College update: Tallwood grad shines for Hawaii in volleyball

He hasn't reached quarterback Colt Brennan's stature yet, but Tallwood grad Josh Walker was impressive in his first varsity volleyball start for Hawaii on Jan. 23.

The redshirt freshman, a two-time All-Tidewater Player of the Year, recorded a team-high 16 kills in No. 13 Hawaii's win over No. 15 UC San Diego. Walker also registered four digs and three block assists.

"We've gone through a lot of lineup changes because we're such a young team, and I finally got my chance," Walker said. "The redshirt year helped me adjust to the faster level of play in college and I've worked very hard improving my passing and serving.

"I've also gotten more consistent with my hitting. I'm confident, having fun and look forward to the rest of the season."

BASKETBALL

A pair of Indian River grads, Radford's Kelli Darden and Bucknell's Kesha Champion, are producing strong senior campaigns.

Darden, a 6-foot-3 post player, has led the Highlanders to a 15-7 mark, averaging 11 points and eight rebounds. She has blocked 61 shots and is two shy of breaking the Big South career record of 257.

Through 19 games, Champion has averaged 10 points and four rebounds a game. She leads the team with 88 assists - she's fifth on the school's all-time list - and has started 107 consecutive games. Champion scored a team-high 16 points in a Jan. 26 rout of Colgate.

- Mary Washington senior Liz Hickey from Bishop Sullivan and Christopher Newport freshman Chelsie Schweers from Hickory are both three-time weekly award winners in their conferences this season. Hickey, averaging 13 points and nine rebounds for the No. 3 Eagles, has been Captial Athletic Conference Player of the Week; Schweers, averaging 20 points and four assists, has received USA South Rookie of the Week honors.

- Norview graduate Keiva Small made the winning free throw in Longwood's 70-69 upset of Radford. It was the Lancers' first win over the Highlanders since 1985.

OTHER SPORTS

Four-time state all-around gymnastics champion Kara Wright excelled in the first meet of her sophomore season at North Carolina. The First Colonial grad was instrumental in the Tar Heels' winning effort at the six-team George Washington Invitational. Wright won floor exercise with a 9.75, was second in vault at 9.825, third on beam with a 9.625 and 25th on bars at 9.25.

- Baylor, led by preseason All-American shortstop Beamer Weems from Princess Anne, is ranked No. 15 in Baseball America's preseason poll.

- Amber Bialas, a Tallwood graduate, helped Virginia to a weekend swimming victory over Pittsburgh, finishing third in the 50 freestyle and anchoring the runner-up 200 medley relay team.

- Charleston Southern's Dionne Gibson from Princess Anne earned Big South Indoor Track Athlete of the Week recognition after finishing second in the 200 meters at the Niswonger Invitational in a school record 24.69.