The South Atlantic Conference and AstroTurf Present Senior Spotlights Featuring UVa-Wise Softball, Women's Lacrosse and Tennis

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – In light of the recent events of the COVID-19 pandemic that canceled the remainder of the 2020 South Atlantic Conference spring sports seasons, the SAC along with its corporate partner AstroTurf, will be presenting the SAC AstroTurf Senior Spotlights. These highlights will showcase the spring sports teams at each of our 12 institutions and will give fans a brief overview of the team's shortened season, while highlighting the 2020 senior student-athletes on each team.

We continue our AstroTurf Senior Spotlights with the UVa-Wise Cavaliers and the softball, women's lacrosse, and men's and women's tennis teams. 

SOFTBALL

The UVa-Wise softball team completed the 2020 season with a 10-14 overall record, going 1-3 in SAC play. As a team the Cavaliers blasted 26 home runs, ranking eighth among NCAA Division II programs.

Junior Kaylee Jones led the SAC in slugging percentage and finished second nationally at 1.046. She also posted a single-season UVa-Wise record for batting average, finishing the season with .466 average. She also led the league with a .571 on-base percentage and was first in the conference and third in the nation in total bases with 68. 

The Cavaliers were led by six seniors: Taylor Woodlief, Alexis Sheehan, Melissa Bartley, Raychel Lapallo, Nikki Smith, and Julia Hoy.

Woodlief batted. 258 for the year with a double, a home run, 11 runs scored and seven RBIs.

Sidelined by an injury, Sheehan served as the Cavaliers team assistant.

Bartley saw action in seven games in 2020, batting .077 with four runs scored and four walks.

Lapallo earned a 3-2 record in the circle, posting a 4.39 ERA in 44 and two-thirds innings of work. She struck out 24 batters and allowed 37 runs on 60 hits. She also batted .222 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored.

Smith batted .200 in 2020 with six doubles, a home run, 15 runs scored, and three RBIs. 

Hoy posted a .194 batting average with a double, four home runs, 11 RBIs and seven runs scored.

2020 UVa-Wise Cavaliers Softball Seniors

WOMEN'S LACROSSE
The UVa-Wise women's lacrosse team went 2-5 in 2020 picking up wins over North Greenville and the University of Charleston.

Senior attack Jesse French set the UVa-Wise individual career record for points versus Lee University and closed out the season with 210 career points. Classmate Ashley Wells notched her 100^th career point against Lee and finished the season with 106 career points.

Cavalier goalie Jordan Edwards was named SAC AstroTurf Defensive Player of the Week on Feb. 17 with seven saves in Cavalier's win over North Greenville.

In addition to French and Wells, the Cavaliers were led by seniors Abby Willis and Else Girardo.

Willis played in six games in 2020 with four ground balls and eight caused turnovers.

Girardo played in six games between the pipes making 25 saves with a .827 save percentage and a 2-3 record. 

2020 UVa-Wise Cavaliers Women's Lacrosse Seniors

WOMEN'S TENNIS
The UVa-Wise women's tennis team posted a 4-6 record in 2020. They won 30 singles matches and 17 doubles matches during the season. The No. 1 doubles duo of Liza Akimenko and Katya Akimenko posted an 8-0 record.

The Cavaliers featured one senior Aya Melhem who went 6-2 in 2019-20 at No. 3 singles and was 4-4 in doubles play.

2020 UVa-Wise Cavaliers Women's Tennis Seniors

MEN'S TENNIS
The UVa-Wise men's tennis team closed out the season with a 3-6 record, winning 17 games against nationally ranked opponents and finished the season with two 7-0 wins and a 9-0 win.

The Cavaliers were led by senior John Hamilton. He went 2-3 at No. 6 singles during the season.

2020 UVa-Wise Cavaliers Men's Tennis Seniors

AstroTurf is an official corporate partner of the South Atlantic Conference and title sponsor of the Conference's Player of the Week awards program.

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