.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
1,000-1,000 Club Highlight: Julia Sitarz Rebounded from an ACL Tear to Join Elite Club
10/22/2025 | Volleyball
OXFORD, Miss. – In celebration of Ole Miss volleyball's 50 seasons of competition, OleMissSports.com is proud to highlight nine student-athletes part of an elite club, who accomplished one of the rarest athletic feats in program history.
Comprised of athletes from the 1980's to as recently as 2017, Ole Miss' 1,000-1,000 club honors players who record at least 1,000 tallies in two statistical categories throughout their careers, generally kills and digs, showcasing excellence in both offense and defense.
In 1996, Julia Sitarz Henig became Ole Miss' fifth ever member of the 1,000-1,000 club, the first in five seasons for the Rebels. She wrapped her Ole Miss career as one of the best all-around players in program history. Despite a season-ending ACL tear during her junior campaign, Sitarz returned to the court with a vengeance in 1996 for another high-quality season.
Sitarz was known for being an offensive menace, accruing just over 4,000 attacks in her collegiate career. She totaled 1,357 kills in her four years with the Rebels with 1169 digs to complement her offensive prowess. By the time she walked off the court for the final time as a Rebel, she was ranked third all-time in both categories, which still stand in place for Ole Miss' sideout scoring era.
Sitarz was a staple of head coach John Blair's system in all four years of her tenure, as she spearheaded one of Ole Miss' best team season's during 1996. Capable of rotating through all six positions, the versatile athlete was one of Ole Miss' best all-around athletes of the 1990s.
Destination: Oxford
Growing up in Florida, volleyball was a calling for Sitarz. She played it year-round – on the beach, on the court, anywhere that housed a ball and a net.
Sitarz quickly established herself as capable competitor at the club level, always playing above her class. She made the U16 team as a 14-year-old and started on varsity as a freshman. Her playstyle helped her reach all-tournament, all-district and all-county teams, while earning South Florida's Player of the Year in 1992.
Sitarz was determined to continue her volleyball career at the next level. She and her high school coach, Stephanie Martin, put together one of the earliest renditions of a highlight tape with the use of a VCR camera. Using that tape, as well as a compilation of statistics and a cover letter, Sitarz got her name out to college coaches.
Martin knew Ole Miss' head coach, John Blair, and was able to act as a middleman for Sitarz as she started gaining attention from Division I programs. After Blair formally offered Sitarz a visit to Oxford, it took some convincing from Martin to get Sitarz to go. Sitarz had relatively minimum knowledge of the state, but trusted Martin's word and made the journey.
"I went on my visit in January of 1993, and loved it," Sitarz said. "Coach Blair was just a phenomenal coach and motivator. I really liked the plan he had for the program. I enjoyed my visit, meeting all my teammates. The school, I liked the smallness and intimacy of it, and just how pretty it was. I just had no idea what Oxford had to offer."
The stay was convincing enough for Sitarz, who verbally committed at the conclusion of her visit. She chose the Rebels over Appalachian State, Mercer, UCF, Clemson, and SEC rival, Florida.
As she was accustomed to, Sitarz made the jump to collegiate ball swiftly and successfully. She started as a freshman switching between middle blocker and outside hitter. She shined her first season as a Rebel by scoring 283 kills while racking up 187 digs.
She attributed her quick transition to the volleyball community she grew up with in Florida. Her vast experience playing both on the beach and indoor, as well as her capability of competing well against men outside the club landscape, made the jump to college seamless.
"I was always having to reach higher, jump harder, hit smarter," Sitarz said. "When you play all the time and with people that are better, stronger or taller than you, it makes you a better player. I could see a noticeable difference. Even though you've been playing all day, you're in such great shape. I just felt like I could jump so much higher, and I was so much faster on the court, because I had been in the sand all day."
Her prior experiences on the beach continued to serve her well as she progressed at Ole Miss. As a sophomore, Sitarz had a truly breakout campaign in which she tallied 410 kills and 396 digs. She nearly became the second Ole Miss student-athlete in the 1,000-1,000 club to account for at least 400 kills and digs in the same season, the first being Mary Ahern in 1989.
