When Lynn Haden-Smith was inducted into the Averett University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015, the 1994 alumna called it one of the highest honors she's achieved. So when she got the call that she would be a part of the 2019 USA South Athletic Conference Hall of Fame class, the former Averett volleyball standout couldn't help but shed a few tears of joy.

"I was shocked and stunned," Haden-Smith said. "There are no words. It's just unbelievable. I was happy just being in the Averett Hall of Fame."

A three-time USA South Conference Player of the Year, Haden-Smith certainly belongs in the league's Hall of Fame, which will induct its latest class during a ceremony on Tuesday in Danville.

Haden-Smith displayed passion, commitment and motivation in her time as a student-athlete at Averett. She was a four-year member of the volleyball team where she served as a middle hitter from 1990-93. Haden-Smith was known for her offensive prowess as she recorded 1,378 kills and a .471 attack percentage, while finishing with 179 career service aces. She performed well on the defensive side of the ball as well, posting 900 digs, 332 solo blocks and 224 block assists. Adding to her already impressive resume are four USA South All-Conference First Team selections, two USA South All-Tournament MVP honors and an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-South Region selection.  
Along with her long list of volleyball awards, Haden-Smith also earned USA South First Team All-Conference honors as an outfielder in 1992 after batting .333 for the season. She was also a regular contributor to the women's basketball team during the 1992-93 season, averaging 6.5 points per game.
 
All the accolades Haden-Smith accumulated in her four years at Averett would lead one to think that these were best memories. However, this isn't the case for Haden-Smith. Her fondest moment was meeting her husband Tony while both students at the university.
 
The couple and their family currently reside in Lively, Virginia, where she is a jack-of-all-trades. Besides being a mother, she is a high school biology instructor/dual enrollment teacher at Lancaster High School. She also serves as the lead science teacher, National Honor Society Advisor, Recycling Club Advisor and Senior Class Co-Advisor.
 
She enjoys sharing her days as an Averett Cougar with her students and children in encouraging them to always chase their goals.
 
"I always give advice to my students and my own children about the importance of always doing your best and never taking short cuts when trying to achieve your goals," she said. "I always talk to my students about my experiences at college."

Aside from teaching, she admits her life revolves around her kids. Her son Devin is a rising junior at James Madison University, where he is studying engineering. And her daughter Hailey is a ninth-grader who excels in track and field and cross country who recently won the 800-meter state championship.

As athletics continue to play a role in her life through her daughter, Haden-Smith recalls a piece of advice that she received from a coach that gave her inspiration to succeed not only as a student-athlete, but as a person as well.
 
"The greatest advice I've ever received from a coach that I still hold onto today is that you can have all the talent in the world but if you do not have motivation, passion and commitment, you will never truly be the best you can be," Haden-Smith said.

It led Haden-Smith to be one of the best volleyball players ever at Averett. With her induction into the USA South Hall of Fame, she is in great company as she joins former volleyball players Bren (LaFlamme) Taylor, Courtney (Cowart) Phillips and longtime coach Danny Miller, as well as former coach/director of athletics Vesa Hiltunen, national champion golfer Janne Mommo and men's soccer's Pekka Kaartinen. 



Parts of this feature story ran originally in 2015 when Haden-Smith was inducted into the Averett Athletics Hall of Fame.