Jan. 27, 2008

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The USC Upstate Athletics Hall of Fame will receive six new members next Saturday, Feb. 2, when the athletic department inducts its Class of 2008 into the shrine.

The USC Upstate Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 1998 to recognize individuals who have outstanding athletic accomplishments or have made significant contributions to USC Upstate athletics. Set to be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame are Don Brock (baseball), James Eley (men's soccer), Sherman Eller (cross country), Willie Murdaugh (men's basketball), Kim Pitman (volleyball) and Kristina Ribicic (women's tennis).

Each year, the Upstate Hall of Fame selection committee meets to review the nomination pool. Typically, three-to-four- individuals are selected for induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame, though there is no set number on selections from year to year. However, strong support for the six honorees pushed the number to a record six selections for this year's induction. Prior to this year, the most inductions for a single ceremony was five in 2001, 2004 and 2005. There were two Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in 2006 with eight total selections spread over the two ceremonies.

Brock was a standout pitcher on the baseball team from 1987-88 and ranks among the program's all-time greats in several statistical categories. Eley was a three-time All-American goalkeeper on the men's soccer team from 1992-95. Eller was both a standout runner and coach of the men's cross country program, running from 1981-84 and coaching from 1985-87. Murdaugh scored over 1,000 points in two seasons with Upstate from 1989-91. Pitman was a member of the volleyball program from 2000-01, earning Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year honors in 2001. Ribicic was a standout on the women's tennis team from 1999-2003, winning 87 matches in her career.

The six honorees will be inducted into the Upstate Athletics Hall of Fame during the Hall of Fame banquet Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the ballroom of the Campus Life Center. For more in depth information on the inductees and the Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony, please visit the official Upstate Athletics website at www.upstatespartans.com Saturday morning. To nominate a former Spartan/Rifle for induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame, please email the nominations to either benglish@uscupstate.edu or mhall@uscupstate.edu.