Detroit college athletics, Detroit college sports > Detroit, Michigan

Dave Sichterman, Director of Athletics, announced Wednesday that Karen Graves, left, has accepted the position to be head coach of women’s volleyball starting next year at Marygrove. Graves, a graduate of Concordia University, has been coaching for many years and brings a wealth of volleyball knowledge to Marygrove College. While at Concordia University Graves played intercollegiate volleyball for 4 years. During that four year span Graves received honors such as: NCCAA All-American, NAIA All-Region, WHAC Player of the Year, 4-Year team captain, Academic All-American, all while graduating Cum Laude. To read more on the hiring of Coach Karen Graves check out our women's volleyball news page.

The Marygrove College Mustangs welcomed Lee Shaw, left, to their athletic staff on Wednesday. Shaw, a graduate of Eastern Michigan University in Physical Education & Health, was named head coach of the Marygrove Mustang Cross Country program. Shaw, 33, will be taking on the task of building the men and women cross country teams from the bottom-up. Shaw admits being hired at this time of year puts him in a difficult spot recruiting for the 2008-09 season; however challenges are no stranger to him. To read the full story on Coach Lee Shaw follow the link to our new cross country news page.

Southfield, MI: Many guests gathered last night at the Westin Hotel-Southfield for the 2007-2008 Student-Athlete Appreciation Dinner. The Student-Athlete Appreciation Dinner is an annual event held by the Mustang Athletic Department to show the student-athletes how much their continued efforts are appreciated. It was a night filled with laughs, great food and plenty of recognition and support for our outstanding student-athletes. Athletic Director Dave Sichterman, pictured, speaks to the many guests. For the full story click [here].

Lady Mustangs senior forward Karmen Byrd, pictured with her coach Antonio Hitchcock, was named to the 2007-2008 USCAA Academic All-American Team last week in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Byrd and her coach Antonio Hitchcock were both in attendance at the 2008 USCAA Men’s and Women’s National Basketball Championships Banquet in Oklahoma to accept her award. In order to be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must compile a 3.5 GPA during the semester of their respective sport. [FULL STORY]

Earlier this month, the Marygrove College Athletic Department announced that it will be adding four new sports offerings for student-athletes. The sports to be added in the 2008-09 campaign are women's soccer, women's volleyball, and men's and women's cross country. Marygrove College is a first year member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and is welcoming this growth. The new sports’ schedules will be similar to those of the Mustang basketball teams. The Mustangs compete against schools from across the state and the Midwest including those from NCAA Divisions I & II and the NAIA. To read the full story, and view comments from Athletic Director Dave Sichterman on this story, visit our news release page.