Sports
MSU retires Sloan’s numbers
All-conference player of the year in two sports.
NAIA national player of the week.
And best of all, All-America scholar-athlete.
There probably won’t be another player like Jennifer Sloan at Mountain State University for a long time.
“My career has been more than I (dreamed),” the Beckley native and recent MSU graduate said Friday after her numbers in both volleyball and softball were retired at a ceremony before the Cougars’ volleyball match with Bluefield College.
During her senior season, Sloan was NAIA libero of the week nine times, KIAC volleyball player of the week four times and NAIA Region 12 libero of the week seven times.
In softball, she was KIAC player of the week twice, Region 12 player of the week twice and Region 12 player of the year.
The KIAC also named her Female Athlete of the Year.
“I never expected any of this,” Sloan said. “I always set out to do the best I can.”
Sloan graduated after four stellar years with the Cougars.
She set NAIA volleyball records with 1,434 regular-season digs, 9.37 digs per game and 37 matches with 20-plus digs.
“Jennifer is very difficult for us to replace,” coach Tim Berry said. “We had to go to a junior college and bring in an All-American to fill her shoes.”
In softball, Sloan excelled at three crucial positions — catcher, shortstop and center field.
Berry has seen few players work harder to improve themselves.
“She has a dynamic work ethic along with the ambition to be the best,” he said. “Giving 100 percent was good enough. She would work beyond practice, on her own time.”
Sloan, a Woodrow Wilson High School graduate and the daughter of Mike and Maryann Sloan, now works in the vascular lab at Charleston Area Medical Center, doing ultra-sounds.
“I miss playing already,” she said. “I’m going to come watch MSU all season. I want to stay in touch with (sports). I’d love to coach one day.”
Sloan wore No. 16 in volleyball and No. 34 in softball. A shadowbox with her picture and replicas of her uniform will adorn the wall outside the women’s dressing room at Van Meter Gymnasium.
She is MSU’s first athlete to have her numbers retired.
“I’m very honored and touched that coach would do this for me,” she said.
— E-mail:
dstillwell@register-herald.com
- Sports
-
-
Flying Eagles rebound
Coaches often remark that they don’t want a tough loss to beat their teams twice.
-
Hounds do enough to eliminate Fayetteville
SMITHERS — It wasn’t quite a gold-medal performance, but Valley coach Marshall Murray will settle for it. For now.
-
Huggs ejected late in WVU loss to UConn
HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun opened the game with a technical foul and West Virginia’s Bob Huggins ended it with two.
-
No. 2 Red Devils rout Bluefield
OAK HILL — A little high-low was a little too much for Bluefield.
-
Local Roundup: MSU loses for first time
Lee 92, Mountain State 89
-
Locals set to compete in Class AAA states
This area will be well represented in the Class AAA portion of this week’s state wrestling tournament.
-
Season ticket success could lead to more seats
Prospective fans of the West Virginia Miners have a say in the growth of Linda K. Epling Stadium.
-
Shuffle on down to the state tournament this weekend
With the 63rd annual West Virginia state wrestling tournament beginning Thursday, there are a lot of reasons to liken this competition to a poker match.
-
WVU’s Miles would like to end season in her hometown
MORGANTOWN — If the West Virginia University women’s basketball team reaches the NCAA Final Four this year, it would be a “dream come true” for Sarah Miles.
-
Oak Hill roughed up by PikeView
GARDNER — Class AA No. 2 Oak Hill started its weekend on a high note Friday night, narrowly defeating its nemesis, No. 1 Wyoming East.
- More Sports Headlines
-
