C-USA Celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports Day

C-USA NGWSD Profiles

Kate Ackerson, SMU
Alex Becker, Tulsa
Liz Biland, Southern Miss
Kelly-Anne Billingy, Marshall
Ali Blackett, Southern Miss
Abby Bools, East Carolina
Shelby Burton, Memphis
Emma Cannon, UCF
Casey Dent, UAB
Sara Dyer, Tulsa
Rachel Folden, Marshall
Rachael Forish, SMU
Jennifer Fox, Southern Miss
Traci Fraser, Rice
Danielle Guccione, Tulsa
Jessica Hall, Memphis
Laura Kelley, Rice
Allison Kime, UCF
Holly Krzan, UAB
Jennifer Manis, UCF
Kate Murphy, Memphis
LaKitha Murray, UAB
Andrea Pa'lmai, Houston
Hannah Priest, East Carolina
Kellie Schmitt, Marshall
Sasha Schwendenwein, Houston
Angel Shamblin, Houston
Nellie Tchayem, UTEP
Jami Tullius, UTEP
Jessica Valis, Houston
Ginni Van Katwijk, Houston
Desarie Walwyn, Rice
Kelley Wernert, East Carolina

C-USA School Honorees

Don Carson, Memphis

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Kate Ackerson Women's Golf Allen, Texas Junior

2006-07: Shared the Kyle O'Brien Team MVP Award and the Earl Stewart Low Average Award with Lacey Jones... Qualified for the U.S. Women's Pub Links and advanced to match play after finishing second at a qualifier in Sealy, Texas, and 15th in the stroke-play portion of the event... Advanced to the second round of qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open, taking medalist honors at a local qualifier at Canyon Creek... Named to the NGCA All-American Scholar Team, the C-USA All-Academic Team and ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District squad... Finished third at the C-USA Championships and was named a First-Team All-Conference performer... Twice named the C-USA Golfer of the Week (2/21 & 3/21)... Earned three fifth-place finishes on the year - the Betsy Rawls Invitational, the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic and the Kent Youel Invitational... Finished sixth at the Jeannine McHaney with a 217... Tied for 11th at the Wolverine Invitational, shooting a 227... Finished fourth in C-USA on the year with a 74.53 stroke average over 30 rounds;

2005-06: Was one of SMU's top five as a true freshman... A third-team All-Conference USA selection... Won the team's Most Improved Player Award... Had a 78.13 stroke average over 30 rounds... Had a round of 69 at the Northwestern Invite - the second-lowest team round of the year... Best finish was ninth at the Northwestern... Also had top-20 showings at the Maxwell (17th) and the C-USA Championships (12th)... Winner of the Conference USA Academic Medal and a member of the Commissioner's Honor Roll... A 2005-06 National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar... Advanced to the USGA Women's Open Sectional Qualifier... Finished second among amateurs at the Texas Women`s Open... Tied for medalist honors with a 2-under 70 at the U.S. Women's Amateur Qualifier at Stonebriar Country Club and advanced to the U.S. Women's Amateur... Also competed in the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Sectional Qualifier at the Tangle Ridge Golf Club.

Prep: Led Allen to the 2005 Texas State 5A Championship, finishing as runner-up as an individual... Was named team MVP... A two-year captain... Selected to the All-District team four straight years... Was a first-team All-State and All-Region pick in 2005... Won the individual district crown twice and won region in 2005... Also took Allen to district team titles in 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2005 and a regional win in 2005... Was an alternate for the 2005 U.S. Women's Pub Links Championship... Won the first flight of the Trans Amateur, defeating Ohio State's Brittany Adams 4 & 3.

Personal: Lists hobbies as listening to music, watching movies, shopping and hanging out with friends... Plans to major in marketing... Lists favorite course as Ocean Hammock... Hopes to play on the LPGA Tour after graduation.

Alex Becker Guelph, Ontario, Canada Cross Country and Track Junior

Alex Becker is a two-year letterwinner as a member of The University of Tulsa women's cross country, and track and field teams. She has earned three All-America accolades (2007 Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, Cross Country), was the 2007 Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, has received numerous All-Conference USA honors and holds five Tulsa school records. Becker also qualified to represent Canada at the World Cross Country Championships after finishing third at the Canadian National Cross County Championship.

When she is not running, Becker excels in the classroom maintaining a 3.68 grade point average in elementary education. She was selected to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI Team, and was also named to 2007 C-USA All-Academic team for both track and cross country, as well as was a C-USA All-Academic medalist as a freshman.

Liz Biland Sr., 6-2, C, Racine, Wis. Women's Basketball

Liz Biland has emerged as the leader of the 2007-08 basketball team. She has been a mainstay in the starting lineup since her freshman year. The lone senior has put together a string of 75 consecutive starts. Her leadership quality landed her the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at Southern Miss and was voted her team's captain. She has tallied over 700 points, 550 rebounds, 100 blocks and 100 steals in her career, while ranking in the top 15 at the school in rebounds and blocks. She is one of only two players to record over 100 blocks in a career.

Biland is a three-time member of the Conference USA Honor Roll and is a four-time member of the Southern Miss Dean's List. Biland has participated in numerous community service projects while at Southern Miss, including the Real Readers Read Program, spoken to numerous elementary schools on the importance of staying in school, helped out in the Christian Services' Soup Kitchen and Extraordinary Eagles Program.

The Racine, Wis., native will graduate in May with a degree in sport administration.

Kelly-Anne Billingy Trincity, Trinidad Senior Volleyball

Kelly-Anne Billingy, entered the 2007 season as the nation's reigning leader in kills per game, tallying 6.68. Billingy led the team in kills for the fourth straight year with 567 in 2007, and finished her career at Marshall with a school record 2,481 kills. The senior also tallied a .346 hitting percentage and added 221 digs for the Herd during the 2007 season. For the fourth straight year, Billingy was tabbed as an AVCA All-American, a Mid-West Region All-Team member, and for the third straight year was named Conference USA Player of the Year.

