NORFOLK
Old Dominion's Vicki Collier continues to make news with injuries. Collier tore her right anterior cruciate ligament while undergoing light practice drills at her home in Upper Marlboro, Md.
The 5-11 guard sat out the 2006-07 year as a redshirt. Last fall, she sustained a dislocated kneecap in the initial minute of the first day of preseason practice. She missed the entire season. She is expected to undergo surgery in mid-June and possibly be ready for the second semester.
Jasmine Parker underwent surgery to repair her left shoulder, a nagging injury since her sophomore year at Maury High School. ODU coach Wendy Larry said Parker, a rising sophomore, is recovering quickly. "She's in the gym shooting 100 shots a day," Larry said.
Dawn Coleman, a junior college transfer who played 18 minutes of the season last year for ODU, has been released.
A peek ahead
ODU has not released its schedule for the 2008-09 season, but a sneak preview reveals that the Lady Monarchs will make their first visit to Austin, Texas, since the 1994 season. The Lady Monarchs will open the season with a tournament at the University of Texas featuring the Longhorns, the University of Dayton and St. Mary's College.
Also look for two state teams to visit the Constant Center: Virginia and Norfolk State. Virginia was the last team ODU played on its own floor when the Lady Monarchs escaped with a thriller of a victory in overtime to send them to the Sweet 16. The Lady Monarchs have not played Norfolk State since 1982. Also on tap: a date at Michigan State to face the Spartans, who felt they should have received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament last season.
The back story on the transfer
Tia Lewis, the reigning Conference USA freshman of the Year, had a terrific season at the University of Central Florida, where she produced 14 double-doubles and led the team in scoring and rebounding. But Lewis wasn't happy - even before she arrived on campus - as the coach who recruited her, Gail Striegler, was replaced by Joi Felton before she arrived. Lewis said although she was pursued by several schools, including Louisville, Georgia and East Tennessee State, she had to remain close to home, leading her to choose Central Florida initially.
"My dad was sick and I didn't want to go too far from home," she said. "But I wasn't happy. I hated losing. I love to win."
Central Florida finished 10-20 last season.
Lewis will have to sit out the 2008-09 season because of NCAA transfer rules, but that doesn't bother her. She plans to be on campus June 27 for summer school.
Rim shots
Check out Mairi Buchan's Web page on www.bebo.com. The incoming freshman from Scotland has a countdown clock on her Web page breaking down into days, hours, minutes and seconds how long it will be until her career at ODU begins.... Former Lady Monarch point guard Amanda Levens is the new coach at Southern Illinois. Levens played for ODU from 1997 to 1999 before transferring to Arizona State. Levens, 29, is the third youngest coach in Division I. She spent five years as an assistant at the University of Nevada.
Vicki L. Friedman, (757) 477-6874 or VickiL120@cox.net
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