She had the best season at digging in her career, using a technique she had learned while playing beach volleyball. Rather than keeping her eyes on the blockers in front of her, she keyed in on the player hitting the ball, particularly their shoulders, which helped her position her body for the dig.
"I think that's why I was such a good defender," Sitarz said. "Even though I had a block up, I would watch through the net. I would watch the hitter, not the blockers. Then I could make that move to get to the spot where the ball was going to be."
Her efforts during her sophomore season led to an All-SEC Team nod, where she landed on the second team. On top of her kills and digs, which paced the team, Sitarz totaled 63 total blocks and 29 service aces (which also was No. 1 for Ole Miss). She was Ole Miss' eighth all-conference nod in 15 seasons, and the fourth under Blair. She had some of her best single-game performances of her career that year, totaling 25 kills on a .339 attack clip against her hometown Florida team.
"I think I got the respect in the SEC because I was the six-rotation player, and was a good passer, hitter and defender," Sitarz said. "You just had to know who No. 4 was."
However, with all the momentum on her side, Sitarz tore her ACL in her junior season. With her injury, she was forced to miss out on the last 18 matches of the season, which she still remembers specifically to this day.
Despite missing 18 matches, Sitarz was on pace to shatter many Ole Miss single season records. At the time of her injury, she had already accounted for 330 kills and 267 digs, while also adding 24 aces and 35 total blocks.
She attributed much of her recovery to Dr. Ed Field and Dr. Lynette Johnson, who were both instrumental in her recovery. Dr. Field exercised a new ACL surgical technique on Sitarz which eliminated the use of a cadaver ligament, allowing a portion of her own patellar tendon to serve as the new ACL. This technique provided for a smaller incision and lower risk of ligament repair failure.
Dr. Johnson, who was the head athletics trainer for the volleyball team, implemented a rigorous physical therapy regime that ultimately had Sitarz jumping two inches higher than she was before her injury.
"I was just motivated to get out there, get my spot back, and go to the NCAA Tournament," Sitarz said. "I wanted to be stronger; I wanted to jump higher. Every day, I had that chip on my shoulder in the gym and the training room about getting injured, and I just did it."
Having regained her confidence after the injury, Sitarz set forth to help her team accomplish its goal: reach the NCAA Tournament.
She appeared to be back to her original self, pre-injury, and tallied 334 kills to 319 digs, the latter of which led the team. In doing so, she had become Ole Miss' fifth member of the 1,000-1,000 club. She had already reached 1,000 kills in her junior season, so all that remained was the dig tally. She needed exactly 150 to reach it, a mark she never failed to reach in her college career.
On Oct. 13, 1996, Sitarz had 13 digs against Auburn, putting her at 158 for the season and 1,008 for her career. She added more than half of that total in the rest of the season to reach 1,169 for her career.
"I'm really proud of being a member of the 1,000-1,000 club," Sitarz said. "It is quite an accomplishment to achieve this mark and join the best players in program history. These statistics are just what is recorded in a game. They do not include all of the reps in practice, hard work spent during the offseason skills training and getting stronger in the weight room, everything else you do to be a leader and an elite athlete. I'm very proud of earning this spot in Ole Miss volleyball history."
"Here we are, almost 30 years later, it's humbling," Sitarz said. "It's really cool. It's a proud moment to be part of the program."
She guided the Rebels to an 18-11 overall record and helped to put them in the best possible scenario to reach the tournament. In her final collegiate match, hoping a win would be enough for a tournament berth, Sitarz and Ole Miss faced Arkansas.
Sitarz said her and her teammates left everything they had on the court. It showed in the result, as the Rebels emerged victorious in five-setter for the team's 19th win of the season, it's most since the 1989 season.
"Beating Arkansas and giving our team the best opportunity to be selected to the tournament was one of the highlights of my career," Sitarz said. "Putting that final stamp on your collegiate experience."
