Furman Announces 2005-06 MVP's At Annual Awards Banquet

May 17, 2006

Greenville, S.C. -- Senior Andre'a Morrison was the recipient of the Edna Hartness Female Athlete-of-the-Year Award at Furman's annual Women's Athletics Awards Banquet Wednesday night at Timmons Arena.

Morrison tallied 15 goals, four assists and 34 total points to lead the Lady Paladin soccer team to a 14-6-2 overall mark and 7-1-2 league record in 2005. The Kernersville, N.C., native was name first team All-SoCon and 2005 CoSIDA Academic All-District III third team. Morrison also garnered Southern Conference Player-of-the-Week, TIAA Cref Student-Athlete of the Week and Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the week honors during her senior campaign. She also earned SoCon Athlete-of-the-Month honors.

Senior soccer standout Erin Sanders was named the winner of the Eliabeth Blackwell Academic Achievement Award. Sanders, a health and exercise sciemce major from Charlotte, N.C., sports a 3.86 GPA. The 5-foot-4 defender started all 22 matches for the Lady Paladins i 2005.

Senior Joni Lockridge was honored as the recipient of the Student-Athlete Achievement Award. A four-year starter for the Lady Paladin Softball team, the second baseman batted .282 with nine double, four homers, 30 RBI and 38 runs while leading Furman to the Southern Conference Tournament finals as a senior. The health and exercise science major, who is scheduled to graduate in June, carries a 3.2 GPA.

The Student-Athlete Achievement Award is voted on by the athletic staff and recognizes the Furman athlete - male or female - who most closely resembles the Furman ideal of excellence in the classroom, on the field of play, and in the community.

Women's Tennis coach Debbie Southern was named the J. Lyles Alley Coach-of-the-Year. Southern, in her 22nd year at Furman, led the Lady Paladins to a 19-7 record, Southern Conference Regular Season title, SoCon Tournament title and third straight NCAA Tournament berth in 2006.

Southern, who counts 329 wins to her credit while at the helm of the Lady Paladin tennis program, garnered her 10th Southern Conference Coach-of-the-Year award. The 1998 and 2002 J. Lyles Alley Coach-of-the-Year recipient has led her team to 14 Southern Conference Tournament titles and produced 91 SoCon Academic Honor Roll members and 93 All-Southern Conference selections.

Elizabeth Blackwell Academic Achievement Award: Erin Sanders

Edna Hartness Female Athlete-of-the-Year: Andréa Morrison

Student-Athlete Achievement Award: Joni Lockridge

J. Lyles Alley Coach of the Year: Debbie Southern

Women's Basketball: Tommi Paris

Women's Tennis: Marti Morris

Women's Golf: Kathleen Ekey

Women's Golf: Blair Lamb

Women's Soccer: Katharine Kelley

Women's Cross Country: Rebecca Mullen

Women's Track: McKenzie Sharpe

Women's Field: Chibuzo Agoucha

Softball: Jessica Mathis

Volleyball: Whitney Purser