Mitchell receives more accolades

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on November 10, 2006 1:47 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive junior Sam Mitchell was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 3 College Division Volleyball Third Team, it was announced Wednesday. The award is administered by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Mitchell, a 5-8 outside hitter from Boyd, Wis., is majoring in psychology and has a 3.69 cumulative grade point average. She was named to the Mount Olive College President's List in Fall 2005 and to the Dean's List in Spring 2006. Extra curricular activities include serving as chair of the Mount Olive Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Last spring, she organized the largest fund-raiser for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of any SAAC chapter in the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference.

On the court, Mitchell was selected to the Daktronics All-Atlantic Region Second Team and the All-CVAVC First Team for the second consecutive year. She ranked second in the CVAC in kills per game with a 4.22 average and matched a career high with 27 kills against regionally ninth-ranked Limestone in the quarterfinal round of the 2006 CVAC Tournament. Mitchell recorded 24 double-doubles (kills and digs) in 29 matches, including four matches with at least 20 kills and 20 digs.

Coach promoted

Joey Higginbotham has been promoted to men's basketball associate head coach, it was announced by Mount Olive head men's basketball coach Bill Clingan.

Higginbotham, a Mount Olive graduate and a basketball letterwinner, is in his sixth year on the Trojan coaching staff.

"Joey has earned this title by his dedication to the basketball program and to Mount Olive College," said Clingan. "Not only is he an excellent coach, he has also been a good friend."

Mount Olive has compiled a 110-43 record (.719 winning percentage) during Higginbotham's first five years on the staff, including a school record 29 wins in 2004-05. The Trojans have eclipsed the 20-win mark and have reached the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship in each of the last three years, advancing to the 2005 Elite Eight.