Fleenor pre-season All-American
Emory & Henry College senior defensive lineman Josh Fleenor has been selected as a Preseason Second Team All-American by D3football.com. The Christiansburg native is one of four players from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference to receive the honor.
Fleenor started all 10 games last year and was the third-leading tackler on the team (57). He led the squad in tackles for loss (13.5), broke up five passes and had one interception which he returned 90 yards for a touchdown.
For his efforts, Fleenor was named to the All-ODAC First Team, the VaSID All-State College Division First Team and the D3football.com All-South Region Third Team.
Hokie goalie in FIFA World Cup
This week, the U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team will open the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with its first match against Japan, and Virginia Tech women’s soccer junior Mandy McGlynn is one of three goalkeepers on the squad representing both the Hokies and the United States on the 21-player roster.
McGlynn has been training with the U-20 program for over a year now and helped the team to a runner-up finish in the 2018 CONCACAF qualifier back in January as she posted a 3-1 record in four starts as the team advanced to the World Cup (view story here).
Taking place in the Brittany region of northwestern France, the U-20 Women’s World Cup is being held from August 5-24 with the Americans playing next Tuesday (Aug. 6) and Thursday (Aug. 9 vs. Paraguay). The final game of its Group C schedule is Monday, Aug. 13 versus Spain.
Bennett on PDL all-star team
One of the newest additions to the Radford University men’s soccer program, Khori Bennett, has been named to the 2018 Premier Development League (PDL) All-Eastern Conference Team following a fantastic showing this summer, the organization announced on Tuesday.
The PDL is a development soccer league which features 74 teams competing in four conferences, split into eleven regional divisions. Members of the all-conference squad were voted on by Eastern Conference clubs.
A senior forward transferring in from Northeastern, Bennett has scored a team-leading six goals in nine matches across 599 minutes to lead Reading United AC to a 15-0-2 record.
The Kingston, Jamaica native, as well as Radford teammate Kieran Roberts, will attempt to lead Reading United to the PDL title when they take on Calgary Foothills FC for the trophy on Aug. 4.
VHSL alumni campaign
The VHSL Foundation announces the launch of the VHSL Alumni Campaign. Several million Virginians are VHSL alumni. This year-long effort encourages VHSL alumni to be the team behind the team and support VHSL programming by contributing to the Foundation’s campaign.
As programs have grown, the costs to maintain these programs have increased. By contributing a gift of $25, a donor supports one student’s participation in VHSL activities for one year. Each year the VHSL serves nearly 200,000 students in 27 sports and 12 academic activities in 316 member schools.
Donors can utilize a simple and secure text-to-give program by entering the number (434) 325-5334 on a mobile phone and texting the word VHSL. Then, follow the directions to make a gift or donors can go to www.vhsl.org/foundation/ to make a gift online, as well. Twenty percent of all fundraising efforts designated to a particular school will go directly back to the selected school.
Horton commits to Kent State
Pulaski County High School’s E.J. Horton has announced plans to attend Kent State University next season to play football. Last season, the wide receiver caught 41 passes for 827 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Horton transferred to Pulaski after spending two seasons at George Wythe. He also runs track.
RU volleyball picked to finish second in conference
After capturing its sixth Big South Tournament Championship in program history a season ago, Radford volleyball was picked second in the 2018 Big South Preseason Coaches’ Poll as Haley Kleespies and Stephanie Neast were named to the preseason all-conference squad, released by the conference on Wednesday.
The Highlanders were also predicted to finish second in the 2017 coaches’ poll with two players earning preseason awards.
The Highlanders, who have won a conference record 10 regular season titles to go along with their six tournament trophies, received one first-place vote and 88 total points to rank second behind defending regular season champion, High Point. The Panthers received eight first-place votes and 96 overall points. Campbell was the only other Big South team to don over 80 points as the Fighting Camels totaled a first-place vote and 82 points.
Stous added to Hokie staff
Virginia Tech has announced the hiring of Baylie Stous as the Director of Administration for the men’s basketball program.
Stous comes to Blacksburg from Wichita State University, where she served one year as men’s basketball’s Program Assistant. She spent the previous two years as a graduate assistant in the WSU athletic department.
Her areas of responsibility include recruiting travel, event planning, fundraising organization, team meals, prospective student-athlete recruiting visits, program budget, hiring and managing the program’s student office assistants, overseeing Coach Williams’ calendar as well as other assignments critical to the day-to-day operation of the program.
During the previous two seasons at Wichita State, Stous shouldered many of the same responsibilities for the Shockers’ men’s basketball program as both the Program Assistant and Graduate Administrative Assistant.