The senior standout helped Marshall to a 23-9 overall record and a 15-1 mark in conference play en route to the Herd's second C-USA regular season title in three years. Billingy earned two C-USA Player of the Week accolades for her efforts, and garnered six conference awards in 2006, three in 2005 and three in 2004 during the Herd's final season in the MAC. Billingy was also named MAC Freshman of the Year in 2004.

Ali Blackett Sr., 5-6, Bristol, England Women's Tennis

Ali Blackett has produced a phenomenal career at Southern Miss. She currently ranks third on the all-time list in career wins in singles and before it's all said and done, will likely be the all-time leader. Thus far, she has won 57 matches, while losing only 18 in her three-year career. Blackett has recorded a career 44-8 record in dual match play.

For the past two seasons, Blackett has been named the team's captain. She earned All-Conference USA honors last season, recording her second 20-win season. According to women's tennis coach, Randy Rowley, "Ali Blackett is without a doubt the most well-rounded student-athlete, not just as a player but as a person, I've ever been around. When you talk about a role model, she will be successful her whole life in any thing she does. I cannot say enough positive things about Ali Blackett. She brings the type of leadership you want from a player. She has been hurt every year and she will probably leave her the winningest player in school history. She is absolutely amazing. She doesn't say a lot. She is the type of player that if you watch her, see what she does, she never bails out of a match. It doesn't matter how much she is in pain, she is going to play. She is just a warrior."

Abby Bools Hickory, N.C. Golf Sophomore

2007-08 (Sophomore): Participated in five events during the fall recording three top-5 and four top-20 placements ... Notched her first collegiate tournament victory at the Myrtle Beach Classic with a two-under par 142 (74-68) ... Named C-USA Golfer-of-the-Week on Sept. 26 ... Currently ranks 50th nationally by GolfStat and 68th by GolfWeek ... Currently owns a 73.92 stroke average and ranks fourth in the country in greens in regulation (.801) ... Her second round score of 68 at the Myrtle Beach Classic ranks as the third lowest 18-hole score in school history ...

2006-07 (Freshman): One of four golfers and two freshmen to participate in all ten events ... Posted three top-10 finishes and five top-20 placements ... Best finish came at the Pirate Fall Invitational (t-6th) after carding a four-over par 220 (72-77-71) ... Also recorded a pair of seventh place finishes in the America's Choice Mortgage (78-75=153) and C-USA Championships (77-79-70=226) ... Finished tied for 12th at the Pinehurst Invitational (80-74=154) and tied for 20th at the UNCW Lady Seahawk Invitational (70-78-83=231) ... Recorded four rounds of par or better with a career-low of 70 coming at the UNCW Lady Seahawk and C-USA Championships ... Finished the season with a 77.96 stroke average and a 234.7 tournament average ... Named C-USA Co Golfer-of-the-Week on Oct 25, 2006 after recording her first career top-10 finish (Pirate Fall Invitational) ... Earned third-team All C-USA honors ... Her two rounds of 70 rank as the 14th lowest rounds in school history ... Finished the season ranked 321st nationally by Golfweek after posting a 481-266-19 record ...

Community Service: Participated in the schools annual ALS walk, helped promote safety walking to school in the "Walk to School Day"; spent time at the local animal shelter; severed BBQ dinners at the ECU letter winners dinner; worked with the "Festival for Trees" where she decorated Christmas Trees that would later be sold/donated to the Family Support Network of Eastern North Carolina, and the local canned food drive for the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina ... High School: Lettered four years in golf under the direction of Ben Hole ... Led the Red Tornadoes to the state playoffs as a freshman ... As a sophomore was part of the regional championship team ... Helped Hickory to a second place finish in the regionals as a junior and senior ... Represented North and South Carolina in the Carolina's versus Virginia's Junior Team Matches during in the summer of 2005 ... Finished second at the 2005 NC Junior Championships ... Claimed fourth in the prestigious Charles Tilghman Junior Invitational in December of 2004 ... Ranked second in the state of North Carolina (CGA rankings) after a successful 2005 summer ...

Personal: Intended major is history ... Daughter of John and Connie Bools ... Member of the National Honors Society, National Latin Honors Society and the Beta Club ... Recipient of the DAR History Award ... Qualified for the 107th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship (2007) ... Three-time ECU Director of Athletics Honor Roll recipient ... Named to 2006-07 C-USA Commissioner Honor Roll ... Named to 2006-07 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-American Scholar.

Career Totals
Events: 15
Rounds: 39
Strokes: 2,992
Stroke Average: 76.72
Best 18-Hole Score: 68
Best 54-Hole Score: 220
Top-10 Finishes: 6
Top-20 Finishes: 9
Best Finish: Myrtle Beach Classic (2007) 1st place

Shelby Burton Senior, Volleyball San Antonio, Texas

Shelby Burton recently capped her illustrious Tiger volleyball career with 1,389 kills and 484 total blocks and as the program's first-ever back-to-back first team all-Conference USA honoree. She was also named an AVCA All-America honorable mention honoree for back-to-back seasons, becoming one of just eight C-USA student-athletes to earn back-to-back AVCA honorable mention honors. Burton capped her four-year career tied for sixth on the all-time kills ledger. Her 397 block assists ranks second all-time at Memphis, while her 484 total blocks put her third in the Tiger record book. Burton also became the first Tiger to lead the team in hitting percentage all four seasons and was named to the 2006 C-USA All-Tournament Team after helping the Tigers appear in the first C-USA Championship finals since 2003.

Emma Cannon

Emma Cannon is one of 10 freshmen to join the UCF women's basketball team for the 2007-08 under first-year head coach Joi Williams. Cannon, a forward from Rochester, N.Y., intends a major in sports management.

Cannon ranks second on the team with eight double-doubles, ranking second in scoring and rebounding with 10.7 ppg and 9.3 rpg. Cannon, who has started 14 games during the season, has provided a key spark off the bench for the Knights during their Conference USA games this season. Cannon joined the Knights after being ranked as the nation's No. 21 forward, as judged by the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.

Casey Dent Junior Volleyball Helena, Ala. (Pelham HS)

Casey Dent is a two-time ESPN The Magazine All-District IV Third Team selection and has been named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team for each of the past two seasons. She is a member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and, in 2006, was awarded a C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal.

