Howard Becomes Latest Piece of Talented UVa-Wise Volleyball Recruiting Class

October 8, 2007

Seated (L-R): Jami Crabtree, mother, Lauren Howard, Crystal Mosier, Appalachia head volleyball coach. Back row: UVa-Wise head coach Steve Dallman and Appalachia Principal Buz Akridge.

Appalachia, Va. – The latest piece of a very talented women’s volleyball recruiting class was signed last Friday when Appalachia High School’s Lauren Howard inked to play for the UVa-Wise Lady Cavs next fall.

The 5-11 middle hitter is the latest outstanding scholastic player to be signed by second-year UVa-Wise head coach Steve Dallman to welcome to the program for the 2008 season.

Dallman’s current Lady Cavs’ team stands 13-8 and 6-2 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference heading into its biggest week of the year. UVa-Wise will have four season-making home matches starting with Tuesday night’s bout with Union College before hosting Tennessee Wesleyan in the special “Dig for a Cure Night” with both matches starting at 6:30 p.m.

The multi-sport athlete, Howard has received All-Lonesome Pine District first team volleyball honors the past two years. Lauren was also the Lady Bulldogs’ “Miss Hustle” awardee as a sophomore.

Howard, the Female Athlete of the Year as a sophomore for the Lady Bulldogs, keeps a very busy and very successfully scholastic schedule. Along with volleyball, the senior is part of the Appalachia High basketball, softball and track & field teams as well as a varsity cheerleader.

She earned All-LPD honorable mention in basketball a year ago while being an All-LPD first team catcher and All-Southwest Virginia utility player in softball. Howard reached the state track & field championships in all four events of the 100 meters, 200 meters, triple jump and shot put.

Howard is the daughter of Jami and Kyle Crabtree of Pennington Gap, Va. and plans on majoring in health and physical education at UVa-Wise.