However, it wouldn't be enough to get the team to the postseason. As it stands, Sitarz became one of the best Rebels to ever grace the court, standing third all-time in Ole Miss' sideout scoring era in kills and digs. She also added 120 service aces throughout her career, which is fifth in the sideout scoring era.
Life After Volleyball
Sitarz listed leadership, competitiveness and confidence as three of the main things she took from her time as a Division I athlete.
She began her collegiate career on the pre-med track but switched to business with the goal of working in healthcare. After graduating, she went on to work in the hospital administration field. Her competitiveness helped her enter each interview she had with confidence that a spot would be hers, which ultimately proved to be the case.
She became an effective leader in her field because of her experience she had with a team. She found how to manage people, connect with them and how to motivate them, helping her with her success in the business world. She has worked for Baptist Health since 2004, where she currently serves as the system vice president of business development
She also stayed close to volleyball, where she's served as a volunteer assistant coach at Alabama State University since 2013. The opportunity arose when she found herself in Montgomery, Alabama, with her job and her new family. She looked to stay involved in the sport she loves and immediately found an opening with head coach Penny Lucas-White at ASU. Lucas-White remembered Sitarz from her playing days, and right away gave her a chance to work on staff.
Sitarz has remained involved with volleyball and continues to keep tabs on her alma mater. She said she still watches the Rebels compete, as well as other teams in the SEC.
The camaraderie she developed with her teammates and coaches throughout still play a special role in her life after the years. Additionally, she noted the unmatched support from Ole Miss' upper administration had been crucial in what she was able to accomplish in her career, which was historic.
"While our direct relationships might have fizzled a little bit due to life and distance, I know if we all saw each other, it would be just like yesterday," Sitarz said. "Some of my fondest memories and stories are from my teammates.
"When I reflect upon my playing days at Ole Miss, I'm grateful for the opportunity," Sitarz said. "I'm thankful for John Blair and the coaches that had a vision and trusted in me. The administration was so supportive of our program … I'm proud to be an Ole Miss Rebel."
Comprised of athletes from the 1980's to as recently as 2017, Ole Miss' 1,000-1,000 club honors players who record at least 1,000 tallies in two statistical categories throughout their careers, generally kills and digs, showcasing excellence in both offense and defense.
In 1996, Julia Sitarz Henig became Ole Miss' fifth ever member of the 1,000-1,000 club, the first in five seasons for the Rebels. She wrapped her Ole Miss career as one of the best all-around players in program history. Despite a season-ending ACL tear during her junior campaign, Sitarz returned to the court with a vengeance in 1996 for another high-quality season.
Sitarz was known for being an offensive menace, accruing just over 4,000 attacks in her collegiate career. She totaled 1,357 kills in her four years with the Rebels with 1169 digs to complement her offensive prowess. By the time she walked off the court for the final time as a Rebel, she was ranked third all-time in both categories, which still stand in place for Ole Miss' sideout scoring era.
Sitarz was a staple of head coach John Blair's system in all four years of her tenure, as she spearheaded one of Ole Miss' best team season's during 1996. Capable of rotating through all six positions, the versatile athlete was one of Ole Miss' best all-around athletes of the 1990s.
Destination: Oxford
Growing up in Florida, volleyball was a calling for Sitarz. She played it year-round – on the beach, on the court, anywhere that housed a ball and a net.
Sitarz quickly established herself as capable competitor at the club level, always playing above her class. She made the U16 team as a 14-year-old and started on varsity as a freshman. Her playstyle helped her reach all-tournament, all-district and all-county teams, while earning South Florida's Player of the Year in 1992.
Sitarz was determined to continue her volleyball career at the next level. She and her high school coach, Stephanie Martin, put together one of the earliest renditions of a highlight tape with the use of a VCR camera. Using that tape, as well as a compilation of statistics and a cover letter, Sitarz got her name out to college coaches.