Dent has played an active role in being a leader in the community. She has donated her time visiting the Veterans Hospital and volunteered with her UAB teammates at the 'Race for the Cure' cancer walk in Birmingham in 2006. Dent and her Blazer teammates raised money for breast cancer research in 2006 through their 'Dig for the Cure' campaign.

In 2007, Dent was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team after a stellar season on the court. In 2006, Dent helped lead UAB to its first-ever Conference USA Tournament title and appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament. This past season, Dent helped lead the Blazers to another appearance in the C-USA Tournament championship match where they lost, 3-2, to Tulsa.

Sara Dyer Softball Senior

Dyer is a three-year letterwinner and starter, who has played in 176 career games for the Golden Hurricane. Last season she became the first TU softball player to earn not only three consecutive first-team honors, but also the first Hurricane player to earn ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honors as well. Dyer is a communications major with a 3.94 grade point average. Her .315 career batting average ranks third currently, while her .515 careeer slugging percentage and .388 career on-base percentage rank second all-time at TU.

With 25 doubles to lead the nation during the 2007 campaign, Dyer tied for the career mark at TU with 44 over her three seasons at TU. Last season, Dyer led the team with a .379 batting average was the best in school history by more than 20 points. Her 67 hits on the year were the second most for a single season at TU, helping her also earn Third-Team All-American Honors by Easton. She also posted a school record with 48 runs batted in, while recording the second best totals in slugging percentage and hits.

Rachel Folden Softball Senior

Senior Rachel Folden, a career .400 hitter, enters the 2008 season as one of the most decorated catchers in the nation. With her 2007 conference best, .408 batting average and leadoff spot in the Herd's lineup, Folden is constantly a threat to opposing pitchers. Last season, Folden led Conference USA in slugging percentage (.758), on-base percentage (.560), runs scored (47) and walks (51). After being selected to her third-straight NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-American team, Folden also nabbed her third-straight conference accolade. With 13 doubles and fourteen home runs with 47 RBIs, the Baldwin Park, Calif., native guided the Thundering Herd to its second straight C-USA tournament semifinal. For her efforts, Folden earned all-tournament honors.

Entering her final season for the Herd, Folden already is Marshall's all-time leader in home runs (41) and RBIs (163). The 5-foot-5-inch slugger is on pace to break the all-time list in runs, doubles and total bases. Folden is also known for her strong play in the field as she led the team with a .975 fielding percentage with 271 putouts and picked off 10 runners during last year's campaign.

Rachael Forish Track & Cross Country Arlington, Texas Senior

2007 (Track and Field): Indoor: Competed in the Iowa State Classic and notched a 17th place finish in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 17:39.72... Also competed in the Conference USA Championships finishing eighth in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 17:36.02.

2006 (Cross Country): Recipient of 2006 NCAA All-American honors with a 35th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, posting a time of 21:24.5... 2006 NCAA South Central Regional Athlete of the Year after placing first in the Regional with a time of 20:30.4... 2006 Conference USA individual champion (17:14.54) and earned All-Conference USA first team honors after placing first in the league's championship meet, running the event in a time of 17:14.54... Posted four top-10 finishes prior to C-USA meet, including second-place finishes at the Rice Invitational (14:15.00) and Texas A&M Invitational (18:17), an eighth-place finish at the Notre Dame Invitational (17:02) and a 10th-place finish (20:40.8) at the Chile Pepper Festival.

2006 (Track and Field): Indoor: Took third in the 3,000-meter run (10:25.13) and sixth in the one-mile run at the Wes Kittley Invitational in a time of 5:13.31... Placed 17th in the 5,000-meter run at the Iowa State Classic (17:21.40)... Took fifth place in the 5,000-meter run (17:19.17) and fourth in the one-mile run (5:01.63) at the Conference USA Indoor Championships.; Outdoor: Placed fifth in the 1,500-meter run at the Dr. Pepper Invitational with a time of 4:38.29... Claimed the individual title at the John Jacobs Invitational in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:47.31... Captured first place at the Mean Green Twilight in the 1,500-meter run with a season-best time of 4:31.66... Placed second at the Conference USA Outdoor Championships in the 1,500-meter run in a time of 4:35.73... Took sixth place in the 5,000-meter run at the Midwest Regionals (17:13.06) - received an at-large bid to the NCAA Outdoor Championships... Placed 20th in her qualifying heat (16.:27.52), just missing the finals.

2005 (Cross County): Started the season placing seventh with teammate Rachel Collins at Baylor Relays... Took medalist honors at Movin' Mavs Challenge... Named C-USA Cross Country Athlete of the Week for her efforts... Placed 44th at Roy Griak Invitational... Claimed first place at North Texas Invitational... Placed 55th at pre-national meet... Took fourth place in 5k run at C-USA Championships... Selected to the All-Conference USA first team... Finished seventh at NCAA South Central Regional and was selected to the All-Region first team... Lone Mustang runner at 6k race of NCAA Cross Country Championships, placing 104th.

2005 (Track and Field): Outdoor: Placed seventh in 3000-meter run at Arlington Invite... Finished ninth at Texas Relays in 1500-meter run... Took seventh in 5000-meter run at WAC Outdoor Championships.

2004 (Cross Country): WAC Freshman of the Year selection... Placed fifth in the Mean Green Opener - her collegiate debut... Ninth-place finish at the Stanford Invite... Placed fourth at the Murray Keating Invitational... Finished in 13th-place in the Chili Pepper Invitational... Took fourth place at the WAC Championships... First-team All-WAC selection... .ran in the NCAA Championships, finishing in 204th place.

Prep: Graduated from Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas... Also participated in soccer.

Personal: Majoring in accounting... Parents are John Holzer and Anne Forish... Has one sister, Samantha... Likes to hang out with friends... Favorite athlete is Vince Young... Likes vacation in St. Thomas... Enjoys watching football, both American and European.

Jennifer Fox Sr., 5-4, 3B Jackson, Miss. Softball

Jennifer Fox has been a constant at the 'hot corner' of softball, where she has a career fielding percentage of .963. She went 29 consecutive games last season without committing an error in 84 fielding chances. As a testament to her strong will, Fox played the entire 2006 season with a broken bone in her foot and earned All-Conference USA honors. During that season, Fox played five different positions and was one of four players to play in all 61 games that season.

