June 27, 2002

Virginia head field hockey coach Jess Wilk has announced that Missi Sanders will rejoin the field hockey staff as an assistant coach. Sanders, the Cavaliers' head coach from 1993 to 1998, resigned in 1999 to concentrate on her family. Sanders is married to George Gelnovatch, Virginia's head men's soccer coach. The couple has two children, Jake Sanders Gelnovatch, born March 15, 1997, and Sanders Gelnovatch, born February 13, 1998.

Sanders, who was named the NFHCA (National Field Hockey Coaches Association) and ACC Coach of the Year in 1997, compiled a record of 88-41 in her six years at the helm of the Cavalier program. Along the way, the Cavaliers advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four years, the longest such streak in Virginia history. In both 1997 and 1998, Virginia advanced to the NCAA semifinals, again new territory for the Cavalier program. In each of her last three seasons (1996-98), the Cavaliers reached the number-one ranking in the nation. The top ranking in 1996 marked the first time that Virginia sat atop the national polls. In 1997, the Cavaliers led the nation in scoring defense, allowing less than a goal per game while recording a national-best 11 shutouts.

Sanders' influence can also be seen in the honors afforded her players. In 1996, Meridith Thorpe was named the ACC Rookie of the Year, the Cavaliers' first such honor. In 1997, Meredith Elwell added another Rookie of the Year award. In 1998, Lori Mastropietro was named the ACC Player of the Year, the Cavaliers' first such honor. Thorpe, Mastropietro, and Michelle Vizzuso were all named to the United States Senior National Team which competed in the FIH World Cup in the Netherlands in May of 1998. In 1998, Thorpe also set new Virginia and ACC records for goals and points, finishing her career as the ACC's all-time leading scorer and ranking seventh in NCAA Division I history.