Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley took home two of the three major awards dished out by VaSID, a collection of the state's sports information personnel Tuesday. The senior was named the state's Player of the Year for the second time in her career in addition to Defensive Player of the Year.
Kitley repeated as ACC Player of the Year after another dominant season where she was one of three athletes in the nation to average 18 points and 10.5 rebounds. She recorded 23 double-doubles and scored 20+ 18 times throughout the season, with her season-high of 29 coming in the final regular season game vs. Georgia Tech. During her senior season she became Tech's all-time leader in points, field goals, blocks and double-doubles while also eclipsing 1,000 rebounds and 2,000 career points.
She is the only VT athlete to be named First Team All-ACC three times, All-Defensive twice and earn AP All-American recognition twice.
KITLEY'S 2022-23 SEASON ACCOLADES
- Second Team AP All-American
- USBWA All-America Second Team
- WBCA All-American
- Lisa Leslie Award Finalist
- ACC Player of the Year
- Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year
- First Team All-ACC, All-Defensive Team, First Team All-Tournament
- Naismith Trophy Finalist
- Wooden Award Watch List
- Wade Trophy Watch List
- USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale Player of the Year Watch List
- 2023 Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
- Seattle 3 Region All-Tournament Team
Joining her on the First Team was junior point guard Georgia Amoore. She started all 36 games averaging 16.3 points, 4.9 assists and 3.0 rebounds. Amoore set a program record with 116 3's made, the second-most in the country behind Caitlin Clark's 140. The Aussie scored 20+ in 14 games, including five of the last six contests of the season. She earned First Team All-ACC, AP All-America Honorable Mention, was the MVP of the ACC Tournament and the Most Outstanding Player of the Seattle 3 Regional. Amoore recorded the first triple-double in program history on December 1 in the win over Nebraska.
AMOORE'S 2022-23 SEASON ACCOLADES
- First Team All-ACC
- MVP of ACC Tournament
- First Team ACC Tournament
- AP All-America Honorable Mention
- Most Outstanding Player of Seattle 3 Region
- WBCA All-America Honorable Mention
- ACC Player of the Week (Feb. 13)
- USBWA Co-Player of the Week (Feb. 14)
The First Team consisted of Kitley, Amoore, Kiki Jefferson (JMU), Mya Berkman (Liberty) and Riley Casey (William & Mary).
Taylor Camryn (Virginia), Sarah Te-Biasu (VCU), Camille Downs (Norfolk State), Amari Young (ODU) and Ashlyn Traylor (Radford) made up the Second Team.
Traylor, the younger sister of VT guard Kayana, was also named Rookie of the Year.
Head Coach Kenny Brooks won Coach of the Year after guiding the Hokies to the best season in program history. Tech set numerous records that included the most wins in a season, most ACC wins, a first ACC title and a first Final Four appearance for the program. Brooks coached the two-time ACC Player of the Year and also helped the Hokies have two AP All-America honorees. For the first time in VT history, two athletes were selected in the same WNBA Draft as Kayana Traylor and Taylor Soule both heard their names called in the 2023 WNBA Draft last week.
Brooks was a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award.
At home at Cassell Coliseum, the Hokies went 16-1 with the lone blemish coming against No. 5 Notre Dame. Brooks has gone 92-25, including a 36-24 mark in ACC play. In his seven seasons, he is 56-1 against non-conference opposition.