Lady Cavs Wrap up Record-Setting 2007 with Awards Banquet

January 20, 2008

Wise, Va. – After making the first run in school history to the NAIA national championships, the UVa-Wise volleyball team wrapped up the record-setting campaign with its awards banquet held Friday night at a full capacity Chancellor’s House.

Chancellor David J. Prior and head coach Steve Dallman handed out the season awards including the Tri-Most Valuable Player awards to Natasha Viers (Abingdon, Va.), Britney Lawson (Rye Cove, Va.) and Kristen Salyer (Hiltons, Va.).

The Lady Cavs finished the year at 25-16 and third in the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament before sweeping through the NAIA Region XII playoffs to move onto Columbia, Mo. and the national championships.

All-Region XII and All-AAC middle hitter Viers earned the team’s Best Offensive Player while All-Region XII and All-AAC libero Lawson was the Best Defensive Player.

Senior defensive specialist Cara Hamilton (Gate City, Va.) picked up the Best Team Player honors while freshman middle blocker Maggie Berry (Clinchport, Va.) was the Rookie of the Year. Senior Leeza Dos Santos (Va. Beach, Va.) was selected as the Lady Cavs’ Most Improved Player.

Lawson and Dos Santos received volleyball Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-AAC status. Hamilton, Salyer and sophomore Kayla Dougherty (Nickelsville, Va.) made the UVa-Wise Dean’s List for the 2007 fall semester.