HALL OF FAME FEATURE: Marie Keatts Boor '10

One of the key factors to Averett University volleyball’s decades of sustained success can be attributed to its ability to keep the local talent in their hometown. Perhaps there is no greater example than the pipeline the program has had to nearby Tunstall High School. One of those local volleyball products is set to be inducted into the Averett Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 8.

Marie Keatts Boor ’10 had plans to come to Averett to continue her education as well as continue her volleyball career. Although she eventually became the starting libero as a senior and was named the 2009 USA South Athletic Conference Libero of the Year, Boor had to patiently wait her turn for a starring role while being a consistent contributor throughout her time at Averett. 

Boor said some of the moments from her freshman season stand out and really helped shape her during her four years with the program. One of those highlights was helping Averett win the 2006 USA South Conference Tournament title on the Cougars’ home court against Christopher Newport University while sealing Averett’s berth into the NCAA Tournament.

“Probably my favorite memory would be my freshman year when we beat CNU at home in the championship,” Boor recalled. 

The Cougars earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament that fall and traveled to San Antonio, Texas, for the postseason that year.

“That was probably one of the best memories as far as on the court,” Boor said. “There are tons of memories with the girls off the court. We were very close-knit group.”

As a freshman, her older teammates took her in and looked after her. At the start of the 2006 season, the team was practicing frequently and Boor needed a place to go and decompress. Even though she was a Danville native, players like Kasey Carpenter Ogden and Meredith Schwane were among those who opened their door.

“In between practices, especially during the those first two weeks where you have you know two or three practices a day, I pretty much just stayed at their apartment,” Boor said. “So they definitely took me under their wing.”

During her time at Averett, Boor built a strong bond with her teammates, as well as then-head coach Danny Miller.

“Sports wise, just having Coach Miller, it was huge,” Boor said. “I am still very close with him. I always knew at any point that I could go to him for anything I needed. I am sure I told him at one point that if anything happened to my dad before I got married, he would be the person to walk me down the aisle.”

She was a consistent member of the rotation during her four years. Boor got better every year and going into her senior year, she was named the starting libero for the Cougars in 2009.  Her 669 digs during her senior year is still the program’s single-season record. Over the course of that season, she recorded an impressive average of 4.71 digs per set. During that year, she was named the 2009 USA South Libero of the Year, earned USA South All-Conference Honorable Mention accolades and was selected as Averett's Female Student-Athlete of the Year. She was named to the USA South All-Sportsmanship Team as well. She finished her playing days with 1,272 career digs along with 112 career service aces in 456 sets over 143 matches.  Boor was later selected as a member of the USA South’s 50th anniversary volleyball team.

Boor said the phone call informing her that she was selected to the 2022 Averett Athletics Hall of Fame.

 “I was very surprised,” she said. “And just very humbled. But I was very emotional and just couldn't believe it. Very excited.”

Boor also met her husband, Andrew — a men’s basketball standout for the Cougars — while at Averett. They currently reside in the Danville area with their three children, Keaton, Charleigh and Eleanor. Boor currently teaches sixth grade at Dan River Middle School after previously teaching second grade in the city for eight years. She also previously coached volleyball at George Washington High School and travel ball before focusing on starting a family. Sports continue to be a part of her life through her kids.

“Our 7-year-old is into baseball, so that's our life,” she said. “And then my daughter dances. So just you know being with my family hanging out with my family being there for them doing all the family fun things.”