Fox heads into the 2008 season as one of five seniors on the roster. She owns a career batting average of .267, with 14 home runs and 99 runs batted in. She earned Conference USA pre-season honors last season. As a sophomore, she was named C-USA first team All-Conference, while earning C-USA Hitter of the Week. She was a member of the C-USA All-Freshman team. Fox has been involved in several community service projects, including helping out at the Christian Services' Soup Kitchen.

Traci Fraser Rice

Senior Traci Fraser isn't experiencing the uncertainty many of her classmates about their life after Rice. From the time she entered Rice, Fraser has known she would be move on to Baylor College of Medicine after completing her work at Rice.

As the Valedictorian of her high school class at St. Agnes Academy, she was admitted to the highly competitive joint Rice-Baylor program. But even with this assurance, Fraser hasn't slowed a bit in her academic pursuits.

Fraser chose to come to Rice because she impressed with the soccer program and thought Rice would prepare her for medical school. "I expected to be challenged, to work hard and to meet some incredible people. Rice has given me the opportunity to do both," she said.

Because Fraser is in the Rice/Baylor program, she doesn't need to have any serious jobs or internships. But you wouldn't know that from the range of her activities.

During the school year, she tutors Rice athletes in lower level math classes, and over the summer works in soccer camps at Rice. She said that through these experiences, she learned that she loves to teach, particularly explaining complex matters at a basic level--an important skill for a physician.

Fraser spent a month in Nicaragua last summer volunteering at a daycare center for of children ages 2-5 run by Mesioneras de Caridad, the order of nuns begun by Mother Teresa.

"The kids were adorable, and it was by far the best month of my life. I hope that I can volunteer in Central or South America after becoming a doctor," Fraser explained.

When she wasn't in Nicaragua, Fraser was volunteering at camps with the Rice's Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) where she had the privilege of sharing her faith with high school athletes, something she hopes to do again this summer.

Fraser is looking forward to her first year of medical school at Baylor college of Medicine.

"Although I have not chosen a particular field of medicine yet, I would like to do something that is applicable in the developing world and prepares me to address their unique health concerns. Baylor has a global health track, so I will probably get involved with that," said Fraser.

Regardless of what path she chooses, Fraser is sure to do great things in medicine. She is one of Tomorrow's Leaders.

Danielle Guccione Stratford-Upon-Avon, England Rowing Senior

Danielle Guccione is a three-year letterwinner as a member of The University of Tulsa women's rowing team. She has participated in nearly every regatta, and has been a consistent member of the Varsity 2- and the Lightweight 4+ crews. As a member of the Lightweight 4+ during her junior campaign, she helped earn first-place marks at the Wichita Frostbite Regatta, the Lawless Cup and the Midwest Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships.

Off the water, Guccione maintains a 3.548 grade point average in mechanical engineering. She was named to the TU Dean's List as a freshman and sophomore, and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll as a junior, as well as was selected as a C-USA All-Academic Honoree in 2007.

Guccione also serves as the Community Service Coordinator for the women's rowing team. She searches for various community service projects for both the team and individual rowers to complete. Guccione has volunteered for eight causes already this school year, including Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity and Stitches from the Heart, and logged over 35 hours of community service last fall.

Jessica Hall Junior, Women's Basketball Player Tallahassee, Fla.

Jessica Hall is in the midst of a comeback. The redshirt junior was forced to sit on the sidelines for each of the past two seasons after suffering three different Achilles injuries that required surgery. After completing rehab three different times, Hall is now a force on the court for the Lady Tiger basketball team, playing in every game so far this season and starting every game except the season opener against Tennessee Tech. Hall currently ranks second on Memphis in scoring with 11.3 ppg and leads the team with 27 three-point field goals made. She also ranks second on the team with 42 assists and was named to the Lady Tiger Thanksgiving All-Tournament Team earlier this season.

But while her on-the-court career was slowed down, Hall has been straight ahead in the classroom, with plans to graduate with a degree in Exercise Science in May. She has been named to the Dean's list in five of her seven semesters at Memphis and has two perfect 4.0 semesters. She has been a member of the Conference USA Academic Honor Roll all three seasons so far at Memphis and was named an Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar following last season.

Laura Kelley Rice

Running will soon take on a whole new meaning for junior track and field athlete Laura Kelley, a Kansan who is one of the Owls' top cross country and distance runners. Kelley, who was 23rd at the Conference USA cross country meet last October, is already internal vice president of the Student Association, and her next goal is the top - student government president, a position she will start campaigning for soon.

"I would like to leave a legacy at Rice and help show others that there is a whole world of opportunity available," says Kelley.

One of the most active students on campus, Kelley has made the most of her first two years at Rice. Among her duties as VP are the New Student Reps program, which organizes social events and projects for first-years, and a host of committee assignments. Kelley serves on the environmental, student life, sports and health, and academics committees, and has worked with the PowderPuff football program and is heavily involved in recycling efforts.

As part of her work as a student advocate, Kelley has helped push a resolution in favor of establishing minority studies majors and minors to the Faculty Senate. She serves on the Committee on Rice Undergraduate Programs, and helps solicit input from multiple audiences to assist in making curricular recommendations.

Other current projects for the busy graduate of Leawood, Kan., Blue Valley High School, include serving on the President's Lecture Series Committee and working on the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the college system.

Off campus, Kelley has helped coordinate Rice student volunteers at the Texas Children's Hospital as part of the CIC Envision Grant. The program started at Brown College with a small group of students getting involved, and with adjustments to the program that now allow for shared duties, there are more Rice students than ever available to lend a helping hand. Kelley says her favorite part of the program to date has been her work in assisting with the neo-natal center, adding small touches that make the experience more endurable for patients and families.

Thanks to the efforts of Kelley and her fellow volunteers, space has been set aside in the hematology and oncology section of TCH for a large mural that will help make the area more homey and welcoming. The mural will be worked on by Rice students and patients at the hospital.