Martin knew Ole Miss' head coach, John Blair, and was able to act as a middleman for Sitarz as she started gaining attention from Division I programs. After Blair formally offered Sitarz a visit to Oxford, it took some convincing from Martin to get Sitarz to go. Sitarz had relatively minimum knowledge of the state, but trusted Martin's word and made the journey.
"I went on my visit in January of 1993, and loved it," Sitarz said. "Coach Blair was just a phenomenal coach and motivator. I really liked the plan he had for the program. I enjoyed my visit, meeting all my teammates. The school, I liked the smallness and intimacy of it, and just how pretty it was. I just had no idea what Oxford had to offer."
The stay was convincing enough for Sitarz, who verbally committed at the conclusion of her visit. She chose the Rebels over Appalachian State, Mercer, UCF, Clemson, and SEC rival, Florida.
As she was accustomed to, Sitarz made the jump to collegiate ball swiftly and successfully. She started as a freshman switching between middle blocker and outside hitter. She shined her first season as a Rebel by scoring 283 kills while racking up 187 digs.
She attributed her quick transition to the volleyball community she grew up with in Florida. Her vast experience playing both on the beach and indoor, as well as her capability of competing well against men outside the club landscape, made the jump to college seamless.
"I was always having to reach higher, jump harder, hit smarter," Sitarz said. "When you play all the time and with people that are better, stronger or taller than you, it makes you a better player. I could see a noticeable difference. Even though you've been playing all day, you're in such great shape. I just felt like I could jump so much higher, and I was so much faster on the court, because I had been in the sand all day."
Her prior experiences on the beach continued to serve her well as she progressed at Ole Miss. As a sophomore, Sitarz had a truly breakout campaign in which she tallied 410 kills and 396 digs. She nearly became the second Ole Miss student-athlete in the 1,000-1,000 club to account for at least 400 kills and digs in the same season, the first being Mary Ahern in 1989.
She had the best season at digging in her career, using a technique she had learned while playing beach volleyball. Rather than keeping her eyes on the blockers in front of her, she keyed in on the player hitting the ball, particularly their shoulders, which helped her position her body for the dig.
"I think that's why I was such a good defender," Sitarz said. "Even though I had a block up, I would watch through the net. I would watch the hitter, not the blockers. Then I could make that move to get to the spot where the ball was going to be."
Her efforts during her sophomore season led to an All-SEC Team nod, where she landed on the second team. On top of her kills and digs, which paced the team, Sitarz totaled 63 total blocks and 29 service aces (which also was No. 1 for Ole Miss). She was Ole Miss' eighth all-conference nod in 15 seasons, and the fourth under Blair. She had some of her best single-game performances of her career that year, totaling 25 kills on a .339 attack clip against her hometown Florida team.
"I think I got the respect in the SEC because I was the six-rotation player, and was a good passer, hitter and defender," Sitarz said. "You just had to know who No. 4 was."
However, with all the momentum on her side, Sitarz tore her ACL in her junior season. With her injury, she was forced to miss out on the last 18 matches of the season, which she still remembers specifically to this day.
Despite missing 18 matches, Sitarz was on pace to shatter many Ole Miss single season records. At the time of her injury, she had already accounted for 330 kills and 267 digs, while also adding 24 aces and 35 total blocks.
She attributed much of her recovery to Dr. Ed Field and Dr. Lynette Johnson, who were both instrumental in her recovery. Dr. Field exercised a new ACL surgical technique on Sitarz which eliminated the use of a cadaver ligament, allowing a portion of her own patellar tendon to serve as the new ACL. This technique provided for a smaller incision and lower risk of ligament repair failure.
Dr. Johnson, who was the head athletics trainer for the volleyball team, implemented a rigorous physical therapy regime that ultimately had Sitarz jumping two inches higher than she was before her injury.
"I was just motivated to get out there, get my spot back, and go to the NCAA Tournament," Sitarz said. "I wanted to be stronger; I wanted to jump higher. Every day, I had that chip on my shoulder in the gym and the training room about getting injured, and I just did it."
Having regained her confidence after the injury, Sitarz set forth to help her team accomplish its goal: reach the NCAA Tournament.
