that show her quiet passion and commitment to sport. She has a love of the game that she passes on to her teammates.”
