FROM STAFF REPORTS

Former Thompson High School volleyball standout Lauren Sprouse, a junior at Union University, passed the 1,000 career digs milestone in Union’s first round victory over Lyon (Ark.) in the TranSouth Conference tournament Nov. 7.

Sprouse needed just one dig entering the match to reach the milestone. She currently has 1,027 career digs.

Sprouse, a 5-foot-8 libero/defensive specialist, is in her third season with the Bulldogs. The Alabaster native has been a two-time TranSouth Scholar Athlete and a NAIA Scholar Athlete to this point in her career. Sprouse was a part of Union’s 2010 TranSouth Regular Season title and helped her team to a No. 3 seed in this season’s tourney. The Bulldogs entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed and finished as tournament runner-up in her freshman season.

Sprouse was a two-sport athlete during her career at Thompson, playing four seasons of volleyball and three seasons of basketball. As a senior, she was named her volleyball team’s best defensive player and team captain. Sprouse added team most valuable player as a junior.

In 2008, she led her team with 352 digs, and was second on the team with 284 kills. Sprouse added 34 blocks and 40 aces. Sprouse also helped lead her basketball team to the state tournaments in 2007 and 2008. Off the court, Sprouse was a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and French Honor Society. She was also her school’s valedictorian.