Hanners Named Big South Freshman of the Week

RADFORD, Va.--Radford University impact freshman Josie Hanners has earned the Big South's New Balance Freshman of the Week award the League announced Tuesday.

Hanners, a 5-8 setter out of Richmond, Va., started the first four matches of her career, helping to lead RU to a 2-2 start on the season, including a 2-1 mark at the Holy Cross Tournament. The two wins marks a turnaround for RU, who lost 12 straight matches to open the season last year.

Hanners made her impact immediate, tallying 116 assists in the four matches, including 42 in a win against Youngstown State and 35 in a win over Sienna. She averaged 8.29 assists per game over that span. She also netted three service aces and twenty digs.

A standout at Douglas Freeman High School, Hanners was named the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Gatorade Player of the Year in the State of Virginia as a senior.

Radford heads to Charlottesville, Va. this weekend to participate in the University of Virginia Tournament. The Highlanders will face Duquesne, Penn and host UVa at the tournament, which begins Friday.