May 17, 2007

Greenville, S.C. - Two-sport standout Chibuzo Aguocha was the recipient of the Edna Hartness Female Athlete-of-the-Year Award and 10 student-athletes garnered team MVP honors at Furman's annual Women's Athletics Awards Banquet Wednesday evening at the Hartness Pavilion on the Furman campus.

Aguocha, a native of Houston, Texas, garnered first team All-Southern Conference honors in volleyball, indoor track and outdoor track to earn this year's top honor. She became just the 13th volleyball player in Furman history to record 1,000 career kills while also setting school records on the track in both the triple jump (indoor and outdoor) and long jump (indoor). A junior, Aguocha finished second in both events and qualified for next week's NCAA Regionals in the triple jump.

Furman women's basketball standout Jessica Lange was named the 2007 recipient of the Elizabeth Blackwell Academic Achievement Award. Lange, a senior health and exercise science major, who sports a 3.94 GPA. The Knoxville, Tenn., native is a member of the Dean's List at Furman, Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll and was recently named the 2007 recipient of the SoCon's David Knight Graduate Scholarship. On the court, Lange averaged 5.5 points per game and blocked a team-high 47 shots to finish her career in second on Furman's all-time blocks ledger.

Women's tennis coach Debbie Southern was awarded her fourth J. Lyles Alley Coach-of-the-Year citation after guiding the Lady Paladins to a 16-10 overall record and perfect 9-0 SoCon mark. Southern's club claimed its 15th SoCon regular season crown and 15th SoCon Tournament title, as well as, a berth to the NCAA Tournament. The 23rd-year head coach added her fifth straight SoCon Coach-of-the-Year honor and 11th overall as Furman extended its league unbeaten streak to an amazing 79 matches. Southern previously won the school's coach-of-the-year honor in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

Women's Banquet Honors: Edna Hartness Female Athlete-of-the-Year: Chibuzo Aguocha Elizabeth Blackwell Academic Achievement Award: Jessica Lange J. Lyles Alley Coach of the Year: Debbie Southern

Team MVP's: Women's Basketball: Chrissy Phelps Women's Tennis: Lisa Bornt-Davis Women's Golf: Kathleen Ekey Women's Golf: Blair Lamb Women's Soccer: Anna Betton Women's Cross Country: Brittany Johnson Women's Track: McKenzie Sharpe Women's Field: Chibuzo Aguocha Softball: Megan Jaudon