December 20, 2002

BLACKSBURG - Three Virginia Tech volleyball players were honored Friday, being named to the 2002 Virginia Sports Information Director's All-State team. Seniors Ana Lang and Cheryl Stinson were named to the first team while freshman Melissa Markowski made the second team.

Lang started all 31 matches for the Hokies this season and was a major force on both offense and defense. The Cuba, N.Y., native tallied 454 kills on 1,261 attempts this season, placing her ninth on the school's all-time list for most kills in a single season. She recorded 437 digs this season and notched 31 total blocks. Lang finished her career with 1,065 kills and 1,075 digs, making her one of only four Hokies to ever have 1,000 or more kills and 1,000 or more digs in her career. Lang was also named to the All-BIG EAST second team and honorable mention all-region earlier in the year.

Stinson, from Ottawa, Ontario, also started all 31 matches for the Hokies this season and became one of the most prolific blockers in Tech history. She notched 143 total blocks, including 27 solo. She finished her career with 445 total blocks, placing her second on the school's all-time career blocks list. Stinson was also a threat on offense, tallying 312 kills this season on 746 attempts. Stinson finished her career with 1,029 kills, which puts her in eighth place on the all-time career kills list at Tech. Stinson was also honored by the conference, being named to the All-BIG EAST first team. She also made the honorable mention all-region team.

Markowski, a setter from Glen Ellyn, Ill., played in all 31 matches, starting 30. She led the team with 1,423 assists. She also had 128 kills, 272 digs and 29 blocks for the Hokies. Her 1,423 assists rank third all-time at Tech for assists in a season.

The Hokies finished the season with a 10-3 mark in the BIG EAST, which doubled the conference win total from a year ago. Tech was one of four teams to qualify for the conference tournament after being picked in the preseason to finish seventh out of 14 teams in the BIG EAST.

First Team
Whitney Ashcraft, Jr., Libero, University of Virginia
Dana Jones, Jr., Middle Blocker, James Madison University
Ana Lang, Sr., Outside Hitter, Virginia Tech
Erin McKeown, Jr., Middle Blocker, Liberty University
Aline Pereira, Jr., Outside Hitter, George Mason University
Cheryl Stinson, Sr., Middle Blocker, Virginia Tech
Second Team
Krysta Cannon, Fr., Setter, James Madison University
Kate Fuchs, So., Middle Blocker, James Madison University
Melissa Markowski, Fr., Setter, Virginia Tech
Caitlin Geraghty, Fr., Middle Blocker, William and Mary
Jessica Umansky, So., Setter, George Mason University
Larissa Winkler, Sr., Outside Hitter, James Madison University
Player of the Year
Aline Pereira, George Mason University
Coach of the Year
Pat Kendrick, George Mason University