2006 Highlights: Appeared in 26 matches and 95 games as a sophomore...was fourth on the squad with 205 digs...had double-digit digs in nine matches...garnered a career-best 16 digs in a five-game win over Miami (Nov. 4)...picked up 10 digs in a three-game sweep of Lehigh (Sept. 1)...totaled 11 digs in a five-game win over Eastern Michigan (Oct. 7)...earned 13 digs in a four-game victory over Toledo (Oct. 13)...gathered 12 digs in a four-game road victory over Ball State (Oct. 14)...had 13 digs in a four-game victory over Ball State (Oct. 27).

2005 Highlights: Appeared in nine matches and 11 games in her rookie season...collected service aces in her first three matches...picked up her first career kill against Eastern Michigan (Sept. 23)...garnered a season-high two digs in the opening round of the MAC Tournament against Akron (Nov. 15).

Prep: Helped lead Lincoln High School to three consecutive 30-win seasons during her three seasons under head coach Charissa L. Howe ... graduated as LHS's school record holder for career service points with 632 ... served as Lincoln's co-captain as a senior, leading the team with 43 service aces and 155 digs while pacing the Railsplitters to a 33-5 overall record ... earned First Team All-Central State Eight Conference honors for her efforts ... took home Special Mention All-CSEC accolades as a junior after notching 34 aces and 138 digs to help LHS to a 30-5 season and a blemish-free 8-0 conference mark that resulted in a league title ... awarded initial varsity letter as a sophomore after leading the Railsplitters to a 31-9 season and a sectional title ... racked up career-high 162 digs and 31 aces that season while also notching her first two career kills.

Club Volleyball: Played two seasons for Illini Elite and head coach Chris Belshe ... helped lead the Cardinal squad to an 18-1 record in 2003-04.

Personal: Major - Accountancy ... Birthdate - July 3, 1986.

Maria Benitez's Career Highs

Three-Game Match

Kills: 1, vs. Eastern Michigan	9-23-05
Attempts: 1, vs. four opponents	2005-06
Hitting Pct.: 1.000, vs. Eastern Michigan	9-23-05
Assists: 2, vs. UIC	9-12-06
Digs: 10, vs. Lehigh	9-1-06
Total Blocks:	n/a

Four-Game Match

Kills:	n/a
Attempts: 2, vs. two opponents	2006
Hitting Pct:-1.000, at Eastern Michigan	9-22-06
Assists: 2 at Ohio	10-21-06
Digs: 15, at Ohio	10-21-06
Total Blocks:	n/a

Five-Game Match

Kills:	n/a
Attempts:	n/a
Hitting Pct:	n/a
Assists: 2, vs. IPFW	9-19-06
Digs: 16, vs. Miami	11-4-06
Total Blocks:	n/a

Maria Benitez's Career Statistics

YEAR	MP-GP	K	K/G	E	TA	PCT.	A	A/G	SA	SA/G	SE	RE	DIG	DIG/G	BS	BA	TOT.	B/G	BE	BHE	PTS.
2005	9-11	1	0.09	0	1	1.000	0	0.00	3	0.27	2	1	2	0.18	0	0	0	0.00	0	0	4.0
2006	26-95	0	0.00	3	9	-0.333	11	0.12	16	0.17	24	22	205	2.16	0	0	0	0.00	0	2	16.0
TOTALS	35-106	1	0.01	3	10	-0.2	11	0.10	19	0.18	26	23	207	1.95	0	0	0	0.00	0	2	20.0