Big South Inducts 2013 Hall of Fame Class
HOT SPRINGS, Va. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – The Big South Conference inducted two former student-athletes and one administrator into its Hall of Fame Thursday night, May 30, during a ceremony as part of the League’s annual Spring Meetings Awards and Hall of Fame Dinner at The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va. The inductions increase the Big South’s Hall of Fame membership to 52 former student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors.
The 10th Big South Hall of Fame class consists of Anthonia Akpama (Liberty volleyball), Dr. Anthony J. DiGiorgio (Winthrop President and Big South Conference President) and Ian Spooner (Radford men’s soccer). The 2013 Hall of Fame class was first announced on April 10.
Anthonia Akpama, Liberty, Volleyball Player, 1996-99
Akpama was a four-time First-Team All-Big South honoree during her Liberty career, the second player in League history to receive First-Team honors all four years. A three-time Big South All-Tournament Team selection (1996, 1998, 1999), Akpama was the Big South Rookie of the Year in 1996 and Big South Player of the Year and Tournament MVP as a senior in 1999. Voted the inaugural winner of the Big South’s Female Athlete of the Year award (1999-00), Akpama was the first player in Big South volleyball and program history with 2,000 career kills, as she set the school and League record with 2,024. She remains the Liberty record holder and is currently second all-time in Big South history after holding the Conference record until 2005. Her 452 career total blocks ranked fifth in League history when she concluded her career (currently tied for eighth), and she was just the second player in Big South volleyball history to win Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Tournament MVP honors during a four-year career in 1999.
Akpama helped Liberty to a 93-43 overall record ( =68.4 winning percentage) during her four seasons, as the Lady Flames posted 20-or-more wins each year. She also led Liberty to a 39-11 ( =78.0 winning percentage) record in Big South matches with two regular-season championships (1997, 1998) and the program’s first two Conference Tournament titles (1997, 1999). Akpama’s 671 kills in her senior season were the second-most in League history at the time and she was second in the nation with a Big South-record 5.78 kills per game. An AVCA All-District selection in 1999, Akpama was the fourth player in Liberty history to join the 1,000-kill, 1,000-dig club as she also amassed 1,312 digs in her career. She led the Big South in blocks per game as a freshman (1.21) in 1996 and appeared in the NCAA Volleyball Championships her sophomore and senior seasons. She had her No. 3 jersey retired by Liberty on Nov. 10, 2000.
Dr. Anthony J. DiGiorgio, Winthrop University President, 1989-2013; Big South President, 1992-98, 2006-09
Dr. DiGiorgio concludes his 24 years as Winthrop’s President upon his retirement next month, and is the longest-serving President of any public university in the state of South Carolina. Appointed Winthrop’s ninth President in January 1989, Dr. DiGiorgio led the institution’s conversion from Winthrop College to Winthrop University, a comprehensive teaching institution now offering 89 undergraduate and 41 graduate degree programs and options. During his 24 years in office, Winthrop has grown from a regional college to a national-caliber comprehensive university that is regularly rated among the top public institutions of its kind in the South by U.S. News & World Report. Dr. DiGiorgio initiated Winthrop’s first capital campaign, which raised $31.2 million for scholarships, academic program enhancements and more faculty development and research opportunities. He also initiated the University’s successful drive to achieve 100 percent accreditation in all Winthrop programs for which national accreditation is offered.
Dr. DiGiorgio’s service to the Big South Conference is just as impressive, as he is the only individual to be elected Big South President two separate terms, and served a total of nine years from 1992-98 and 2006-09 -- the most in League history. He was selected to serve on the prestigious President’s Commission of the NCAA in July 1992 and has served two terms on the Board of Directors of the NCAA and its Executive Committee. During his first term as Big South President, the Conference membership reached 10 institutions for the first time in July 1992. The Big South also received automatic bids in women’s basketball, men’s soccer and volleyball beginning in 1993-94. In addition, the Conference added five sports during his first team as League President -- women’s soccer in 1993, men’s and women’s outdoor track & field in 1993-94 and men’s and women’s indoor track & field in 1997-98.
In his second stint as Big South President, Dr. DiGiorgio oversaw the additions of Gardner-Webb University and Presbyterian College as well as the return of charter member Campbell University. He currently chairs the Big South Conference’s Membership Committee, one of several League committees he has served during his time as Winthrop’s President. During his time in office, the Eagles have won 53 Big South championships and have made 44 NCAA Tournament appearances during this period -- including three individual at-large selections in men’s golf. Winthrop softball player Janiva Willis was a finalist for the 2005 NCAA Woman of the Year award -- the Big South Conference’s first-ever finalist for the prestigious honor. In addition, Winthrop has received five NCAA Public Recognition Awards for APR Achievement since 2006, the fourth-most of any Big South member. Other notable achievements include the Eagles’ historic NCAA Tournament win over Notre Dame in 2007, Winthrop winning the Big South’s Men’s All-Sports Award trophy for the 2006-07 campaign, and Winthrop’s SAAC winning the Big South Conference’s Kallander Cup Community Service award four consecutive years since 2009.
Ian Spooner, Radford, Men’s Soccer Player, 1991-95
Spooner was the first two-time Big South Men’s Soccer Player of the Year honoree when he was selected in 1994 and 1995. A First-Team All-Conference honoree both seasons, Spooner remains ranked among the Big South’s Top 5 all-time leaders in goals scored (58 – 4th) and points (140 – 5th) in the 17 seasons since his final game. Spooner led the Big South with 20 goals and 49 points in 1995, and as a freshman in 1991, he helped lead the Highlanders to the Big South regular-season title before earning All-Tournament Team honors. He tied for the team lead with 16 goals and finished 17th in the nation with 38 points his first year at Radford. He was a member of the 1991 club that set the school record for consecutive shutouts with 10 as well as a school-record tying 15 overall wins. A four-time All-Conference selection, Spooner ranks second in every major offensive statistical category in Radford history behind Big South Hall of Famer and former teammate Dante Washington for career points (140), points per game (1.89), goals (58), shot attempts (286) and shots per game (3.86), while sitting third in assists with 24. A three-time Big South Player of the Week honoree during his career, Spooner helped Radford post three 10-win seasons during his career and a 45-27-6 overall record -- including a 20-7-1 Big South mark.
Following his time at Radford, Spooner enjoyed a six-year professional career in the United Soccer League (USL). In 1999, he was instrumental in starting Bridgewater College’s women’s soccer program when he was named the Eagles’ first-ever head coach. Following two seasons at Bridgewater, Spooner returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach of the Highlanders’ women’s soccer team, which won the Big South Championship in 2002. Currently the head women’s soccer coach at Greensboro College with a 48-38-6 record in five seasons, Spooner was inducted into the Radford Athletics Hall of Fame in September 2012.