Goldman can dig results as libero

"I do (take pride in playing libero). My goal when I came here was to break every record I could."

Chloe Goldman

Even if you've never been to a Tennessee volleyball match, it won't take you long to figure out which player is Chloe Goldman.

Not only will she be wearing a different color jersey than her teammates, she'll be the one diving all over the floor, sacrificing her body for her team. As Tennessee's libero (a defensive specialist), it's her job - one she's nearly perfected.

The senior continues her quest to shatter the career digs record at Tennessee this weekend as the Lady Vols open the season hosting the Comcast Lady Vol Classic at Thompson-Boling Arena. UT will play Tennessee Tech today at noon and Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. The Lady Vols take on Lipscomb at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

"It's her heart," said Lady Vols coach Rob Patrick. "She deserves that record because she's put in the work to earn it."

Goldman is 288 digs short of the school record of 1,474 set by Kristy Dobson (1988-91). Goldman already holds the two highest single-season totals for digs.

"I do (take pride in playing libero)," Goldman said. "My goal when I came here was to break every record I could."

Returning alongside Goldman is the core of a team that went 22-10 in 2008, but fell in the first round of the NCAA tournament in five sets to Clemson. The Lady Vols return 10 players from last season, including outside hitters Nikki Fowler and Kylie Marshall.

"Experience definitely helps," said Marshall, a senior who's started all but three matches the past two seasons.

"You've been there, you've done that. You really can't throw any situations at us that we haven't already been in."

Fowler, an honorable mention All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association last year as a sophomore, was a preseason All-SEC selection for the second consecutive season.

Senior Farren Powe returns at middle blocker, along with junior Leah Hinkey, who tore her ACL just four matches into 2008 after two solid seasons. Hinkey's return helps to ease the loss of Alyssa Hilby, the team's leading blocker from last year who injured her knee in the summer.

Setter Kelsey Mahoney also returns. Mahoney led Tennessee in assists and service aces as a freshman last year.

"We know we have the talent to go far," said Fowler. "We want to reach that potential and get there."

Since reaching the Final Four in 2005, Tennessee has been eliminated in the NCAA tournament's first round two of the past three seasons. With the returning parts at his disposal, Patrick is looking to take his team beyond the first round.

"That's what our aim is, to be a consistent Sweet 16 contender," said Patrick. "We have to have the mindset that it's a normal thing for Tennessee to be in the Sweet 16."

Goldman's confidence in Tennessee's ability to reach that next level equals her digging ability.

"Every year it seems we've had one thing missing," she said. "I feel like this year we're complete at every position and I think we're going to go really far."

Notebook: Tickets for the tournament will be available for purchase at the northwest corner of the arena on the upper level. General admission tickets are $3, while tickets for children ages 12-and-under are $1.

Patrick Brown is a freelance contributor.