Janelle Burnett has stepped up into a starting role in 2012, and more than halfway through the year has shown why head coach Ed Jackson put her in that position. Last week Burnett was part of the effort that pushed Fresno Pacific to the brink, picking up 21 digs in the five-set loss. It marked the third time in the last four games that she has totaled over 20 digs, and the sixth time overall this season.
Burnett has averaged 4.25 digs per set this season, which is good for fourth in the PacWest Conference, and 289 total digs, which is the fifth-most in the conference. She set a season high against Cal State Monterey Bay with 25 digs. She has played in every set except one this year.