Good morning Monarchs. We usually try to start the week with excitement and energy, but the only item on our hearts and minds is honoring an individual that left an impact that we’ll feel in Norfolk forever.

The outpouring from current coaches, former student-athletes, current student-athletes and folks from all across the athletic community speaks to the person Nikki McCray-Penson was.

What else is stirring in today’s edition?

🏀 Forever In Our Hearts
🏑 Save The Date
🏈 Countdown to Kickoff
👑 And much, much more!

🏀 FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

A Lasting Legacy. Nikki McCray-Penson was only in Norfolk for three seasons, one of which was cut short by COVID, but her impact will be felt forever at ODU.

Late last week, the former ODU head coach passed away.

"It's a challenge to put into words how devastating the news of Nikki McCray-Penson's death is for all of us associated with ODU. Nikki had a lasting impact on the game of basketball across the globe as she enjoyed the pinnacle of success on the world's biggest stages both as an athlete and a coach," ODU Director of Athletics Dr. Wood Selig said. "From the first day I met Nikki, I knew she would experience the same success as a coach that she experienced as an athlete. Her drive, passion, enthusiasm and love for the game made everyone around her better and motivated everyone to work harder to achieve the high standard of excellence that Nikki always expected. It is such a shame that the world and future student-athletes will never get to enjoy Coach McCray-Penson fulfilling her coaching career. Nikki's husband Thomas and son Thomas, Jr. are in all Monarch's thoughts and prayers at this time. The ODU women's basketball program is better today because of the many contributions made by Nikki and her family while they were here in Norfolk."

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Ain’t Nothing Going To Hold Me Down. Toughness and resilience personified.

There’s no other way to describe former Monarch standout Ryan Yarbourgh.

Just two months after taking a 106-mph line drive to the face, Yarbrough returned to the mound for the Kansas City Royals for the first time.

All he did? Just toss six innings, allowing just one run, striking out five and walking just one to help KC to a 4-1 win over the division leading Cleveland Guardians.

Welcome Back Ry, we’re excited to see you back doing what you dreamed of!

🔼 Locked And Loaded. For anyone following the ODU field hockey program, they know that there is some fire and vengeance in this group.

After a third straight superb season ending by snubbing from the NCAA Tournament committee, the Monarchs are locked and loaded for their 2023 journey.

So get out those iPhones and started filling up your calendar because over the weekend, ODU released the full slate of games for the squad.

🔼 Swimming Scholars. We all know those long days at swim meets growing up. The grind for swimming & diving athletes is REAL.

That’s what makes it even more impressive when that domination continues in the classroom.

Both of ODU’s swimming & diving squads earned recognition for such dominance when they earned Scholar All-America accolades from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

The men's squad delivered a 3.18 GPA in the spring semester, while the women's team carried a 3.18 GPA.

🔼 Experience of a Lifetime. Sure, there’s been international competitions and tournaments before, but not like this.

That was one of many emotions that Brenda Fontana, of the ODU women’s hoops program, experienced this past week, having the privilege to play for her home country of Argentina in the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup Tournament, being hosted in Leon, Mexico. 

It was her first experience playing at the senior level at an international level for the Moreno, Argentina native.

While Argentina went 1-4 and reached the quarterfinals, they lost those four games by a combined 21 points and were in every single game until the final buzzer, leaving an impression on each of their opponents.

In the five games, Fontana played 61 minutes for her senior tournament debut, scored 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, while shooting 50-percent from the field.

Last season, the rising junior scored 85 points (2.7 ppg) with 58 rebounds (1.8 rpg), nine assists, six steals and two blocks in 32 games for the Monarchs this past season.

🔼 Going To Meet More Mantle Space. SportsCenter anchors of the past would call ODU’s own Brandon Perez, “En Fuego”, right now.

This past spring, Perez earned First Team All-Conference and All-State accolades on the doubles court, as well as leading the Monarchs to the conference title and to a top-100 doubles ranking in the country, including a NCAA victory over Utah.

His streak continued into the summer, winning gold on the doubles court at the South American games, and then recently winning gold at the Central American and Caribbean games in doubles as well.

We think Brandon might need to build a bigger trophy case soon.

⏰ SET THOSE ALARMS!

Beware The Monarchs: Tickets Are Coming. Set the alarms, save those dates, block off your calendars.

Mini ticket plans and single game tickets are coming soon. Stay tuned to upcoming Monarch Brews and ODUSports.com for more details!

🏀 WE WORKIN'

🤔 MONARCH TRIVIA

During her three years on the sideline at ODU, Nikki McCray-Penson helped the Monarchs to a 53-40 ledger, including a 45-17 mark in her final two seasons in Norfolk.

For that three year span, who was the leading scorer for the Lady Monarchs?

Think you’ve got it?

Scroll down to the bottom of this email and see if you had the right answer!

🏈 COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: 54 DAYS

54 pass breakups.

The year was 2018. The single-season program record for pass break up still remains five years later at ODU.

The leader of that defense was safety Joe Joe Headen, who was just in his second season as a starter for the Monarchs that season.

Headen is now on the staff at Virginia Tech, serving as the Assistant Director for Player Engagement with the Hokies.

📬 STICK WITH US

Did someone send you the Monarch Brew? Subscribe here and get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning just in time for your first cup of coffee!

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Victoria Morris.

Under Coach McCray-Penson, Morris’ star shined the brightest, leading ODU in scoring in each of those three seasons.

In total, Morris scored 1,002 points in 85 games for an average of 11.8 per game.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Coach McCray’s friends and family during this time.