Kelley works with principal investigator Dr. Rob Waterland at the Children's Nutritional Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, studying epigenetics in pediatric nutrition, which Kelley explains is how nutrition affects the differential expression of identical genomes.

Whatever happens in the next election, Laura Kelley is destined to become one of Tomorrow's Leaders.

Allison Kime

Allison Kime, a senior from Brandon, Fla., enters her third season with the UCF Knights softball team. She is a business major with a minor in sports management, and has taken over the reins as UCF's all-time top pitcher.

In 2007, Kime earned a spot on the All-Conference USA First Team, in addition to receiving C-USA Championship All-Tournament Team honors for her outstanding performance in the circle. Kime served as the No. 1 pitcher for the Knights during the 2006 and 2007 season with over 30 starts each year. She has also racked up five C-USA Pitcher of the Week awards during those two seasons. Kime has set UCF career records in strikeouts, strikeouts per seven innings, ERA, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched and batters struck out looking. Offensively, her efforts were equally impressive as she ranked third on the 2007 squad in home runs and fourth in RBI, walks and assists.

Holly Krzan

Holly Krzan, a senior from West Richland, Wash., is a three-time Conference USA recipient and All-American. Krzan earned her All-America status, as she was one out of 19 softball players to be named a National Strength and Conditioning All-American. Last season, she was named to the C-USA Softball All-Academic Team and received her fourth C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll accolade.

In 2007, Krzan continued to be a consistent offensive threat for the Blazers. She hit .309, five home runs and 33 RBIs. She also set a new UAB single-season record with 17 doubles. She was named to the Conference USA Second-Team, and was named to two tournament teams during the season.

During her career at UAB, Krzan has been very active in community service and . Krzan is the president of UAB's Student Athlete Advisor Committee, and head up the Ecuador T-Shirt drive. She has also spent time working with Big Brothers, Big Sisters and volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House.

Jennifer Manis

A senior from Pensacola, Fla., Jennifer Manis has been a member of the UCF Knights soccer team since 2005. The biology major earned the 2007 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year award this season, as she made 126 saves as the Knights' starting goalkeeper, which was the second most in UCF single-season history. Manis also tied for fifth with 10 shutouts on the year. She played all 2165:37 minutes in net with an 0.87 goals-against average.

In addition to her remarkable 2007 season with the Knights, Manis was named to the Soccer Buzz All-Southeast Region Second Team, ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Third Team, C-USA All-Academic Team and the NSCAA Women's Scholar All-America Second Team. She was also selected as one of the 20 candidates for the Lowe's Senior Class Award.

Kate Murphy Women' s Soccer Junior Anchorage, Alaska

Junior defender Kate Murphy was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America women's soccer first team following a fall season that saw Murphy help the Lady Tiger soccer team to its first-ever C-USA Championship. Murphy is the first University of Memphis female to ever be named to the Academic All-America first team.

Murphy has a 4.0 cumulative grade point average, while majoring in International Business, with minors in Political Science and Spanish. Earlier this season Murphy was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV team for the second straight year.

Murphy started all 22 games for the Lady Tigers this season. She has two goals and six assists on her record and is a part of a Memphis squad that won the C-USA crown this season and made it all the way to the 2007 NCAA Championships. She has been on the Dean's List since her first semester and was named to the Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll. She also earned the C-USA Academic Medal in 2006 and 2007, also earning a spot on the C-USA All-Academic team.

LaKitha Murray

LaKitha Murray is a senior member of the UAB women's basketball team who comes off the bench and provides valuable minutes for the Blazers. A key defensive player, she also has amassed over 400 points and 300 rebounds while playing in more than 100 games during her career at UAB.

Off the court, Murray is active within the community, spending countless hours donating her time and efforts. Along with volunteering for the Big Brother/Big Sister program, she has also leant her time and knowledge by helping with basketball clinics for area youth. Other community service projects that she has been active in are reading at Birmingham-area schools, participating in the March of Dimes "Walk America" and helping out at the Mercedes Kids Marathon to benefit the Children's Hospital of Alabama.

Murray also excels in the classroom, earning UAB Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors on Jan. 28 of this year.

Andrea Pa'lmai Back/IM/Free 5-6 • Two Letters Budapest, Hungary Mihaly Vorosmarty Gimnazium

2007 C-USA 400-Yard Individual Medley Champion
2006 C-USA 400-Yard Individual Medley Champion
2007 All-Conference USA Second Team (200-Yard Backstroke)
2007 All-Conference USA Second Team (400-Yard Medley Relay)
2007 All-Conference USA Third Team (400-Yard Freestyle Relay)
2007 All-Conference USA Third Team (800-Yard Freestyle Relay)
2006 All-Conference USA Second Team (400-Yard Medley Relay)
2006 All-Conference USA Second Team (200-Yard Medley Relay)
C-USA Swimmer of the Week (Dec. 6, 2005)

• Two-time defending C-USA champion in the 400-yard individual medley.
• School record holder in the 200-yard backstroke.
• Was a provisional qualifier for the 2006 NCAA Championships in the 400-yard individual medley.
• Daughter of Zolta'n Pa'lmai and Zolta'nne' Pa'lmai.
• Majoring in hotel and restaurant management.

Hannah Priest Women's Tennis 5-0, Senior Carthage, N.C. (Union Pines)

Fall 2007: Won six of eight (6-2) singles matches during individual tournament play while teaming with Luiza Borges to post a 6-2 doubles ledger in three events ... Booked a pair of wins and advanced to the flight finals at the season-opening Residence Inn North Wolfpack Invitational before dropping a 7-5, 7-6 match to West Virginia's Gabriela Blaskuvicova ... Tallied a pair of 2-0 marks in singles and doubles play at the Wofford Invitational before closing out the fall campaign with 2-1 singles record at the Southern Intercollegiate in Columbia, S.C. ... Partnered again with Borges for a 3-0 doubles ledger.

