CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley was tabbed as the ACC's Preseason Player of the Year, the conference office announced Thursday evening on the ACC Network's show ACC PM. The two-time reigning Player of the Year received 46 of 61 votes. Also appearing on the Preseason All-ACC Team is point guard Georgia Amoore who received two first place votes of her own.
Tech topped the Blue Ribbon Panel's predicted order of finish with 1,116 points, ahead of Notre Dame's 1,052, North Carolina's 973, Louisville's 867 and Florida State's 855.
Amoore returns to the court following a tremendous junior season where she burst into the national spotlight after earning ACC Tournament MVP honors and helped lead the Hokies to the Final Four, winning Most Outstanding Player of the Seattle 3 Region.
The Aussie averaged 16.3 points per game last season along with 4.9 assists and shot 35% from beyond the arc. She set a program record with 118 triples made and ranks third all-time in that category at VT.
At 5-foot-6, she is hardly an imposing figure but her speed, strength and positioning allow her to affect so many aspects of the game. Last December, Amoore became the first player in program history to record a triple-double with a 24-point, 10-rebound, 11-assist effort vs. Nebraska.
Her 118 triples last season were 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 also earned first team All-ACC honors and AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition.
She is on the Nancy Lieberman Award Watch List.
Kitley repeated as ACC Player of the Year last season 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 or more 18 times throughout the season, with her season-high of 29 coming in the final regular season game at 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 has been a finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award three times. In addition, last season she was a Naismith Trophy Finalist and on numerous other award watch lists.
The graduate student is also the two-time Kay Yow Scholar Athlete of the Year in the ACC.
Tech will open the season at home on Monday, Nov. 6, when it welcomes High Point to Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum for a 5 p.m. ET tip against the Panthers. That game can be seen on ACC Network. Ticket packages are available HERE.
