May 13, 2011

Spring commencement at the University of Tennessee was a busy one for Lady Vol head basketball coach Pat Summitt this week as four players earned degrees and a fifth walked in the ceremonies.

The Lady Vol hoops graduates included 6'0" guard Angie Bjorklund (Spokane Valley, Wash.) in psychology...6'6" center Kelley Cain (Atlanta, Ga.) in marketing (logistics concentration)...6'3" forward Glory Johnson (Knoxville, Tenn.) in global studies and 5'10" guard Sydney Smallbone (Granger, Ind.) in marketing and logistics. Joining in the graduation ceremony was 6'4" post Vicki Baugh (Sacramento, Cal.) who earned her degree in sports psychology in December 2010.

"It's always exciting to see them in their caps and gowns and the looks of excitement and anticipation on their faces," said Summitt. "They know when they come to Tennessee what our expectations are for them in the classroom, as well as on the basketball court. These five young ladies have shown great achievement and their graduation speaks volumes to their commitment as both students and athletes.

"I am very proud and excited for each of them and their families."

Bjorklund, a Vol Scholar, received her diploma but missed the commencement exercises to move to Chicago, Ill., where she will begin training camp with the Chicago Sky of the WNBA. She was selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft (fifth pick, second round) on April 11.

The CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America leaves Tennessee as one of the most prolific three-point shooters in SEC history, tallying Lady Vol records for treys made (305) and attempted (738). She scored 1,469 points - 20th-most in Lady Vol history, and started 113 of the 132 games she played - ninth-most in the UT record book.

Smallbone, a Vol Scholar, also has a job waiting for her following her UT graduation after excelling in a double major of Marketing and Logistics with an international concentration. Last October, Smallbone landed a position as a Customer Logistics Analyst in the Avery Dennison Gold Program. She will begin her new career on June 20 in Boca Raton, Fla.

When she came to Tennessee, Smallbone had the Lady Vol DNA of dedication, desire, drive and determination. Putting on the orange and white uniform did not make her a Lady Vol; her hard work did. During her career, she played in 106 games and earned 10 career starts. The Indiana sharpshooter scored 266 points, grabbed 93 rebounds, dished 69 assists and snagged 30 steals. As a rookie, she etched her name in the Lady Vol record books for the fourth most three-pointers by a freshman with four.

As a redshirt junior, Cain could have returned next season but decided to forego her final season of eligibility on April 5, 2011. Throughout her time at UT, Cain was hampered by nagging injuries to her hip, back and knees, limiting her to just 19.9 mpg for her career. Despite not always being 100% physically, Cain gave it her all each time she stepped on the court.

An All-SEC Academic selection, Cain will go down in the record books as one of the best shot blockers in SEC history. She totaled 228 swats - third-most in Lady Vol history - in just 92 games over three seasons, a 2.5 bpg average, and led the SEC in blocks in 2009-10 and 2010-11. Over her career, Cain averaged 8.6 ppg and 6.2 rpg and shot 60.6 percent from the field, while making 59 starts. Her career field goal percentage is the third-best in Tennessee history behind only Cindy Noble's 62.5 mark, set from 1978-81, and Trish Roberts' 1976-77 percentage of 64.7.

Cain has several options open to her with a degree in marketing (logistics concentration). While she starts her round of job interviews, she hasn't ruled out returning to school to pursue a master's degree or trying her hand at coaching, possibly attaining a graduate assistantship somewhere.

While Bjorklund, Smallbone and Cain are entering the workforce, Vol Scholars and All-SEC Academic honorees Johnson and Baugh will be back in the line-up for the 2011-12 season as graduate students on the Lady Vol basketball team. Baugh, a rising redshirt senior in eligibility, received her diploma in December. She has just completed her first semester of grad school pursuing a sports psychology degree.

Majoring in global studies, Johnson completed her coursework faster than any other Lady Vol hoopster in history - three years. She will broaden her academic acumen by pursuing a master's degree in journalism and electronic media this summer.

Congratulations to the latest Lady Vol basketball grads!