She appeared to be back to her original self, pre-injury, and tallied 334 kills to 319 digs, the latter of which led the team. In doing so, she had become Ole Miss' fifth member of the 1,000-1,000 club. She had already reached 1,000 kills in her junior season, so all that remained was the dig tally. She needed exactly 150 to reach it, a mark she never failed to reach in her college career.
On Oct. 13, 1996, Sitarz had 13 digs against Auburn, putting her at 158 for the season and 1,008 for her career. She added more than half of that total in the rest of the season to reach 1,169 for her career.
"I'm really proud of being a member of the 1,000-1,000 club," Sitarz said. "It is quite an accomplishment to achieve this mark and join the best players in program history. These statistics are just what is recorded in a game. They do not include all of the reps in practice, hard work spent during the offseason skills training and getting stronger in the weight room, everything else you do to be a leader and an elite athlete. I'm very proud of earning this spot in Ole Miss volleyball history."
"Here we are, almost 30 years later, it's humbling," Sitarz said. "It's really cool. It's a proud moment to be part of the program."
She guided the Rebels to an 18-11 overall record and helped to put them in the best possible scenario to reach the tournament. In her final collegiate match, hoping a win would be enough for a tournament berth, Sitarz and Ole Miss faced Arkansas.
Sitarz said her and her teammates left everything they had on the court. It showed in the result, as the Rebels emerged victorious in five-setter for the team's 19th win of the season, it's most since the 1989 season.
"Beating Arkansas and giving our team the best opportunity to be selected to the tournament was one of the highlights of my career," Sitarz said. "Putting that final stamp on your collegiate experience."
However, it wouldn't be enough to get the team to the postseason. As it stands, Sitarz became one of the best Rebels to ever grace the court, standing third all-time in Ole Miss' sideout scoring era in kills and digs. She also added 120 service aces throughout her career, which is fifth in the sideout scoring era.
Life After Volleyball
Sitarz listed leadership, competitiveness and confidence as three of the main things she took from her time as a Division I athlete.
She began her collegiate career on the pre-med track but switched to business with the goal of working in healthcare. After graduating, she went on to work in the hospital administration field. Her competitiveness helped her enter each interview she had with confidence that a spot would be hers, which ultimately proved to be the case.
She became an effective leader in her field because of her experience she had with a team. She found how to manage people, connect with them and how to motivate them, helping her with her success in the business world. She has worked for Baptist Health since 2004, where she currently serves as the system vice president of business development
She also stayed close to volleyball, where she's served as a volunteer assistant coach at Alabama State University since 2013. The opportunity arose when she found herself in Montgomery, Alabama, with her job and her new family. She looked to stay involved in the sport she loves and immediately found an opening with head coach Penny Lucas-White at ASU. Lucas-White remembered Sitarz from her playing days, and right away gave her a chance to work on staff.
Sitarz has remained involved with volleyball and continues to keep tabs on her alma mater. She said she still watches the Rebels compete, as well as other teams in the SEC.
The camaraderie she developed with her teammates and coaches throughout still play a special role in her life after the years. Additionally, she noted the unmatched support from Ole Miss' upper administration had been crucial in what she was able to accomplish in her career, which was historic.
"While our direct relationships might have fizzled a little bit due to life and distance, I know if we all saw each other, it would be just like yesterday," Sitarz said. "Some of my fondest memories and stories are from my teammates.
"When I reflect upon my playing days at Ole Miss, I'm grateful for the opportunity," Sitarz said. "I'm thankful for John Blair and the coaches that had a vision and trusted in me. The administration was so supportive of our program … I'm proud to be an Ole Miss Rebel."
HIGHLIGHTS: VB at Vanderbilt
Sunday, October 19
HIGHLIGHTS: VB at Missouri
Friday, October 17
HIGHLIGHTS: Volleyball vs. Tennessee (10/12/25)
Sunday, October 12
HIGHLIGHTS: VB at Mississippi State
Friday, October 10