2006-07: Booked a 9-8 overall singles record in spring dual match play, competing at the No. 3 (2-1), No. 4 (1-1), No. 5 (1-1) and No. 6 (5-5) slots ... Teamed with five different partners to produce an 8-4 doubles result ... Dropped opening match with Presley Thomas (vs. No. 8 North Carolina) and then teamed with Mireia Gol, Varinia Soler and Borges to notch wins in eight of the next nine matches - which included a season-best six-match winning streak ... In all, went 1-1 with Thomas, 3-0 with Gol, 1-0 with Soler and 3-3 with Borges ... Participated in seven singles matches (2-5) during the fall campaign ... Enjoyed success as a doubles partner with Zandy Overcash (3-2) and Gol (3-1), combining on a 6-3 record ... Captured singles wins at the College of Charleston Invitational and Southern Intercollegiate Championships (Columbia, S.C.) ... Teamed with Overcash to reach the title match in the Sullivan's Island Doubles Draw after wins over Elon (8-6) and S.C. State (default) while also qualifying for consolation finals in the SIC ... Also advanced to the championship match with Gol at the Residence Inn North Wolfpack Invitational (A2 Doubles Draw) with victories over Liberty (8-4), Richmond (8-6) and Charleston Southern (8-5) before falling to N.C. State (8-3).

2005-06: Turned in a 10-8 overall singles ledger as a sophomore ... Won seven of 13 (7-6) events during spring dual match play, experiencing action at the No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 (4-4) slots ... Paired with Alex Smith for a 5-2 doubles record (3-2 in the fall, 2-0 in the spring). 2004-05: Produced a 6-3 singles mark and a 4-2 doubles record (with Overcash) during the fall season ... Included in the 4-2 doubles slate was a perfect 3-0 performance during the ECU Invitational ... Overall, finished freshman campaign with a 20-13 singles record (second-highest win total in program) ... Played at the No. 4 (6-1), No. 5 (3-1) and No. 6 (5-7) slots which resulted in a 14-9 spring record ... Captured one league win in five C-USA matches ... Produced a combined 7-5 doubles record (1-1 with Ralua Baicu, 1-1 with Gillie Bailey and 5-3 with Overcash), which included a 3-3 spring clip.

High School/Junior Tennis: A 2005 graduate of Union Pines High School in Cameron, N.C. ... Posted a prep career record of 111-11 in singles and doubles competition ... Helped the Vikings to three conference championships ... A three-time singles conference champion and team MVP for coach John Frye ... Also garnered two regional titles ... Did not compete as a senior after having reconstructive knee surgery ... Also lettered in soccer as a freshman ... Enjoyed illustrious academic career with membership in the National Honor Society ... Graduated in the top 10 of class ... Also served as class president, FCA officer and student government representative ... A STAR Award winner.

Personal: Full name is Hannah Marie Priest ... Born September 13, 1986 at Pinehurst, N.C. ... Daughter of Tim and Carol Priest ... A physical education major who currently possesses a grade point average of 3.98 ... Has one brother (Aaron) ... Hobbies include soccer, the beach and dancing ... Credited by athletics development staff as East Carolina's most active Student-Athlete Advisory Council member while serving as program's representative ...Has logged countless of community service hours in activities such as the ALS Walk, Down East Tennis (children's tennis clinic), St. Paul's Church (Halloween safety), Town of Washington (children's tennis clinic), ECU Canned Food Drive and the ECU Campus Recreation and Wellness Wheelchair Basketball Classic.

PRIEST'S CAREER ECU STATISTICS

Year	Singles	Pct.	Doubles	Pct.
2004-05	20-13	.606	7-5	.583
2005-06	10-8	.556	5-2	.714
2006-07	11-13	.458	14-7	.667
Fall 2007	6-2	.750	6-2	.750
Totals	47-36	.566	32-16	.667

Kellie Schmitt Pittsburgh, Pa. Tennis Junior

Schmitt earned the 2008 preseason singles rank of 19th after an 11-4 fall 2007 season with upset victories over Arizona's No. 24 player, Arkansas' No. 25, and William and Mary's No. 46 and 92 ranked players. As a singles player, Schmitt made it to the ITA All-American Championship with a final round singles loss. At the ITA East Regional Championships, Schmitt with teammate Karolina Soor defeated the No. 1 William and Mary doubles team to earn the No. 1 East Regional ranking and a bid to the ITA National Indoor Championship. The pair stunned the No. 2 seeded and No. 10 nationally-ranked Tennessee duo at the indoor championships but was defeated by the eventual champion Notre Dame, 9-7, in the quarter-finals. Schmitt and Soor earned a spring preseason doubles rank of 15th after a 9-7 fall finish.

As a sophomore, Schmitt held a 2007 spring record of 18-7 and was invited to play in the NCAA singles tournament but was defeated by Stanford's Teresa Logar in the first round. Schmitt defeated twelve top 100 players in spring play and with teammate Lynzee Kever earned a spot on the C-USA Championship Doubles Team. She ended the season ranked 73rd but was as high as 18 as well as fourth in the East and seventh in doubles with Kever. In 2006, Kever and Schmitt were named Doubles Team of the Conference USA Championships and were invited to compete in the NCAA's Doubles Championships at Stanford losing to UCLA in the Round of 32.

Since joining the Marshall squad in 2005, Schmitt has been honored with numerous of accolades. Beginning in 2006, she was selected as C-USA Player of the Week five-times, three C-USA Player of the Month honors and two C-USA First Team All-Conference. Schmitt was chosen C-USA Freshman of the Year in 2006 while earning her most prestigious honor in 2007 as C-USA Player of the Year.

Sasha Schwendenwein Free/Fly 5-10 • Two Letters Randburg, South Africa Crawford College Lonehill

2007 All-Conference USA Third Team (400-Yard Freestyle Relay)
2007 All-Conference USA Third Team (800-Yard Freestyle Relay)
2007 All-Conference USA Third Team (200-Yard Medley Relay)
2006 All-Conference USA Second Team (200-Yard Medley Relay)
2007 All-Conference USA Second Team (400-Yard Medley Relay)
2006 All-Conference USA Second Team (400-Yard Medley Relay)
C-USA Swimmer of the Week (Nov. 6, 2007)
C-USA Swimmer of the Week (Jan. 17, 2007)

• Holds some of the Top 10 fastest times in 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyle events.
• In 2008, posted UH season-best times in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyle as well as the 200-yard butterfly.
• Provisionally qualified for the 2008 NCAA Championships in the 200-yard freestyle.
• Was a provisional qualifier for the 2006 NCAA Championships in the 200-yard freestyle.
• Daughter of Abbie and Udo Schwendenwein.
• Majoring in communication broadcasting and journalism, communication print media and English creative writing.

