Hokie Hoops History 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.
men’s basketball stars Dell Curry, Vernell “Bimbo” Coles, Allan Bristow and Ace Custis, baseball coach Chuck Hartman, baseball player Johnny Oates and volleyball standout Lisa Pikalek.
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. Dawn Chriss, along with Diawara, Kublina and Williams are currently playing 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.
Academic Excellence
Hokie Hoops History
The Beginnings
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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, John Wetzel. 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. Bonnie Henrickson became the Hokies’ fourth head coach in 1997, taking over for Alfano, who served as Tech’s coach for 19 seasons.
2009-2010 Hokies
Beth Dunkenberger became head coach in 2004 and has 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.
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 (197882), 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, Conn., is one of only 14 athletes 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,
Christi Osborne was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America first team in 1994-95 and was a second-team member in 199394. 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, 200506), 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 ACC Women’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