Kat Michaels W&L

Gina Valles Roanoke

Brooke Diamond W&L

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Scott Musa, Shenandoah
(540) 665-5417

June 8, 2008


Diamond, Michaels, Valles Lead Women’s Lax Selections

WINCHESTER, Va. – Washington & Lee University took two of three major awards in College Division Women’s Lacrosse All-State selections announced Sunday by the Virginia State Sports Information Directors (VaSID).

2008 VaSID College Division Women's Lacrosse All-State Team

Coach Brooke Diamond and senior defender Kat Michaels took VaSID Coach and Player of the Year honors, respectively, for the Lady Generals. The final major award, Rookie of the Year, was earned by Roanoke’s Gina Valles.

Diamond, in her first season at the helm of the program, led W&L to a 17-3 overall record and ODAC regular season and tournament championships. The Lady Generals, who were ranked in the nation’s top 10 for much of the season, were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Amherst College.

Michaels, who was named All-America by two different organizations and Defender of the Year by womenslacrosse.com, paced a W&L defense that allowed just over six goals per contest. Michaels caused 29 turnovers, scooped up 43 groundballs and scored six points on the season.

Both Diamond and Michaels were previously named Coach and Player of the Year by the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Valles, a midfielder, adds VaSID Rookie of the Year honors to her ODAC accolade after leading the Lady Maroons with 64 goals and 15 assists in 18 games. The scoring mark sets a freshman scoring record for Roanoke and Valles finished the year ranked nationally in goals and points per game.

USA South Conference champion Christopher Newport University, along with ODAC champ Washington & Lee, led nine different schools with players selected to the 24-woman team with five selections each. Roanoke had four, Virginia Wesleyan three and Mary Washington and Randolph-Macon two each to round out the schools with multiple players honored. Ferrum, Lynchburg and Marymount all had one player selected.

All-State teams are selected by active members of the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association.  For more information, please visit the VaSID site at http://www.ferrum.edu/athletics/vasid.