Angel Shamblin Davia, Fla. Softball Senior

Shamblin enters her senior season on the UH softball team after earning 2007 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year honors for the second straight year and a NFCA All-South Regional Second Team selection. She is the 2008 Preseason Pitcher of the Year for the Cougars, which were picked as the C-USA Preseason Coaches Poll favorites for the third year in a row.

In 2007, Shamblin recorded a 31-9 record with a 1.42 ERA and 313 strikeouts in 271.1 innings. Her 31 wins and 313 strikeouts headlined C-USA and eclipsed her own single-season program records from 2006 Shamblin was one of 11 pitchers nationally to reach 30 wins and one of 14 pitchers nationally to reach 300 Ks. She tossed a program single-season mark of 12 shutouts, including seven against conference opponents and recorded double-digit strikeouts in 13 of 36 starts She also held opponents to a .179 batting average, which was second in C-USA, and matched the program's single-season record Her 1.42 ERA was second-lowest in C-USA and the second-lowest mark in program history. Shamblin was named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week a league-best four times in 2007.

Nelly Tchayem Track & Field Senior Joinville-Le-Pont, France (Saint Pierre HS)

Earned All-America honors during her first season with the Miners in 2007 ... finished fifth in the triple jump at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship with a best performance of 42-11 (13.08) ... won the triple jump at the 2007 Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championship (42-8 1/4, 13.01) ... also won the triple jump at C-USA Outdoors with an effort of 42-10 1/4 (13.06).

Jami Tullius Soccer Senior El Paso, Texas (Eastwood HS)

Finished career as the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league in goals and points ... tabbed as all-region player by NSCAA and SoccerBuzz ... only player in program history to register more than 100 career points, doing so with a school-record 47 goals ... tallied 12 gamewinning strikes, which also is the tops at UTEP ... member of the winningest four-year class in program annals ... two-time member of the C-USA All-Academic team and a 2005 Academic All-American ... member of the Mortar Board society at UTEP, which honors the top-50 students ... captained the soccer team.

Jessica Valis Shiner, Texas Softball Junior

Jessica Valis enters the 2008 season as the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year after earning the 2007 C-USA Player of the Year awards and a selection to the NCFC All-South Region Second team. Valis was recently named to the ASA Top 50 Watch List for their annual Player of the Year selection.

She made 52 starts at shortstop but missed last 10 games of the season due to an injury, snapping her streak of 114 consecutive starts and 771.1 consecutive innings played in her career. Valis tallied a team-best 68 hits on a .386 batting average and her 68 hits were second-most in program single-season history She notched a conference-best 22 multi-hit games, including 11 efforts in league play and hit safely in 41 of 51 games, including 20 of 21 C-USA appearances. UH was 23-6 when Valis scored a run and 18-4 when she tallied a multi-hit game She ranked in C-USA Top 10 in seven categories: batting average (.386-2nd), hits (68-3rd), triples (7-2nd), runs (36-T-7th), slugging percentage (.551-8th), total bases (97-9th) and on-base percentage (.410-10th) but improved those marks in league play: batting average (.465-1st), hits (33-1st), runs (19-1st), triples (4-1st), on-base percentage (.506-3rd), slugging (.648-4th), and total bases (46-3rd) Valis started the 2007 season on a career-best 11-game hitting streak (Feb. 9-20).

Ginni Van Katwijk Diving 5-6 • One Letter Grootebroek, Netherlands RSG Enkhuizen Wyoming

2007 NCAA Platform Diving All-America
2007 C-USA Co-Newcomer of the Year
2007 All-Conference USA Second Team (1-Meter Diving)
2007 All-Conference USA Second Team (Platform Diving)
2007 All-Conference USA Third Team (3-Meter Diving)
C-USA Diver of the Week (Jan. 23, 2008
C-USA Diver of the Week (Jan. 30, 2007)
2006-07 C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll

• One of only two seniors on the 2007-08 Cougar Swimming and Diving Team.
• Named team captain prior to the season.
• One of only two divers to finish in Top Three in all three diving events during the 2006-07 C-USA Championship.
• Daughter of Ida van Katwijk.
• Majoring in sociology.

Desarie Walwyn Rice

When she runs on the track for the Rice Owls, all eyes are on sprinter Desarie Walwyn. But her eyes are almost always focused elsewhere. The junior speedster has a heart for helping others, and is more likely to be found doing community service than hanging out with her friends.

"My dad has always stressed the importance of helping others," Walwyn said. "When I was younger and wanted to hang out with my friends, sometimes he wouldn't let me." That early discipline has taken root, and Walwyn has spent countless hours assisting those less fortunate.

"I have been feeding the homeless of Houston for as long as I can remember," Walwyn said. "It started off with just my sister, my dad and me, and now it has turned into a full-scale operation. Normally we try to do it once or twice a month."

A mentor in the Families Under Urban and Social Attack (FUUSA) organization, she also serves as an organization coordinator for Homeless of Houston. Walwyn jumps at the chance to take part in other opportunities, too.

"If more people would think about the needs of others sometimes, it would help make our world a better place," Walwyn said. "We all get sad and down about situations in life, but when we realize that there are others worse off than we are, it helps put everything in perspective. That in turn helps you give back to your community."

Walwyn, who chose Rice because of its combination of academics and athletics, was active throughout her high school years. A member of the debate team, she also volunteered at the Food Bank and at local nursing homes. In addition to her work feeding the homeless, Walwyn was president of the National Honor Society at North Shore High School, which enabled her to encourage fellow students to take part in community service.

In making the transition to college life, Walwyn has remained steady in her beliefs, but she says the environment on campus has made her more open to different ideas. "I have forced myself to step out of the box and try new things that I may not have ordinarily tried," Walwyn said.

