A two-sport, four-year letter winner in both softball and volleyball, Britney Lawson Salyer had a remarkable career as a student-athlete at the College. During her time at UVa-Wise, Lawson Salyer played in three national championship tournaments, two in softball and one in volleyball, in addition to collecting several accolades for her efforts on the field and in the classroom. Lawson Salyer holds a total of 14 UVa-Wise records in softball and volleyball after being a walk-on in both sports.
Graduating with cum laude honors in 2009, Lawson Salyer began her UVa-Wise career in 2005 and wasted no time leading the volleyball and softball teams. Her freshman year, Lawson Salyer led the volleyball team in digs per game, passing percentage and service percentage before ranking first on the softball team in eight offensive categories. That spring she helped the softball team to the first Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament title and an appearance in the NAIA Region XII Tournament. The following year as a sophomore, Lawson Salyer helped lead Cavalier softball to the team's second NAIA Region XII Tournament title and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. As a junior, she aided UVa-Wise softball to a runner-up finish at the NAIA Region XII Tournament before leading the Cavs to another AAC Tournament title and team's third appearance in the NAIA National Tournament her senior year. In volleyball, Lawson Salyer helped guide UVa-Wise to its best season in school history her junior year. The 2007 season saw Cavalier volleyball win a record 25 games en route to the team's first NAIA Region XII Tournament title and trip to the NAIA National Tournament.
The former outfielder completed her collegiate softball career with 11 school records including triples (23), home runs (31), slugging percentage (.601), total bases (659), at bats (659), games started (208), games played in a season (59), games started in a season (59), triples hit in a season (7), home runs in a season (11), and season slugging percentage (.759). Additionally, Lawson Salyer ranks second in games played (208) and third in RBI (127), hits (226), doubles (31), and hit by pitch (12). Equally impressive is Lawson Salyer's four volleyball school records that includes total digs (2,068), digs in a season (1,047), season digs per set (7.17) and digs in a match (52). Lawson Salyer also ranks second in career digs per set at 4.76 and is the first and only UVa-Wise volleyball player to reach 2,000 digs in her career and 1,000 digs in a single season.
Among some of Lawson Salyer's top accomplishments on the softball field are her selection to the USA International Team where she had the opportunity to play for the United States in Prague, Czech Republic in the summer of 2008 and help the team finish second overall. The Duffield, Virginia (Rye Cove H.S.), native was three times selected onto the All-AAC First Team and was a three-time NAIA Daktronics Academic All-American. Additionally, Lawson Salyer won the National Champions of Character Award twice, was a two-time NAIA All-Region XII First-Team selection and a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athlete.
As the starting libero for the Cavs, Lawson Salyer racked up several accolades for her performance on the volleyball court including being named First-Team All-AAC and AAC Libero of the Year in 2007. A two-time NAIA Daktronics Academic All-American, Lawson Salyer was selected to the 2007 NAIA All-Region XII Second Team and NAIA Region XII All-Tournament Team. She was a member of the NAIA 30-Dig/Match Club 16 different times throughout her career and was named AAC Libero of the Week five times and tabbed as NAIA National Libero of the Week once.
Off the court and off the field, Lawson Salyer was a member in many societies and was recognized several times for her efforts in the classroom. A four-year member of the Highland Winds Concert Band, Lawson Salyer was a member of the Darden Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Society, Sigma Zeta Society for Math and Science, and National Scholars Honor Society. An All-American Scholar, she was named Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for two years in addition to making the National Dean's List two semesters and the UVa-Wise Dean's List five times. During her time as a student-athlete at the College, Lawson Salyer received the Annual Senior Faculty Athletic Award and was a recipient of the Highland Cavalier Club's Top Female Athlete Award.
Lawson Salyer is now employed in the Scott County School system at her alma mater, Rye Cove High School, where she teaches pre-algebra and serves as a softball and volleyball coach.
