Pikeville senior Kayla Bandy and Saginaw Valley State junior Dan MacLelland were named Most Valuable Players for the 2007-08 collegiate bowling season by the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association (NCBCA).

Bandy and MacLelland were honored along with the rest of the All-Americans at the "Night of Champions" banquet held Wednesday in conjunction with the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships, presented by Storm, which open Thursday at Northrock Lanes.

They also were named 2007-08 Bowling Writers Association of America Collegiate Players of the Year at Wednesday's event.

This marks the second straight MVP and Player of the Year award for Bandy, a Danville, Va., native who helped lead the Bears to the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Sectional title and their seventh consecutive championships appearance.

She joins Kelly Kulick (Morehead State), Karen Stroud (West Texas A&M) and Kari Murph (Morehead State) as the only players to win multiple NCBCA MVP awards. Kulick was honored three straight seasons (1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99).

Bandy, who was second in the nation with a 202.56 average this season, has been named a first-team All-American each of the last three seasons and earned Rookie of the Year honors and a second-team selection in her freshman season of 2004-05.

Rounding out the women's first team is Wichita State junior Emily Maier, Sparks. Nev.; McKendree junior Rebekah Diers, Kingston, N.Y.; Martin Methodist junior Hayley Beavis, Southampton, England; and Pikeville freshman Ashly Galante, Palm Harbor, Fla.

2007-08 NCBCA All-America women's first team (left to right): Wichita State's Emily Maier, Pikeville's Ashly Galante, Pikeville's Kayla Bandy (MVP), Martin Methodist's Hayley Beavis and McKendree's Rebekah Diers. Click on the image to enlarge it.

"This feels amazing, but it's not the only piece of hardware I want this weekend," said Bandy, a former two-time Junior Team USA member who also will be competing at the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships for a third time this May. "This won't feel like I want it to feel until we raise the Helmer Cup on Saturday. We have a great group of girls talent-wise and we are very cohesive."

Galante, a Team USA member in 2007, also was honored as Women's Rookie of the Year, marking the third time in the last four years the award was given to a Pikeville player. Jaime Foster won the honor last season.

Leading the nation with a 213.85 average, MacLelland helped lead the top-ranked Cardinals to consecutive national titles the past two seasons and the Chattanooga Sectional title in March. The Windsor, Ontario, native was named MVP of the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships a year ago.

"All of this goes out to my dad," said MacLelland, whose father is battling cancer. "He taught me everything I know. None of this would be possible without him. Now it's time to go get No. 3. We've had that on our mind since the beginning of the year."

MacLelland is joined on the men's first team by Wichita State junior George Lambert, Hamilton, Ontario; Indiana senior Nick Hoagland, Canton, Ohio; William Paterson sophomore Matt O'Grady, South Amboy, N.J.; and Pikeville sophomore Kyle Barnes, Smryna, Tenn.

2007-08 NCBCA All-America men's first team: Wichita State's George Lambert, Indiana's Nick Hoagland, Pikeville's Kyle Barnes, William Paterson's Matt O'Grady and Saginaw Valley State's Dan MacLelland (MVP). Click on the image to enlarge it.

Chris Bardol of Robert Morris College (Ill.) was honored as Men's Rookie of the Year.

William Paterson's Dave Nagelhout and Purdue's Scott Savage were tabbed as Kerm Helmer Coaches of the Year in the men's and women's divisions, respectively.

Longtime tournament director Larry Wilson was named recipient of the NCBCA Gordon Teigen Meritorious Service Award.

National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association 2007-08 All-Americans

MEN
First Team - Dan MacLelland, Saginaw Valley State; George Lambert, Wichita State; Nick Hoagland, Indiana; Matt O'Grady, William Paterson; Kyle Barnes, Pikeville.

Second Team - Ryan Gleghorn, Calumet College of St. Joseph; Paul Hogan, Fresno State; Matt Robinson, Fresno State; Chris Bardol, Robert Morris (Ill.); Ryan Gahan, Mohawk Valley CC.

Honorable Mention - Keith Nolan, Florida State; Brian Valenta, Lindenwood; Chris Drewes, Wichita State; Tim Irvin, Briarcliffe; Nick Atkinson, Vincennes; Ryan Beers, Ohio State.

Most Valuable Player - Dan MacLelland, Saginaw Valley State
Rookie of the Year - Chris Bardol, Robert Morris (Ill.)
Kerm Helmer Coach of the Year - Dave Nagelhout, William Paterson


WOMEN
First Team - Kayla Bandy, Pikeville; Emily Maier, Wichita State; Rebekah Diers, McKendree; Hayley Beavis, Martin Methodist; Ashly Galante, Pikeville.

Second Team - Brigette Harrelson, Central Florida; Kerry Smith, Shippensburg; Lindsey Coulles, Central Florida; Jennifer Wright, Pikeville; Jennifer Elicker, Shippensburg.

Honorable Mention - Rocio Restrepo, Wichita State; Elysia Current, Wichita State; Jen Donahue, Lindenwood; Brandy Silva, West Texas A&M; Sarah O'Brien, Briarcliffe.

Most Valuable Player - Kayla Bandy, Pikeville
Rookie of the Year - Ashly Galante, Pikeville
Kerm Helmer Coach of the Year - Scott Savage, Purdue


Gordon Teigen Meritorious Service Award - Larry Wilson, tournament director for Eagle Classic, Ten Pin Classic and Millennium Classic.

Bowling Writers Association of America - 2007-08 Collegiate Players of The Year

2007-08 Male Collegiate Players of The Year - Dan MacLelland, Saginaw Valley State

Male Runners-up - Kyle Barnes, Pikeville; Ryan Gleghorn, Calumet College of St. Joseph; George Lambert, Wichita State; Matt O'Grady, William Paterson; Matt Robinson, Fresno State.

Male Honorable Mention - Chris Bardol, Robert Morris (Ill.); Norman Nolan, Florida State; Nick Hoagland, Indiana.


2007-08 Female Collegiate Players of The Year - Kayla Bandy, Pikeville

Female Runners-up - Hayley Beavis, Martin Methodist; Rebekah Diers, McKendree; Ashly Galante, Pikeville; Emily Maier, Wichita State

Female Honorable Mention - Lindsey Coulles, Central Florida; Brigette Harrelson, Central Florida; Kerry Smith, Shippensburg.