VIRGINIA TECH | 2017-18 WBB Team Guide

48 THE UNIVERSITY | STUDENT-ATHLETE SUPPORT | PLAYERS & STAFF | HISTORY & RECORDS 2017-18 BASKETBALL FROM A HUMBLE BEGINNING MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO, VIRGINIA TECH WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HAS DEVELOPED INTO ONE OF THE NATION’S TOP COLLEGE PROGRAMS Renee Dennis is Tech’s all-time leading scorer with 1,791 points. THE BEGINNINGS Women’s basketball at Virginia Tech began in 1970 as a club sport under the direction of coach Ganna Roberts. John Ristroph coached the squad during the 1972-73 season. In 1973, Joe Sgro, a professor at Tech, took over the team until 1976 when John Wetzel was named head coach. The team gained full varsity status beginning with the 1976-77 season. TECH’S VARSITY COACHES The Hokies’ first varsity coach was former Tech player and former assistant coach of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, JohnWetzel. He played on the men’s team from 1963-66 and then went on to play pro ball with the Lakers, Suns and Hawks before coming back to Tech to finish his education and coach the women’s squad. In his first and only season, his team recorded a 7-9 record. Taking over for Wetzel in 1977 was Carolyn Owen, whose team registered an 8-16 mark. In 1978, Carol Alfano came on the scene, and in just her second season, guided the Tech women to their first winning record. Alfano coached the Hokies for 19 seasons, guiding them to the program’s first NCAA appearences in 1994 and 1995. Bonnie Henrickson became the Hokies’ fourth head coach in 1997 and led Tech to five NCAA Tournament and two WNIT bids in her seven seasons. Beth Dunkenberger became head coach in 2004 and guided Tech to the postseason three times while at the helm. The Hokies received bids to the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2006 and advanced to the WNIT third round in 2007. Dennis Wolff became Tech’s seventh head coach on March 22, 2011. Wolff helped the Hokies rebuild, taking Tech to postseason play for the first time in nine years, as the Hokies made the WNIT in 2016. Kenny Brooks was tabbed the eighth head coach in Virginia Tech history on March 28, 2016. FIRST SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS The first women’s basketball player to earn any kind of scholarship was Helena Flannagan in 1977, when she received partial aid. Kim Albany (1978-82), who was recruited by Owen, was Tech’s first full scholarship player. Also in 1978, Sis Spriggs received a full grant, and partials went to Donna Cooper, Pauline Landis and Sandy Berry. RETIRED JERSEY Renee Dennis’ No. 44 jersey was retired at the conclusion of her career in 1987. Dennis, from Bridgeport, Connecticut, is one of only 14 athletes HOKIE HOOPS HISTORY in Tech athletic history to have his or her jersey retired. She was the first female athlete to receive that honor and one of only three so far in Hokie history. The others to have their jerseys retired are head football coach Frank Beamer, football players Cornell Brown, Carroll Dale, Jake Grove, Frank Loria, Jim Pyne, Bruce Smith and Michael Vick, men’s basketball stars Dell Curry, Vernell “Bimbo” Coles, Allan Bristow and Ace Custis, baseball coach Chuck Hartman, baseball player Johnny Oates, volleyball standout Lisa Pikalek and softball All-American Angela Tincher. PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS Dennis played professionally in Australia, where she was her division’s Player of the Year in 1989-90. Wendy Sanders played professionally in Belgium. Tere Williams became the first Hokie to be selected in the WNBA Draft, when she was picked in the third round by the Phoenix Mercury. Ieva Kublina was drafted in the third round (31st overall) in the 2004 draft by the Indiana Fever. At the conclusion of the 2005-06 season, the Hokies’ Kerri Gardin was selected in the third round (34th overall) of the WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky. Nare Diawara was drafted in the third round (30th overall) of the 2007 WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Silver Stars. Gardin, who played overseas following her collegiate career, became the first Tech player to play and start in a WNBA regular season game in 2008 as a member of the Connecticut Sun. Ieva Kublina played in Hungary, Gardin in Israel and Lindsay Biggs and Utahya Drye both played professionally in Europe. Kublina competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, and Diawara led her Malian National Team to the 20th African Nations Championship in Dakar, Senegal. However, Diawara missed the Olympics due to injury. After the 2013-14 season, the Hokies had two players sign to play overseas. Monet Tellier inked a deal to play for Artego Bydgoszcz in Poland while Uju Ugoka signed on with Italy’s Vassalli 2G which plays in the country’s top division. In addition, 2013 graduate, Alyssa Fenyn was a mid-season addition to MBK Ruzomberok in Slovakia where she had a standout rookie performance. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Christi Osborne was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America first team in 1994-95 and was a second-team member in 1993-94. Brittany Cook was selected to the third team in 2008 as was Laura Haskins in 2009. Several Hokies have been named to the CoSIDA District III Academic All-America team, including Amy Byrne (1988-89), Christi Osborne (1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95), Maria Albertsson (1997-98, 1998-99), Amy Wetzel (1998-99, 1999-00), Sarah Hicks (2001-02), Erin Gibson (2003-04, 2004-05), Ieva Kublina (2003-04), Carrie Mason (2004-05, 2005-06), Brittany Cook (2007-08) and Laura Haskins (2007- 08, 2008-09). Osborne also was a recipient of the Rawlings Scholarship Award (1994-95). Haskins was selected as the first winner of the Kay Yow Award as the ACCWomen’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. BEST OF THE METRO The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team won two championships as a member of the Metro Conference. Tech won the 1994 Metro Conference Tournament by knocking off Virginia Commonwealth, UNC Charlotte and Southern Miss in succession. The Hokies captured the 1995 Metro regular-season championship with a 10-2 league record. ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPS The Hokies captured the Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament championship in 1998 with a thrilling 66-64 overtime win over host Massachusetts. Virginia Tech won the Atlantic-10 regular-season title in 1998-99 with a 15-1 league record. NATIONAL HONORS Williams and Lisa Witherspoon were named as honorable mentions to the 1999 Associated Press All-America teams. In 1995, Jenny Root was an honorable mention selection to the Kodak All-America team. The