After she completes her degree, Walwyn would like to take a year off to counsel youth in Houston before going to California for law school. She plans on working in civil rights and discrimination law, and would also like to continue her motivational speaking career. "One of the most inspiring opportunities for me came in January 2005," Walwyn said. "I spoke to underprivileged girls at Isaacs Elementary School in the Fifth Ward about the importance of going to college."

With her heart for service and a strong will to help others, Desarie Walwyn is destined to be one of Tomorrow's Leaders.

Kelley Wernert East Carolina

Kelley's killer instinct
Senior's Personal Growth Spurs Program Improvement

Consider setting a school-record with 31 kills in a single match. If you were to ask most East Carolina University students about this accomplishment, they would probably reference the popular video game Halo. But not Kelley Wernert or fans of Pirate volleyball. Wernert does her gaming on the hardwood floor of Minges Coliseum. While she surpassed Cinta Claro for the ECU career kill lead with her 10th of 30 against Memphis on October 12, the senior, who earlier this season earned National Player-of-the-Week honors from CVU.com, has more important things on her mind.

"Our main goal is to win the conference and it is what we have focused on since August. This is my last chance to go to the NCAA tournament. Individually, we are amazing but now we just have to put everything together. Our early tournaments have really helped us see not only what we need to work on but also the things in which we already excel."

While it is undoubtedly a goal of every team to win a conference title, it was never, until recently, realistic for an ECU program that had recorded consecutive winning seasons just once since its inception. Why then would Wernert, an Illinois native, even consider becoming a Pirate, especially in North Carolina, where football and basketball equate to religion?

"I had offers from other schools much closer to home like Wisconsin-Green Bay, Loyola (Ill.) and Ohio. However, when Colleen [Munson] visited me at home, she was so passionate about me joining the program. Then, when I saw the school and met the other girls on the team, I knew it was perfect for me. None of the other schools seemed right. I love how the Greenville community stands behind the Pirates."

Through her freshman and sophomore campaigns, the team struggled as the Pirates suffered through 10-21 and 11-18 seasons. Predictably, it took a toll on the young player.

"I would get so frustrated and would sometimes feel inferior to the older girls. I needed to change the way I approached the game both mentally and physically."

Enter Chris Rushing. From the moment Rushing stepped on campus, the program began to improve its self-concept by setting more realistic goals and creating an environment that supported healthy change. Wernert definitely felt the positive effects.

"From a volleyball standpoint, Chris helped us improve in so many ways such as ball control and just putting the right people in the right places with a clear mindset. He brought a different coaching style to our game which emphasized attitude, effort and enthusiasm. Personally, I became stronger in the weight room and gained more confidence as I learned more and more from him."

Expectations for Wernert and the Pirates were low in Rushing's first season with the team as ECU was picked last in the preseason poll. However, Rushing's presence spurred the team to 20 wins, a school-record nine wins in conference play, a fifth-place finish in the standings and the school's first-ever C-USA Tournament win. The next season saw continued success as the Pirates earned 19 wins with 10 coming in C-USA action. Wernert was selected to the All-Conference First Team, which came as no surprise to the second-year coach.

"Kelley matured greatly this past year and we want her to combine the things that she has learned with her strong and physical stature. She is so powerful and can overtake a match her dynamic swinging. She had a great season so we are looking for her to have a phenomenal senior year."

Those words are proving prophetic now as Wernert has set records and garnered accolades with more than half of her senior season yet to play. She was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team, has won a conference and national weekly award and has been named MVP of two tournaments, all while playing with an injured hitting hand.

"The first day of practice after the injury, I thought it would be impossible to keep playing but our trainer found a way to tape it that allows me to hit. It looks like I have a claw on the end of my wrist but I keep playing through it."

In addition to the injury, Wernert also has to fight something that many fans do not notice. It is rare and most times undesirable for a left-handed player to be the main target on the left side of the attack because it limits your setter's options. However, it is of no matter to Wernert.

"It all comes down to my teammates. Once the back row passes to the setter, she knows to set me different than she would a right-handed hitter. It takes a lot of teamwork and practice. Without the rest of the team, I would accomplish nothing."

Family is extremely important to Wernert. After all, it was her family who inspired her to begin playing. So it should come as no surprise that when considering life after ECU, the senior sought the advice of both her biological and "volleyball parents".

"I actually talked with the coaches as well as my parents about graduate school or even going to play overseas. I cannot see myself giving up the game so I either want to continue playing or go into coaching. Next semester, Chris actually wants me to coach one of his club teams. But for now, I just want to make every match count and play like these are my last days because, well, they are."

No matter how large or small of a role one plays on a team, he or she will leave a legacy behind. As she nears graduation, Wernert wants to ensure that hers will be worth remembering.

"I hope that when I graduate, people think of me as having heart and showing great effort. Everything I accomplish on the court is special but none of it would be possible unless my teammates and coaches have full confidence in me."

Ultimately, it is safe to say that Wernert's legacy will be forever etched onto the Pirate record books and into the minds of her coaches, teammates and fans.

Dr. Donald K. Carson

Dr. Donald K. Carson served the University of Memphis for 27 years in the area of Student Services. As the Vice President of Student Affairs, Carson was given the task of helping create and support a women's intercollegiate athletics program at the university. A former collegiate athlete at the University of Kentucky, Carson knew well the value of competition and the life lessons learned through collegiate athletics and worked to present those same opportunities to female athletes.

Along with Ms. Elma Roane, Carson helped hire coaches, created and funded scholarships and essentially build an athletic program from the ground up. Because of his leadership and unwavering support, the women's athletic teams that we know today at the University of Memphis came in to being.

In early year, Don and his young family, sons Chris and Todd and daughter Molly, could be found front and center at Lady Tiger games. Carson often refers to that period as one of the most rewarding of his career.

Today, Carson enjoys retirement with his wife, Mary Jo, and his role as Granddad. He also serves on the Tiger Scholarship Fund Board of Directors, continuing to help raise money for Tiger student-athletes' scholarships and to continue to offer females the chance to compete at the intercollegiate level while obtaining their degrees.